(918) MUSIC AND ME (April 02, 2015) 1997 New Year's Eve Countdown with Marco Rejano and Herman Moral

A "DIFFERENT" HERMAN MORAL
     A baker at Higa's Bakery, Herman Moral, left, was invited by Roberto Hernandez, middle, to be a guest singer during the 1997 New Year's Eve Countdown at Image Restaurant. Roberto's wife Flor Hernandez, right, had a photo session with the duo wearing a polo shirt that they share wearing.   
                          (Photo by Roberto Hernandez--Taken by Karen Gennibeth Hernandez)


    1997 NEW YEAR'S EVE COUNTDOWN
 with MARCO REJANO and HERMAN MORAL
            at IMAGE RESTAURANT

THE DECADE 1990-2000 was known as "imported musicians" where bands/singers from neighboring island Guam were invited to perform during New Year's Eve Countdown at Palau Pacific Resort and Image Restaurant.

In 1992 Countdown, Image Restaurant featured its resident musicians, the Trio Los Guapos (The Three Handsome).

(Left to right) The trio of Roberto Hernandez (keyboard/rhythm guitar/vocals), Willy dela Cruz (drums/vocals) and Wilson Prima (lead guitar/keyboard/bass guitar/vocals) performed at Image Restaurant in 1992 and 1993 New Year's Eve Countdown.
                  (Photo by Roberto Hernandez -- Taken by Ma. Victoria Estonina)

In the 1993 Countdown, the trio was joined by a duo from Guam, who were surprised how good the Trio Los Guapos are when they hear them play the reggae version of "Can't Help Falling In Love". The trio played the key of G of that song into key of G# in the last part of the song.

Roberto's alternate pianist (Francis) at Beverly Hills Deli in Greenbelt, Makati told him that he can't transpose half step from C to C#. To make it easier, he transpose from C to D (2 steps and lesser black keys). He added that he rather play a song in E flat (Eb) rather than E. It's the reverse in Roberto's side as he knows only 3 songs (Magic Is The Moonlight, Harbor Lights and The Search Is Over) that he plays on Eb while he knows a lot of songs that he plays on key of E... Something Stupid, Peaceful Easy Feeling, Anata (Japanese song), Norwegian Wood, After All, A Little Help From My Friends, All My Life, All My Loving, All The Love In The World, All The Time In The World, Anniversary Song (Em), Bakit Ba Ganyan (Filipino Song), Batang-Bata Ka Pa (Filipino Song), Besame Mucho (Em), Boat On The River (Em), Can You Read My Mind, Crazy For You, Dil Dil Lomais (Palauan Song), Doo Bidoo (Filipino song), Do You Want To Know A Secret, Feelings (Em), Forbidden Games (Em), Hey There Lonely Girl, How Can You Mend A Broken Heart, Hurtin' Inside, I Can't Get No (Satisfaction), Ihoujin (Japanese song), I'll Never Fall In Love Again, I Saw Her Standing There, Koibito Yo (Japanese Song), Love Letters In The Sand, Love's Grown Deep, Michelle (Em), Miles Away, New Kid In Town, Nowhere Man, One Day In Your Life, Pussywillows Cattails, Rhythm of the Rain, Rosemary Blue (Em), Sentimental Lady, September Morn (Em), She's Leaving Home, Speak Softly Love (Em), Subaru (Japanese song), Summer Breeze (Em), Superstar (Em), Terminal, The Ballad of John and Yoko, The Last Leaf, Tobal (Palauan Song), To Each His Own, Tom Dooley, Tomorrow, Unforgettable, Walk of Life, Wasted Days and Wasted Nights, Windmills of your Mind (Em), You Are The Love of my Life, You Don't Own Me (Em), You're In My Heart...

Image Restaurant Owner/Manager Margarita Borja Dalton was not around when the 1997 New Year's Eve Countdown took place. She is the USA.

Roberto was the one who took charge of hiring musicians for that evening while Susan (a new American employee who is married to a Palauan guy) helps in the marketing.
When Margie called that afternoon, Susan said, "Don't worry, we will make a lot of money for you tonight!"

It was the best ever New Year's Eve Countdown at Image Restaurant although the musicians that performed were not the best especially the invited singer Herman Moral, who is a baker by profession and only sings once in a while.

Marco Rejano, who's been to Palau at almost the same time as Roberto (1992), requested that when he sings the song "Desperado", Roberto will have to lower the key from G to F#, which is the perfect key for him.

When Roberto picked Herman up from his residence for the performance that night, he noticed something weird about Herman... HE HAS A DRIVER'S LICENSE BUT DON'T HAVE A CAR! HE HAS A VCR (Video Cassette Recorder that plays VHS Cassette tapes) BUT HE DOESN'T HAVE A TELEVISION!
     AND HE BROUGHT WITH HIM AN AIR PUMP SO THAT WHEN THERE IS A GUEST WHO'LL HAVE A FLAT TIRE, HE CAN HANDILY LEND HIS AIR PUMP!

When Margie came back from the USA, that's the time that she was able to pay Herman.

While writing on a check, she asked for Herman's complete name. He said Herman Moral. 

Margie wants to confirm..."Moral", like the word from "Morality" as it is? Herman said yes and Margie agreed, OK!



Sources: Music and Me
             By Roberto Hernandez

             Chess and Music (Perfect Combination)
             The Beginning of Chess in Palau
             By Roberto Hernandez
             February 04, 1992-April 02, 2015
             To be published as a book in the future