(1148) MUSIC AND ME (Dec. 31, 2015) JAPANESE CHRISTMAS WITH PRR GUESTS

CHRISTMAS WITH A GROUP OF JAPANESE
     These 7 Japanese enjoyed Christmas in Palau through singing Christmas songs and Japanese songs as well. The lady that is 3rd from left, stand by me when I sing, "Mayami, Mayami, Stand By Me, Oh, Stand by me." The lady to my left, Chirio, suggested to call Mayami as Miami (like Miami, Florida) to remember it easily. Sometimes I'm confuse with her name as well that I call her once "Ichiro" instead of Chirio.
A VERY WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS WITH JAPANESE GUESTS AT PRR!
                                 (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)



       JAPANESE CHRISTMAS AT
          PALAU ROYAL RESORT 

AS USUAL during Christmas and Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14), I’m wearing the red polo shirt given to me 10 years ago as uniform during my working years at Image Restaurant by my former employer Margarita Borja Dalton, who ran as one of the 7 candidates to replace the late Senator Cathy Kesolei.

I attended the Christmas service of Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ (4^th Watch) Palau Locale at 10am and after that, me and my wife together with 3 staff of Dragon Tei (Japanese Restaurant) had lunch at Arirang Korean Restaurant.

We met Tito Cabunagan there with his family and friends. We joined Bonapart, Maritess and her sister at their table and we had a buffet lunch with everybody enjoying the shrimp tempura. Iced tea is included in the $12.00/person buffet.

Me and my wife proceed at Palau Royal Resort and have picture taking at the big Christmas tree at the lobby and at Breeze Bar. Those Christmas trees are made from empty bottles to have a theme of environmental friendly Christmas tree.

Eight years ago, PRR always buy a big pine tree as Christmas tree to be used only for more than a month and waste the tree after Christmas season. It’s now cheaper and good for environment. All you need is creativity to produce 3 of those Christmas trees of different sizes.

We met PRR GM Masayuki Kawaguchi at the hallway after having photos at the 2^nd to the largest Christmas tree at Breeze Bar and Santa’s ‘sleigh’ that was made using a club car.

We shopped a little at Surangel’s Department Store, which is the only department store that’s open at least till 5:30pm.

I took a 2-hour nap before playing piano at Waves Restaurant of PRR. We have a group of Japanese and a Palauan family having buffet dinner. When I started playing Japanese song, the Japanese group started to sing-along with my songs.

A Palauan boy comes to me and requested the Japanese song “Sukiyaki”. When I played it, the Japanese group sings with it. It’s just the right song for the moment. The boy comes back to me and gave me $3.00 tip. I gave him my card. He showed it to his family, where his grandma is sitting on a wheelchair. The boy comes back again and added $3.45 more to the tips.

One of the guys in the Japanese group gave me $2.00 and I gave him my card while the tallest and teenage Palauan guy gave me $1.00 before going to the rest room.

At Breeze Bar, it’s not busy and we are just watching ESPN when 3 Japanese ladies come and I started playing Japanese songs as they are sitting at the table in front of me.

They requested Christmas songs and they sung in Japanese a Christmas song but they can’t recall the lyrics. I sang “Happy Christmas (War Is Over)” by John Lennon and they sing the chorus part. We sing some more Christmas songs and then comes one Japanese guy that sit with them.

Also the honeymooners Japanese couple, who enjoyed my Japanese music the other night, also come and sit at the table near them.

It was a very wonderful Christmas with Japanese.


Source: Music and Me
             By Roberto Hernandez
             Tia Belau Newspaper
             March 15, 2012--April 2013
             http://palau-chess.blogspot.com
             April 2013 --December 31, 2015 

(1147) 13th YEAR OF CHESS MATE; 671 ISSUES (TBN-Dec. 28, 2015)

:   PLAYING CHESS AT BETHLEHEM PARK

                  Palau Chess Federation has found a perfect place to hold chess tournaments. A friendly atmosphere, located at the heart of downtown Koror, next to Palau National Gymnasium and chess games can be played even with players standing or sitting. A WALK IN THE PARK, BETHLEHEM PARK!                                          (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

     13th YEAR OF CHESS MATE;

                 671 ISSUES 

 

THIS is a special issue of Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez. From the first issue to the 671^st have links for easy referral of those who would like to have a glance of what inspire Roberto to write those 671 issues without compensation. Those thousands of hours of typing and preparing every article didn’t bother him at all. He even spent from his own pocket for the gas in submitting the articles at the office of Tia Belau Newspaper, Palau’s first newspaper. It’s because—FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME.

                The first issue of Chess Mate is this –

1.         CM001                    Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez           Dec. 29, 2002-Jan. 04, 2003

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2013/11/chessmate-first-issue-tia-belau-dec-29.html

       http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/01/first-issue-of-chessmate-by-roberto.html

       On the 54^th issue, the column is one year old –

54.  CM054     We Are 1 Year Old                                                               Jan. 02-09, 2004

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/03/we-are-1-year-old-chessmate-by-roberto.html

On its 106^th issue, it’s 2 years old –

106. CM106     We’re Now 2 Years Old                                                    Dec. 31, 2004-Jan. 07, 2005

  http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/03/we-are-1-year-old-chessmate-by-roberto.html

The 158^th issue marks the 3^rd year of Chess Mate –

158. CM158     Chess Mate Marks 3rd Year                                           Dec. 30, 2005-Jan. 06, 2006

  http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2015/02/chess-mate-marks-3rd-year-tbn-dec-30.html

Before leaving Palau for good, Rey Lapuz wins a blitz chess tilt on CM 210^th issue—

        210. CM210   Chess Mate Marks 4^th Year; Lapuz Wins Blitz Tilt    Dec. 29, 2006-Jan. 05, 2007

  http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/03/chessmate-marks-4th-year-lapuz-wins.html

The 5^th year of Chess Mate is found on Issue No. 263—

263. CM263     Chess Mate Marks 5 Years                                              Jan. 04-10, 2008

  http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/03/chessmate-marks-5-years-tbn-jan4-10.html

 On its half dozen years, the 314^th issue read as –

        314. CM314     Chess Mate Marks 6^th Year                                        Dec. 29, 2008-Jan. 04, 2009

  http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/03/chessmate-marks-6th-year-tbn-dec292008.html

The 12^th year of Chess Mate features all 12 years anniversary issues including this 7^th year—

367. CM367     Chess Mate Marks 7^th Year                                         Jan. 04-10, 2010

                           (Front Page—“All Palau Connected”)

http://palauchess.blogspot.com.au/2015/01/chessmate-marks-12th-year-with-its.html

        The 8^th year will be found on Issue No. 419—(The links is not yet done)

419. CM419     Chess Mate Marks 8^th Year                                          Jan. 03, 2011

                           (Front Page—“MOH Chew, Smoke Free Zone”)

        In the 471^st issue, the 9^th year of Chess Mate is found—

471. CM471     Chess Mate Marks 9^th Year                                          Jan. 02, 2012

         http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/01/chessmate-marks-its-9th-year.html

        Roberto is 57 years during the 10^th year of Chess Mate—

519. CM519     10 Years of Chess Mate; 57 Years of Roberto          Dec. 31, 2012

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/12/10-years-of-chessmate-57-years-of.html?updated-min=2012-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&updated-max=2013-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&max-results=50

                On its 11^th year, Chess Mate got a very big boost in page views around the world with the introduction of Palau Chess Federation website http://palau-chess.blogspot.com with the help of Papua New Guinea’s Joselito Marcos. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, Joselito… Maraming Salamat (Philippines), Mesulang (Palau), Doumo Arigatou Gozaimasu (Japan), Xie Xie (China), Muchos Gracias (Spain, Mexico), Kamsamida (Korea), Afkaristo (Greece), Shukran(Arab), Selamat (Indonesia)…

570. CM570    Chess Mate is 11 Years; PCF Website-2 Years Old           Jan. 06, 2014

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2014/01/chessmate-marks-11th-year-pcf-website.html

        And finally last year, the 12^th year of Chess Mate with its 620^th issue. Only Roberto knows how many issues has been published in those 12 years.

620. CM620     CHESS MATE Marks 12^th YEAR with ITS 620^th ISSUE            Dec. 28, 2014 (Sunday)

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2015/01/chessmate-marks-12th-year-with-its.html

Solution to last week’s puzzle No. 3800: 1. Qxh7+!! Nxh7 2. Bxh7+ Kh8 or Kf8 3. Ng6 mate.

SPECIAL 13^th ANNIVERSARY PUZZLE: Roberto will give $13.00 each for the first 3 persons who will solve this puzzle. There will be an additional $7.00 for each person who will solve the 2^nd solution to this puzzle.

WHITE TO PLAY AND MATES IN 2:

This position allegedly occurred during a tournament in the old USSR. White looks to have no hope but suddenly finds a move that leaves Black staring at an unstoppable mate. A couple of clues: Firstly, the board is the right way around, etc. Secondly, the mating idea would not be allowed these days (since 1988 at least) but may have worked at a time the tournament was supposed to be held.

Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez

              Tia Belau Newspaper

              Pages 9 & 11

              Volume 24

              Issue 104

              December 28, 2015

             Chess and Music (Perfect Combination)

             The Beginning of Chess in Palau

             By Roberto Hernandez

             June 09, 2002 -- December 28, 2015

             To be published as a book in the future

             The History of Chess in Palau

             By Roberto Hernandez

             June 09, 2002 -- December 28, 2015

              Music and Me

              By Roberto Hernandez

              Tia Belau Newspaper

              March 15, 2012 -- April 2013

              http://palau-chess.blogspot.com

              April 2013 -- December 28, 2015   

(1146) Music & Me (Dec. 24, 2015) 1991--The Last Year That I Spent Christmas and New Year in Philippines

1991 CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION AT THE MALL IN PHILIPPINES
         6-year-old Karen Gennibeth Hernandez, middle, her friend Len-Len, left, spent their 1991 Christmas at the mall watching movie, strolling at department stores and played games at video center. It's the common sight on Philippines Christmas in urban areas but more exciting in the provinces.
                               (Photo by Roberto Hernandez -- Taken by Flor Hernandez)




  1991 -- THE LAST YEAR THAT I SPENT
        CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR 
                     IN PHILIPPINES
  

WHEN I was offered to work in Palau as musician in late 1991, I don’t have any idea that I will not be spending my next 24 Christmases and New Years in the Philippines again because the job of a musician is always busy during Christmas and New Year’s Eve countdown.

My passport and papers are ready for my trip on Feb. 04, 1992. We spent our Christmas at the mall with my wife Flor and Karen, together with our neighbor and Karen’s friend Len-Len.

During the 1991New Year’s Eve celebration, I have to be very extra careful with firecrackers. In lighting the “trigger” or starting point of the firecracker, I will tie a candle to a long bamboo stick, light the candle and use it for safety because I don’t want to risk losing a finger or two. They are my most ‘treasured’ part of my hands.

In Bahrain, during New Year’s Eve celebration, we used balloons and guests were given pins to pop the balloons to make a noise or a popping sound because firecrackers are not allowed to be used there.

In that 1991 New Year’s Eve countdown, there’s a guy who is clever enough to scare the people that are passing the narrow street in front of our house. He ‘made’ a very big triangle firecracker using the paper from the sack of 50-pound cement. It looks like an original triangle firecracker but 30 times bigger. He also used a rope as the ‘trigger’ point to make it look like real. Many passersby choose to avoid it especially when he is holding a lighter and ‘ready’ to light it.

The 1992 Christmas in Palau is just like an ordinary day. Very few business establishments have Christmas decorations or lights. You can’t feel the spirit of Christmas.

But New Year’s Eve countdown is different and expensive for hotels and resorts that are hiring musicians from Guam to perform for one night and have to pay for their airfare, accommodation and talent fee.

Since Image Restaurant have a ‘complete’ band already in me, lead guitarist Wilson and drummer Willy, our boss Margarita Borja Dalton don’t need to hire musicians from Guam, like what Palau Pacific Resort is doing every year.

 

 

 

Sources: Music and Me
               By Roberto Hernandez
               Tia Belau Newspaper
               March 15, 2012 -- April 2013
               http://palau-chess.blogspot.com
               April 2013 -- December 24, 2015

               Chess and Music (Perfect Combination)
               The Beginning of Chess in Palau
               By Roberto Hernandez
               June 09, 2002 -- December 24, 2015
               To be published as a book in the future

 

 

(1145) NATIONAL RATING OF POSSIBLE 2006 PNCC PARTICIPANTS (TBN-March 10-17, 2006)

ARE THEY GOING TO JOIN THE 2006 PALAU NATIONAL CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP?
     John Pastrana, left, the oldest son of venue host Gene Pastrana, is ready to execute a move while Francis 'Sno' Temaugil is still castling on the king side. The younger Pastrana has a rating of 1632 while Sno has 1767.
                                              (Photo by Roberto Hernandez) 


NATIONAL RATING OF POSSIBLE
  2006 PNCC PARTICIPANTS

 

NATIONAL RATING
       March 2006

1  Menandro Manuel                                                         2159
2.  Jose Omega                                                                     2157
3.  Bong Alipoon                                                                  2155
4.  Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr.                                                 2140
5.  Roberto Hernandez                                                       2134
6.  Jimmy Valenzuela                                                          2059
7.  Manuel Nedic                                                                 2020
8.  Ivan II Chess Computer                                                 1974
9.  Joel Azana                                                                       1944
10. Edwin Eti                                                                         1941
11. Jose Misael de Jesus                                                     1939
12. Eugenio Pastrana                                                          1938
13. Morton Sawaichi                                                           1913
14. Dennis Gonzales                                                            1911
15. Joeven delos Santos                                                      1892
16. Felix Lapitan                                                                    1886
17. Jess Toldoya                                                                    1883
18. Rodiante Balagso                                                           1881
19. Jess Gomez                                                                      1855
20. William Blasquino                                                           1812
21. Gerry Sermeno                                                               1810
22. Tutii Joe Chilton                                                              1771
23. Francis Temaungil                                                          1767
24. Flavin Andres                                                                  1720
25. Ernie Mijares                                                                   1712
26. Rogelio Menor                                                                1708
27. Em-R de Vera                                                                  1708
28. James dela Cruz                                                              1706
29. Lito Salas                                                                          1672
30. John Pastrana                                                                  1632

 

Source: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
                Tia Belau Newspaper
                Pages 9-10
                Volume 14
                March 10-17, 2006  

(1144) MUSIC AND ME (Dec. 10, 2015) Mr. & Mrs. Charles Kao From HongKong Visit Palau; Enjoyed Music at PRR

MR. CHARLES KAO SANG "HE'LL HAVE TO GO" AND "FOR THE GOOD TIMES"
     Hajimete (first time) in Palau, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kao from Hong Kong, enjoyed their evening at Palau Royal Resort on Dec. 10, 2015 with Roberto's accompanying music to the tune of He'll Have To Go and For The Good Times.
                                  (Photo by Roberto Hernandez) 

      MR. AND MRS. CHARLES KAO FROM
            HONG KONG VISIT PALAU;
             ENJOYED MUSIC AT PRR 

On Dec. 09, 2015, there’s a couple from Hong Kong at Breeze Bar of Palau Royal Resort. They sat far away from keyboard and don’t bother whatever songs I’m playing. They stay for just 30 minutes and left.

            The next day, Dec. 10, they are late guests at Waves Restaurant of PRR. There’s not much guests at that time so Mark, the buffet man, sang a song—Goodbye Girl by David Gates (of Bread). Since there is no mike, I played the song also instrumental to augment the sound/volume.

            I also played “He’ll Have To Go” prior to Goodbye Girl. The guy from Hong Kong came to me and said, “You should not play the piano that loud because it overshadowed the voice of the singer. I heard you played the song “He’ll have To Go”, can I sing it and give me the lyrics?”

            I took the green notebook/songbook and he sang it with instruction that I must lower the volume of the piano. I memorized that song already long time ago so I also harmonized with him while he is singing. It’s a wonderful blending of voices with the right volume of piano and voices.

            I saw our General Manager (GM) Masayuki Kawaguchi looking at us. He likes the idea of guests enjoying music through singing a couple of songs. When the first song was finished, he come to us while the guy is requesting another song –“For The Good Times” by Kris Kristofferson.

            While getting the blue notebook/songbook, I introduced to the guy our GM. The guy from Hong Kong called his wife and they had a very enjoyable conversation as the guy is signaling the “money” sign as “payment” for him for being a “guest singer.”

            Their conversation became more interesting when GM mentioned to them that he worked in Hong Kong for many years.

            When the guy sang the song “For The Good Times”, I harmonized also till the last part of the song. I know the song for about 30 years and it’s one of the songs that when I teach to my adult students, I can easily adapt to any chords.

GM was impressed with the quality of the voice of the guy even in low volume.

He gave the guy his business card and so do I as well.

            At 9pm, before going to Breeze Bar to play for another 2 hours of keyboard music, I approached them and have a photo taken. I mentioned to them that I’m writing chess articles in Tia Belau Newspaper for almost 13 years and that our photo will be published in the website at my card. I said I’m doing it to many PRR guests that I feature them and that it’s important that I know the names of those people so that they may search for it for a unique souvenir. Upon hearing that, the guy asks for a piece of paper to write their names on. He said he ran out of business card and he wrote “Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kao from Hong Kong”.

            I looked for extra copy of Tia Belau to give to him and I’ve got the Nov. 30, 2015 issue with title “PAX DEALT CYRIL HIS FIRST LOSS”.

Sources: Music and Me 
             By Roberto Hernandez
             Tia Belau Newspaper
             March 15, 2012 -- April 2013
             http://palau-chess.blogspot.com
             April 2013--December 10, 2015

            Chess and Music (Perfect Combination)
            The Beginning of Chess in Palau
            By Roberto Hernandez
            June 09, 2002 -- December 10, 2015
            To be published as a book in the future 
 

(1143) HERNANDEZ, ETI SHARE BLITZ CHESS TITLE (TBN-Feb. 24-March 03, 2006)

THE VENUE HOST AND THE NEWLY ELECTED P. C. F. CHAIRMAN
       Gene Pastrana, left, hosted the recently concluded and very hectic 2005-2006 Rapid Chess Championship while he is playing against Francis 'Sno' Temaungil. The nickname 'Sno' is because his white hair is as white as snow. This is from what I heard from a dad who was asked by his son "Why do you call him "Sno"?
                                (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)


HERNANDEZ, ETI SHARE BLITZ CHESS TITLE

AFTER the conclusion of the very successful and hectic 2005-2006 Palau Rapid Chess Championship, some players gather again on the same venue, the Jean's Boutique and Store on the next Sunday to play, practice and socialize and talk about the next tourney.

A blitz chess competition highlighted the late afternoon/night event with 8 players participating...
Venue host Gene Pastrana, Champion Menandro Manuel, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th runners-up Edwin Eti, Manuel Nedic, Cyril Montel, Jr., Bong Alipoon respectively,Roberto Hernandez and Palauan bet Morton Sawaichi.

HERE'S THE RESULT:
  

ONE-DAY BLITZ CHESS TOURNAMENT

February 19, 2006

Single Round Robin

FINAL STANDINGS

             Players                                                                      Win   Loss   Draw      Total

1. EDWIN ETI                                                                 6       1         0              6
2. ROBERTO HERNANDEZ                                         6        1        0              6
3. MANNY NEDIC                                                        4        3         0              4
4. CYRIL MONTEL, JR.                                                4        3        0               4
5. MENANDRO MANUEL                                           3         3        1              3.5
6. GENE PASTRANA                                                   2        4         1              2.5
7. BONG ALIPOON                                                      1        4         2              2
8. MORTON SAWAICHI                                              0        7         0              0

 


Source: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
            Tia Belau Newspaper
            Pages 9-10
            Volume 10
            February 24--March 03, 2006