On May 12, 2016, I just finished playing 2 hours of instrumental piano music at Waves Restaurant of Palau Royal Resort and getting ready to play another 2 hours of keyboard music at Breeze Bar, when I noticed that a function of Palau Visitors Authority has just been finished. Their big posters are still there and I took the chance to have photos with those in the background. The 10 airlines that are flying in and out of Palau are also in the list in "Where Is Palau?".
(Photos by Roberto Hernandez)
KNOWING PALAU MORE ---
THE PRISTINE PARADISE!
PALAU WINS WORLD HERITAGE LISTING
The World Heritage Committee, meeting in St. Petersburg, followed the recommendation of IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), the official World Heritage advisory body on nature, to inscribe the 100,200 hectares marine site on UNESCO's (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) prestigious list of iconic places on earth.
The vast marine site of Rock Islands Southern Lagoon located in Koror State waters is recognized for its exceptional ecological diversity, coral reefs, lagoon and limestone islands and marine lakes.
As a result of their isolation from each other, all 52 marine lakes are a diversity of different marine ecosystems.
"The Rock Islands Southern Lagoon is an outstanding example of how marine ecosystems and communities develop," says Tim Badman, Director of IUCN's World Heritage Programme.
"Its marine lakes are 'natural laboratories' where new species discoveries continue to be made. IUCN welcomes Palau joining the World Heritage family and hopes that the World Heritage status will help further enhance the protection of this important area for securing people's livelihoods and adapting to the effects of climate change."
Ilebrang Olkiriil, coastal management officer and campaign manager for Rare stated that the world recognize the outstanding universal value that is important for humanity.
"If loss or damaged from natural or human-caused disaster, with the recognition we can apply for technical assistance for restoration of sites," added Ms. Olkeriil.
The Rock Islands Southern Lagoon of Koror State joins the nuclear test site-Bikini Atoll of the Marshall Islands and largest raised coral atoll in the world, the East Rennel, of the Solomon Islands as the only sites in the Pacific Island countries to have been registered in the World Heritage list.
UNESCO's World Heritage Committee, which is meeting in the Russian city of St. Petersburg until July 5, also inscribed sites from Israel, Palau, Indonesia, Morocco, China, Senegal and Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) on the World Heritage List.
More sites could be added to the list in the coming days.
(See related story on page 6)
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)
NEW SITES INSCRIBED ON
WORLD HERITAGE LIST
Tia Belau Newspaper
Page 6
Volume 21
Issue 43
July 02, 2012
Friday, June 29, 2012
New sites have been inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List:
Birthplace of Jesus: the Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route, Bethlehem (Palestine);
Site of Human Evolution at Mount Carmel, The Nahal Ma'arot/Wadi el-Mughara Caves (Israel),
Rock Islands Southern Lagoon (Palau),
and The Cultural Landscape of Bali, the Subak System as a Manifestation of Tri Hila Karana Philisophy (Indonesia),
Rabat, modern capital and historic City, a shared heritage (Morocco).
Inscriptions are expected to continue today and tomorrow.
Birthplace of Jesus:
the
Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route, Bethlehem (Palestine)
was also placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger as it is
suffering from damages due to water leaks.
The
inscribed property is situated 10km south of Jerusalem on the site
identified by Christian tradition as the birthplace of Jesus since the
2nd century.
A
church was first completed there in 339 A.D. and the edifice that
replaced it after a fire in the 6th century retains elaborate floor
mosaics from the original edifice.
The
site also include Latin, Greek Orthrodox, Franciscan and Armenian
convents and churches as well as bell towers, terraced gardens and a
pilgrimage route.
Site of Human Evolution at Mount Carmel:
The
Nahal Me'arot/Wadi el-Mughara Caves (Israel) on the western slope of
the Mount Carmel range, includes the caves sites of Tabun, Jamal, El-Wad
and Skhul.
It
covers 54 hectares and contains cultural deposits representing 500,000
years of human evolution with evidence of burials, early stone
architecture and the transition from a hunter-gathering lifestyle to
agriculture and animal husbandry.
The
site demonstrates the unique existence of both Neanderthals and Early
Anatomically Modern Humans (EAMH) within the same Middle Paleolithic
cultural framework, the Mousterian.
As
such, it has become the key site of the chrono-stratigraphic framework
for human evolution in general, and the prehistory of the Levant in
particular.
Ninety
years of archaelogical research have revealed a cultural sequence of
unparalled duration, providing an archive of every human life south-west
Asia.
Rock Islands Southern Lagoon (Palau)
covers 100,200-hectare and numbers 445 uninhabited limestone islands of volcanic origin.
Many of them display unique mushroom-like shapes in turquoise lagoons surrounded by coral reefs.
The
aesthetic beauty of the site is heightened by a complex reef system
featuring of 385 coral species and different types of habitat.
They
sustain a large diversity of plants, birds and marine life including
dugong and at least 13 shark species. The site harbors the highest
concentration of marine lakes anywhere, isolated bodies of seawater
separated from the ocean by land barriers.
They
are among the islands distinctive features and sustain high endemism
of populations which continue to yield species discoveries.
Cultural Landscape of Bali:
the
Subak System as a Manifestation of the Tri Hita Karana Philosophy
(Indonesia) forms a cultural landscape of five rice terraces and their
water temples that cover 19,500 hectares.
The
temples are the focus of a cooperative water management system of
canals and weirs, known as subak, that dates back to the 9th century.
Included in the landscape is the 18th century Royal Temple of Pura Taman
Ayun, the largest and most impressive architectural edifice of its type
on the island.
The
subak reflects the philosophical concept of Tri Hita Karana, which
brings together the realms of the spirit, the human world and nature.
This philosphy was born of the cultural exchange between the Bali and
India over the past 2000 years and has shaped the landscape of Bali.
The
subak system of democratic and egalitarian farming practices has
enabled the Balinese to become the most prolific rice growers in the
archipelago despite the challenge of supporting a dense population.
Rabat, modern capital and historic City (Morocco):
a
shared heritage, on Atlantic coast in the north-west of the country, is
the product of fertile exchange between the Arabo-Muslim past and
Western modernism.
The
inscribed city encompasses the new town conceived and built under the
French Protectorate from 1912 to the 1930s, including royal and
administrative areas, residential and commercial developments and the
Jardins d'Essais botanical and pleasure gardens.
It also encompasses older parts of the city dating back to the 12th century.
The
new town is one of the largest and ambitious modern urban projects
built in Africa in the 20th century and probably the most complete.
The older
parts include Hassan Mosque (started in 1184) and the Al-mohad ramparts
and gates, the only surviving parts of the project for a great capital
city of the Almohad caliphate as well as remains from the Moorish, or
Andalusian, principality of the 17th century.
The World Heritage Committee will remain in session until 6 July.
Source:
Tia Belau Newspaper
Page 6 and 11
Volume 21
Issue 43
July 02, 2012
A WOMEN'S LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN
Minda Roa, left, and Flor Hernandez are undergoing intensive training and practice to prepare for the next Open chess tournament that will have a separate division for men (rated and unrated) and women, and kids. The open tournament might excite some inexperienced women and kids to start participating in chess events. Remy Mingo, who participated in the first tournament in Palau (June 09, 2002), might have a comeback as she is back in Palau. She had a 5-4-0 win-loss-draw record in that tournament and all her 5 wins were over men (Bong Alipoon, Amante Caballero, Roberto Hernandez, Eugene Koh and Mario Ramos). (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)
FORMER
World Chess Federation (FIDE) President Florencio Campomanes will
arrive in Palau for a visit on May 11, 2006 to see how chess is doing on
the latest FIDE member.
He will be arriving from Davao City boarding on Asian Spirit Airline.
Campomanes,
popularly known as "Pocamps" or "Campo" to his close friends, headed
FIDE for many years and did a lot to make chess very popular around the
world especially in Asia where Grandmaster Eugene Torre became Asia's
first Grandmaster.
Viswanathan
Anand of India became a world champion. China is now the reigning Chess
Olympiad champion in the women's division and produced women world
champions.
He emailed Roberto Hernandez 3 weeks ago and called him last week about his first trip to Palau.
The
incumbent FIDE President that succeeded him, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, is
running for re-election during the 2006 Torino, Italy World Chess
Olympiad that will be held this month.
Ilyumzhinov
is the President of Russian Federated Republic of Kalmykia, which is
located in the Moscow time zone. Elista is the capital and will host the
undisputed world chess championship between Bulgaria's Veselin Topalov
and the only man to have beaten Gary Kasparov in a match, Russia's
Vladimir Kramnik on September 21 to October 03, 2006.
Campomanes
is pushing for the re-election of Ilyumzhinov, the controversial and
wealthy man who poured millions of his own money for chess' best
interests.
Palau
Chess Federation and Knights and Rooks Chess Club are planning to have
Campomanes a courtesy call with President Tommy Remengesau. A barbecue
lunch is also being prepared for Campomanes on Saturday.
Tia Belau Newspaper
Page 9-10
Volume 18
May 12-19, 2006
CAMPOMANES VISITS ROSE GARDEN RESORT
79-year-old Florencio Campomanes, former FIDE President for 14 years, practices blitz chess with Mark Anthony Lanceta. At left is Pat Remeliik and in the middle is Flor Hernandez. Behind Campomanes is Gene Pastrana, secretary/treasurer of Knights and Rooks Chess Club. Campomanes was instrumental in Palau being accepted as member of World Chess Federation (FIDE). He donated 5 chess clocks (mechanical) and 20 chess boards to the club. Another 20 digital chess clocks and 100 chess boards and pieces are on its way for Palau Chess Federation.
(Contributed photo by Roberto Hernandez)
FLORENCIO Campomanes, at 79, can still play quality chess for 72 straight hours!
He was the first National Master of the Philippines way back in 1954. He never became an International Master but produced a lot of it and Grand Masters (GM) during his 14-year term as president of International Chess Federation (FIDE).
He visited Palau for the first time on Thursday, May 11 and donated 5 mechanical chess clocks and 20 chessboards to Knights and Rooks Chess Club and Palau Chess Federation.
He played blitz chess with KRCC Chairman Roberto Hernandez and drew their first game. He beat Hernandez 4 straight before losing one.
KRCC Secretary/Treasurer Gene Pastrana played with him also but never won a single game.
Together with Palau Chess Federation (PCF) Chairman Francis 'Sno' Temaungil, they made a courtesy call with Philippine Ambassador Ramoncito Marino at the Philippine Embassy.
Campo knew Marino's father. During the call, Marino offered to sponsor the cash prizes of the rapid tournament to be called The Ambassador Cup-- a 25-minute game for each player to finish the game that will separate the men, women, rated and unrated (beginners). The format is now being prepared.
On Saturday morning, Campo was invited by Vice President Camsek Chin to Peleliu and was toured to the historical sites until 3:00 pm.
After the tour, he played blitz chess again with former champ Jess Toldoya, Pastrana and Hernandez.
Later that night, Campo and Pastrana visited Hernandez at Rose Garden Resort. They played 3 games and have a photo session with the employees and Hernandez' wife Flor.
They also make a draft letter for FIDE Secretariat to inform them that Palau might send a Delegate to FIDE World Chess Olympiad and Congress that coincides with the election of president in Torino, Italy that will start on May 15-June 05, 2006. If not, a proxy letter will be given to Campo.
THERE WERE ONLY 2 GAMES PLAYED IN THE 9TH ROUND OF NATIONAL CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP HELD ON MOTHER'S DAY, MAY 14 AT JEAN'S BOUTIQUE AND STORE PREMISES.
Pinoy Express Remittance is the sponsor of 6 trophies and $100.00 brilliancy prize through the courtesy of its manager, Manny Kimpo.
Manny Nedic nipped Palauan bet Morton Sawaichi in 35 moves of Queen's Gambit Declined while 2-time champ Menandro Manuel beat the other Palauan bet Francis 'Sno' Temaungil in 28 moves of Modern Defence.
Temaungil couldn't sustain his strong attack in the middle game and lost his 4th straight game.
Campomanes joined the 8-player blitz chess tourney held while he is waiting to leave Palau via Asian Spirit Airline's dawn flight.
The other players were Manuel, Hernandez, Toldoya, Nedic, Cyril Montel, Jr., Jimmy Valenzuela and Pastrana.
Manuel won all of his game except to Campo, who finished undefeated and was held to a draw by the wily Nedic.
Campo spent his cash prize on drinks.
THE FINAL STANDINGS OF PLAYERS AND THEIR WIN-LOSS-DRAW RECORD:
1. Campomanes (6-0-1) 2. Manuel (6-1-0) 3. Toldoya (3-3-1) 4. Nedic (3-3-1) 5. Hernandez (3-4-0) 6. Montel, Jr. (2-5-0) 7. Pastrana (2-5-0) 8. Valenzuela (1-5-1)
Solution to last week's puzzle: 1. Nd7+! Rxd7 2. Re8+!! Kxe8 3. Rg8 mate.
THIS WEEK'S PUZZLE:
Source: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Pages 9-10
Volume 18
May 19-26, 2006
"The declining water levels caused by this drought seriously threaten the availability and quality of potable water.
Executive Order No. 389 issued by the president which declares a state of emergency due to extreme drought."
Water shortage in Palau worsens as the Palau Public Utility Corporation (PPUC) shortened the water supply starting March 22 to six hours in Koror and Airai States.
The water levels of the Palau reservoir are going down on a critical level due to lack of rain. PPUC said that during a short period of rain on March 16, 2016 water levels gained about 3 feet but then dropped again back to 1.5 feet. Average consumption is about 125,000 gallons per hour or 625,000 gallons every 5 hours.
Remengesau in his executive order said the drought is also affecting other states of Palau and that the Ministry of Health fears that the water shortage continues to cause health implications to the public through food and water-borne illnesses.
Sources: Tia Belau Newspaper
Pages 1 & 11
Volume 25
Issue 24
March 24, 2016
Island Times Newspaper
Pages 1 & 10
Volume 11
No. 41
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
Island Times Newspaper
Pages 1 & 11
Volume 11
No. 42
Friday, April 01, 2016
1. Brian Jones is talking to Eric Ksau Whipps on how the simul is played -- He will be having all the white pieces. His opponents will move only when he comes come to them so that he can see what are their moves. The participants can pass if he/she is not ready yet to make a move.
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)
Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
December 29, 2002 -- March 11, 2014
The History of Chess in Palau
By Roberto Hernandez
June 09, 2002--March 11, 2014
Francis 'Sno' Temaungil, middle, sits in the same spot where he was shot point blank by an air gun by a teen-age Palauan boy. Roberto Hernandez was the lone witness when he saw the window of a car go down, the boy sitting at the back of the car pointed the air gun to Sno and fired one shot hitting Sno's nape. The window goes up and the car sped away. (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)
ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ON
P.C.F. CHAIRMAN
I will never forget that date -- May 14, 2006.
Former FIDE President and the Honorary Lifetime President of World Chess Federation (FIDE) Florencio Campomanes visited Palau in May 11-14, 2006.
He checked in at Palau Royal Resort and in the morning of his first day in Palau, Roberto Hernandez, Gene Pastrana, Francis 'Sno' Temaungil and Palau Horizon reporter Nazario 'Jun' Rodriguez visited him at the lobby.
After
some chess talks at the lobby, we proceed to the Philippine Embassy to
have a courtesy call with Philippine Ambassador to Palau Ramoncito
Marino.
On
the day of his departure back to Philippines, Campomanes organized a
blitz chess tourney in which he is the top seed and participated in by
the top 7 players of Palau -- Menandro Manuel, Manny Nedic, Roberto
Hernandez, Cyril Montel, Jr., Gene Pastrana, Jimmy Valenzuela and Jess
Toldoya.
That will be after the regular games of 2006 Palau National Chess Championship
where Sno is one of the participant.
A
lot of games are ongoing with Sno playing with his back on the main
road. It's about 7:00 pm at that time and I'm watching the games from
the sideline.
There's a
little bit of traffic when a black car slowed down. The passenger side
window open up, a young Palauan boy put out his air gun and pointed it
to Sno and fired it at point blank - about 2 feet.
Nobody
heard the shot as it is noisy with car engines and other street noises.
The shot hit Sno's nape. HE STILL CONTINUES PLAYING.
The
pellet of the air gun is just like a mosquito bite to him. I saw him
touch the part where the pellet hit him and he wipes the blood.
When
he noticed that there's some blood and not blood from dead mosquitoes,
he stopped playing and when he realized that he was shot by an air gun,
he go to his sports car and bring himself to the hospital.
I told Campomanes what happened to Sno and he's worried and ask somebody to follow him to the hospital to see how's he doing.
Everything
is okay with Sno absorbing the impact of an air gun. It's good that
firearms is not a common sight in Palau. If Sno was shot by even a small
caliber handgun at that range, he will not survive that even if he is a
Vietnam war veteran.
The
blitz chess tourney proceeded as planned with Campomanes showing his
superiority among inexperienced Palau players. He swept the field like a
tornado with only Manny Nedic able to draw with him.
NOTHING HAS BEEN PUBLISHED ABOUT THIS INCIDENT. NOT EVEN IN MY "CHESS MATE" COLUMN.
IT'S BEEN KEPT A SECRET FOR 7 YEARS... UNTIL NOW. IT WILL BE EXACTLY 7 YEARS ON MAY 14, 2013.
IT'S NOT A COINCIDENCE THAT THIS 500TH POSTS OF "PALAU CHESS" IS SOMETHING SPECIAL, MEMORABLE, MIND BOGGLING AND EXCLUSIVE!!!
Sources:
Chess and Music: Perfect Combination
The Beginning of Chess In Palau
By Roberto Hernandez
To Be Published As A Book In The Future
The History of Chess in Palau
By Roberto Hernandez
June 09, 2002 -- May 14, 2006
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