(PERFECT COMBINATION)
FOR ULTEI SURANGEL
A few months after teaching music to Moded Samantha Surangel, left, and Ultei Surangel, their mother Valerie Remengesau-Surangel told them that I played music during their wedding at the church and at the reception in Aug. 22, 1999. It so nice to experience this kind of situation -- 13 years after the wedding, I'm teaching their kids! This photo was taken during the solo recital of Moded in their former house.
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)
ULTEI SURANGEL ---
FROM PIANO TO GUITAR TO CHESS
A FEW DAYS after coming back from participating in the 2012 World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey, Valerie Remengesau Whipps came to Waves Restaurant of Palau Royal Resort while I am playing piano at about 7:30pm. She sits to a chair next to the piano while waiting for the song that I’m playing at that time to be finished. Our new GM (General Manager, not Grand Master) Masayuki Kawaguchi saw her and asked, “Are you going to request a song?” Valerie just smile.
Valerie is the sister of current Palau President Tommy Remengesau, Jr. and she married Surangel Whipps, Jr. in the wedding of the century in August 22, 1999 and I played music in the church (Sacred Heart Church) and at the reception (Palasia Hotel)
She is asking if I can teach her 2 daughters –Moded and Ultei piano. We exchanges information about their school schedules and my available time from 8 am-2 pm, where I work at Purchasing Department from 2-5 pm, 1 hr. dinner and 6-9 pm (piano at Waves Restaurant) and 9-11 pm keyboard music at Breeze Bar of PRR. My day off then is Friday so we agree to teach Moded and Ultei on Fri. afternoon as the SDA school is half day only on Fridays. We agreed on $15.00/hr. rate although their house is just a few meters away from PRR where I also stay at Dormitory 1.
Moded had experience already in piano and I don’t have problems with her old piano books and I mixed them up with the books that I am using. Ultei is also talented in music but not as much as Moded. After few months, Valerie asked me to shift teaching Ultei from piano to guitar. She bought a guitar with steel strings and Ultei had a hard time with its hard strings. I sold to Valerie the nylon guitar strings that I bought in Philippines and it works! As always, I suggest to start with nylon strings for beginners.
But Ultei gets tired easily even with nylon strings. I suggested to Valerie that Ultei would have a 30-minute guitar lesson and 30-minute piano lesson which works very well. Thirty minutes go so fast that it’s already finish and we’re ready for another 30 minutes guitar lesson. It goes well with that system but Valerie would like Ultei to concentrate on guitar only and we have a boring 1 hour guitar lessons.
At this time, I initialize to have 45 minutes guitar lesson and 15 minutes chess tutoring. I discovered Ultei’s interest in chess and it became 45 minutes chess and 15 minutes guitar! And all chess lessons proceeded. I once met her father, Senator Surangel Whipps, Jr. at the stairs of Surangel Building, and he said, “Ultei likes to compete. She likes competition.”
Since then, I gave all my best to teach Ultei what she needs to learn about tactics, strategies and time management. I discovered also her talent in solving chess puzzles. It goes on for more than a year until the 2014 Palau National Chess Championship where the junior players don’t play with rated and adults. There’s a Top 10 Division, Reserves, Women and Junior.
I recommended to Valerie to let Ultei play in the junior division. She agreed and what a coincidence, her husband is also a participant in that event that became the most participated in event in Palau chess history.
IN THE END, ULTEI WON 3RD PLACE WITH A TROPHY AND $50.00 CASH PRIZE!
When they transferred their residence in Ngatpang State, I am teaching Ultei at the house of the former President of Palau Tomas Remengesau, Sr., the father of current President Tommy Remengesau, Jr. Eric Ksau Surangel Whipps, Palau Chess Federation President, and his family (Joy Flores Whipps, Ksau Anthony and Kayah are now living in their former house.
Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
December 29, 2002 -- September 18, 2017
Chess and Music (Perfect Combination)
The Beginning of Chess in Palau
By Roberto Hernandez
Soon to be published as a book
Music and Me by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
March 15, 2012 -- April 18, 2013
http://palau-chess.blogspot.com
April 25, 2013 -- September 18, 2017
The History of Chess in Palau
By Roberto Hernandez
June 09, 2002 -- September 18, 2017
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