: DIL DIL LOMAIS PERFORMANCE BY ME AND A GUY NAMED GUY
I was about to perform 2 songs for PRR Christmas party on Dec. 16 but reduced it to 1 song because of busy schedule of performers. I decided to do the Palauan song Dil Dil Lomais with Guy, a security officer. I practice that song with him a few weeks ago at Breeze Bar of PRR so we know the song very well. At the end of the song, I shouted the one Palauan word that was taught to me by former President Johnson Toribiong – “AL GARON DIKID!” (Which means, Thanks it only us here). (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)
BOBOT IS THE 2017 PNCC
CHAMPION
Bobot Tan drew his final round game vs. Paquito ‘Pax’ Suringa, Jr. to clinch the title of 2017 PNCC Top 12 Division and thus became the newest Palau National Master (NM). Although top seed and defending champ Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. won his 9th round game vs. Angelo Salvadora and has 9 points as well, he lost via tiebreak 48.50-41.00. Salvadora and Pax were ousted as Tito Cabunagan and Rustum Cabuso (7-4 record) has better tiebreak points that Salvadora. Pax settled for 6th place. I won over Leif Toribiong in just 12 moves of Pirc Defense to finish 8th while Manuel ‘Jun’ Mahor nipped Gonzalo Escapatoria, Jr. to finish ahead of him and Jeff Balbalosa.
Bobot prepared pancit (fried noodles) for everybody as blowout for being the champion while Angie Parrado, the Women’s Division champ, buy the drinks for everybody after she defeated Angelica Magno for another feather in her cap. The only year that she didn’t win the PNCC was when she joined the Top 12 Division in 2016, where Baby Edna Mission took the title in her absence.
IT ALL comes to the last 2 crucial matches of the most exciting Palau National Chess Championship ever! The fate of the qualifiers to the 2018 World Chess Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia still hangs in the balance as 6 players are still jockeying for the final 6 slates.
When Dennis Gonzales lost his 4th round game with defending champion and top seed Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. in the middle of this week, he was knocked out of contention as he needs to win his last 2 games (the other one vs. Jeff Balbalosa which he lost, too) to qualify over the others with 7-4 slates (possibly Tito Cabunagan, Rustum Cabuso, Paquito ‘Pax’ Suringa, Jr. and Angelo Salvadora) if Pax would win over Bobot Tan and Angelo would lose to Cyril.
With the win over Dennis and Tito in the 10th round (Dec. 10), Cyril inched closer to defending his title as perennial leader Bobot needs at least a draw with Pax to shut out the door for Cyril’s incredible run of 4 consecutive PNCC titles. A draw or a loss would eliminate Pax while a win would qualify him with Rustum and Angelo being eliminated if Angelo would lose to Cyril.
A draw by Angelo and a win by Pax would eliminate Tito and Rustum. These are the complications in the final day of 2017 PNCC as the other 2 matches between me and Leif Toribiong and Gonzalo ‘Jojo’ Escapatoria vs. Manuel ‘Jun’ Mahor, Jr. have no bearing anymore. I’m just trying to overtake Jeff at 8th place with a win over Leif. I lost to Rustum in the 10th round. He won 4 straight, lost 3 in a row and won 4 in a row to be in contention for the final slot. A win by either Jojo or Jun would put them at 11th place.
I visited the PMA Chess in School in Dec. 13, 2017 after tuning the piano that I tuned in Dec. 20, 2016. I have listed the 11 snapped strings of that piano to a piece of paper but I lost that paper. I was able to take out those 11 strings – No. 18, 27, 30, 39, 40, 47, 48 and 88. If anybody would notice, there are only 8 strings listed. It’s because the 3 strings of No. 39 and 40, and 47 and 48 are connected to the other while the No. 88 has 2 strings need to be bought from Yamaha piano factory.
The Chess in School is already in their last 3 rounds with standout Reece Reklai not present as he and 5 others are on a field trip. The most unusual game that I’ve seen is the demolition of Carlos Manuel of his girl opponent. He captured ALL of her pieces until what is left to her is the king and Manuel tortured her by mating her win a pawn. He also won his next game when his opponent moved a pinned knight for an illegal move and automatic win for him.
The Palau Royal Resort held its staff Christmas party at Breeze Bar of PRR with heavy rain and strong winds. It goes very well even with wet environment. Staff, who worked at PRR for 5 years and 10 years, is given rewards of cash and PRR logo items as well as beautifully crafted glass plaque.
I am among the 5 workers in the 10 years of service together with Elizalde Madrinan, Benjie Torre, Juvy Paulo and Jess David. Eli was the one who made the speech in behalf of us. At the registration, I drew the No. 60 ($50.00 cash). And I also won one of the 5 lucky winners of $100.00 cash. I sang with Palauan security officer Guy the song “Dil Dil Lomais” as the 2nd to the last number being performed by PRR workers. The Dance Contest (Aloha costume/motif) was won the back officer (Purchasing Department) with their rendition of traditional and modern Hawaiian music with the last one, the witty Hawaii Five-O music. They won by just .25 points!
Solution to puzzle No. 3796: 1. Rb7+! Bxb7 2. Rb5+! Nxb5 3. Nc2#
This week’s puzzle No. 3719: White to move and mates in 3 (Solution next issue)
After this article "Bobot is the 2017 PNCC Champion" was published, HR Manager Gracie Alenain is furious about the caption in the photo with me and Guy, saying it ruins the image of Palau Royal Resort. Days later, I was given a warning (demotion) about this article. I saw the word "You are given a chance to be heard" and I made this response....
Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Pages 9-10
Volume 26
Issue 98
December 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 -- December 18, 2017
The History of Chess in Palau
By Roberto Hernandez
June 09, 2002 -- December 18, 2017
After this article "Bobot is the 2017 PNCC Champion" was published, HR Manager Gracie Alenain is furious about the caption in the photo with me and Guy, saying it ruins the image of Palau Royal Resort. Days later, I was given a warning (demotion) about this article. I saw the word "You are given a chance to be heard" and I made this response....
I WAS GIVEN A CHANCE TO BE HEARD
December 27, 2017
Mr. Masayuki Kawaguchi
General Manager
Palau Royal Resort
Dear Sir,
It will take more than 3 hours to explain verbally how I have promoted Palau Royal Resort since 2006. This written explanation is better with facts, dates, photos, links, newspapers issues and comments from guests, local and international friends, relatives, co-employees, Palau Presidents, Senators, Delegates, high-ranking officials and ordinary people.
I’m not working yet at Palau Royal Resort but I’ve been promoting PRR since the arrival in Palau by former World Chess Federation (FIDE) President Florencio Campomanes from May 11-14, 2006 where he stayed at PRR and we have photo session at the lobby in the morning of his arrival.
(Island Times-Dec. 28, 2006; Jan. 03, 2007; Feb. 22-28, 2007; April 03, 06, 10, 2006; May 15, 2007)
Prior to the inaugural 2006 Palau Invitational Chess Championship in Aug. 31-Sept. 04, 2006, PRR is the confirmed venue of the said event http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2013/04/palau-welcomes-fide-rated-players-tbn.html
The results of that event were featured in 1. http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2015/09/1079-nz-bennett-is-picc-champion-tbn.html
2. Bulgar Newspaper (Philippines) Aug. 29, 2006 Volume 14 Issue 267
3. Bulgar Newspaper (Philippines) Sept. 06, 2006 Volume 14 Issue 275
4. New Zealand Chess Magazine Volume 33 Issue 5 October 2006
(***This link is not included in the original letter. I just remember it days later)***
During PRR 2007 Valentine Promotion, I’m working at Dragon Tei when I was hired to play at Waves Restaurant using my own equipment and keyboard from Sun. Feb. 11-14, 2007 at 7pm-10pm with a nightly payment of $45.00.
Two weeks before working at PRR, the Tia Belau Newspaper issue of May 18-24, 2007 featured me playing with Rmeriang Tmetchul and flutist Peoria Koshiba for PRR’s Mother’s Day Special. And when I started to work at PRR in June 01, 2007, all the succeeding issues of Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez on TBN (from 234th issue to 304th), PRR is mentioned at least once.
When I go to Australia in 2009 for Oceania Zonal Chess Championship, I have many photos showing me holding the PRR brown paper bag where I put the PRR brochures and my business cards to promote Palau chess and PRR there. http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/05/2009-oceania-zonal-chess-championship.html
I did the same in 2010 World Chess Olympiad in Russia, http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/04/2010-world-chess-olympiad-russia.html
In 2012 World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey, I didn’t have enough PRR brochures so I used the Palau Visitors Authority’s brochures instead.
2014 World Chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway:
In the 2016 World Chess Olympiad in Baku, Azerbaijan, I ran out of PRR brochures due to this…
Almost 90% of the time at my other column in Tia Belau (Music and Me by Roberto Hernandez), PRR was featured from its first issue in March 15, 2012—April 18, 2013. It was resumed through the PCF website http://palau-chess.blogspot.com where a lot of free promotional issues were featured.
I spent thousands of hours writing for Tia Belau, Palau Horizon and Island Times for free. They don’t edit my articles. It’s give and take to the max. I’ve been writing there for 15 years and I’m not being paid. BUT WHATEVER I WRITE, THEY WILL PUBLISH IT. WHATEVER PHOTO THAT I WANT TO BE FEATURED, THEY WILL FEATURE IT.
I’m taking advantage of this privilege to promote chess, music, Palau and PRR to the world. The countries who viewed PCF website as of Dec. 26, 2017 totaled 144 with page views of 296,462. The USA, Russia, Philippines, Palau, Germany, Australia, Ukraine, France, South Korea and United Kingdom are the Top 10 viewers.
GM Isao Takahashi appreciates my efforts in promoting PRR and he likes the story in http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/01/music-experience-of-roberto-hernandez.html
There are 286 articles of Music and Me by Roberto Hernandez and 182 of them have mentioned PRR at least once. There are 1,462 posts in PCF website and more than 40% of those posts mentioned PRR at least once. THERE IS NO SINGLE PERSON IN PALAU THAT DID THESE PROMOTIONS OF PRR.
Before eating at Cafeteria thrice a day, I always pray: “Our Mighty Father in heaven, bless these food I’m about to receive through your grace. Bless those who prepared these, the Management that can afford these. Give them many guests each and every day so that they may continue to help many other people. This is my prayer though the name of Your Son Jesus. Amen.”
I saw many times, employees who just do the sign of the cross and eat right away. What have they prayed in one second? Or is it just a sign of hypocrisy to show to others that they ‘pray’ before eating? Doing that 3x a day means I pray for PRR 1,095 times a year. Minus my vacation of 22 days and 10 times that I miss meals in a year it is 1,063 prayers by one employee a year. I HAVE 3,137 PHOTOS ABOUT PRR IN MY LAPTOP!
I truly care for PRR so getting a warning for doing what I am doing in the last 11 years is not what I am expecting. I have never had an intention to ruin PRR image. This is my bread and butter. If nobody takes notice of these little things, then God is my only witness.
MY LIFE REVOLVES NOW ONLY FOR CHESS, MUSIC, MY WIFE, PMCC CHURCH AND PRR!
Happy Holidays with warm regards,
Roberto A. Hernandez
Musician, Palau Royal Resort (June 01, 2007-Present)
Musician, Dragon Tei, Teppan Dragon, Donburi Dragon (June 23, 2006-May 31, 2007)
Musician, Rose Garden Resort (July 15, 2005-June 22, 2006)
Pianist/Disc Jockey, Image Restaurant (July 26, 1992-March 31, 2005)
Keyboard Player, Tropical Depression Band (Feb. 04, 1992—July 15, 1992)
Chess Columnist, Tia Belau Newspaper (Dec. 29, 2002- Present)
Chess Columnist/Contributor, Island Times Newspaper (Aug. – Sept. 2008)
General Secretary, Palau Chess Federation (FIDE Member – 2005)
FIDE Instructor, (World Chess Federation-FIDE) (2014-2019)
President (2008-2010, 2016), Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ (4th Watch) Palau Locale
(***This is not included also in the original version***)
Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Pages 9-10
Volume 26
Issue 98
December 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 -- December 18, 2017
The History of Chess in Palau
By Roberto Hernandez
June 09, 2002 -- December 18, 2017
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