(1464) MUSIC AND ME (Oct. 12, 2017) 2007--MY FIRST NEW YEAR'S EVE COUNTDOWN PERFORMANCE AT PRR

My partner in the 2007 New Year's eve Countdown at the Waves Restaurant is a Filipino lady singer working at one of the bars along Malakal. When we are practicing the song "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me", I have goosebumps and I told her, "Very rarely that I have goosebumps when somebody is singing. It's just a sign that you really sing with expression."

Our GM Isao Takahashi, middle-wearing Hawaiian shirt, knew my singer and where she works.

I don't remember her name, the Filipino lady singer.

Left to right, standing: Roberto Hernandez, GM Isao Takahashi, Masaki Horie, Mr. Bephu, Allan Tuppil, Jenny Salazar, Edgar Cayanan. Squatting (L-R) Ms. Sunny Matsui, Darwin Nisperos and Josephine Amutan.

Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
               Tia Belau Newspaper
               December 29, 2002 -- December 30, 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 30, 2017
              
               The History of Chess in Palau
               By Roberto Hernandez
               June 09, 2002 -- December 30, 2017

(1399) MUSIC AND ME (May 18, 2017) PALAUAN FIRST-BORN CHILD RITE (Royal Seasons Magazine 2008)

The Royal Seasons Magazine published in 2008 the traditional rite of Palauan first-born child with the mother being rubbed with oil all around her body. The problem is it is written in Chinese language/characters.

The 2007 Palau Royal Resort's New Year's Eve Countdown was also featured with guests and staff enjoying the countdown, where the performances were done by me during the early hours (piano instrumental) alternating with young Palauan traditional dancers and during the countdown (11pm-1:00am), live band featuring me, Alex Mantes and the greatest showman Palau ever knew--Lemuel "Lemon" Bacor-lead guitar and vocal. The staff had photo sessions with GM Isao Takahashi, Michelle Liao, Jesse Tsai, Edgar Cayanan, Maricar Genova Manad, Dennis Lara, Nino Flores, Nor Lazaro, F & B Manager Allan Tuppil, who sponsored $100.00 cash prize, trophy and medals for the 2007 Palau Royal Resort Rating Chess Tournament. VERY GOOD MEMORIES OF YEARS GONE BY!!!

In the Employees Corner, 4 employees of PRR were featured with 52-year-old (same as me) Chief Engineer Amado Fulgencio, former Employee of the Year Anette Niango, Mignon (without family name) and me. It also shows there how long we've been working at PRR with Mr. Fulgencio--2 years and 9 months, Anette (2 yrs. 11 mo.), Mignon (1 yr. 2 mo.) and me 9 months (from June 01, 2007).

 In the last page, Executive Chef Masaki Horie (1 yr. 5 mo.), F & B Manager Allan Tuppil (same years as Anette-which means they are pioneers), Annie and Winn Yobech. (2 yrs. 9 mo.).






Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
                Tia Belau Newspaper
                December 29, 2002--July 04, 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--July 04, 2017

                The History of Chess in Palau
                By Roberto Hernandez
                June 09, 2002--July 04, 2017

                Royal Seasons Magazine
                2008 Edition  

(1062) MUSIC AND ME (Aug. 06, 2015) HOW I LEARNED TO PLAY CHINESE SONGS BY EAR

BIRTHDAY PARTY OF HELEN AT LONG ISLAND PARK IN 2007
     Chinese waitress Helen, 5th from right, celebrated her birthday at Long Island Park with co-employees at Palau Royal Resort --from right--F & B Manager Allan Tuppil, Ramiro de Leon, Tin-Tin Agrimano, ?, Helen, May Anchoriz, ?, Melissa Lelis, Edgar Cayanan, Cathy Erni, Nestor Carlos, Delfin Mallare and Roberto Hernandez, who is the only one left that's still working at PRR as all the other 16 have left for greener pasture.
                                   (Photo by Helen, reproduced in black and white print)


       HOW I LEARNED TO PLAY
        CHINESE SONGS BY EAR

When I started playing music at Palau Royal Resort on June 01, 2007, I only know 3 Chinese songs -- "Pasantek Honghoy", "Shiangmu, Shiangu Yo Shiang Fong", and the Chinese version of "More Than I Can Say".

After attending the birthday party of one of the Chinese waitresses of PRR Helen, I asked her if she has a CD of Chinese songs that she can lend me so that I may improve on my knowledge of Chinese music. She borrowed a CD from Cathy, the other Chinese waitress.

I listen to all the songs in there and in the 4th time that I listen to those, I tried to play the chords with my keyboard (Yamaha PSR400), which I bought from Kasiano Sugiyama in 1997 for $175.00. His starting price is $250.00 but lower it down to $200.00 and leave the keyboard for me to take a look.

When I take a good look at it, I feel very, very much familiar with it. I have to go to the 2nd floor of Image Restaurant to compare it to the keyboard that I'm using there. My employer for 13 years Margarita Borja Dalton bought 2 from USA (Yamaha PSR400) for me to have a spare.

When I come back to check again the one Kasiano is selling me, it's really the same. Only the design of the speaker and the colors of the buttons are different. Also the model says PSR85. When the first one got defective, I opened it and found out that the model number inside is the same!  --Yamaha PSR400.

When Kasiano called back, I want to 'bargain' with him because there are no music stand, sustain pedal and owner's manual. I asked him if he has those very important accessories but he said only the power adapter. I bargained for $150.00 while waiting for his response. I'm ready to accept for $180.00 so when he said $175.00, I accepted it.

I issue him a receipt upon payment because it happened many times when somebody is selling something at very low price, it's stolen. 

Madam Margie bought those keyboards in USA for $400.00 each. I didn't tell Kasiano that it's almost the same model as the ones that I'm using at Image Restaurant.

As I learned 3 songs from the CD, I started to play it at Waves Restaurant and 'feel' how Chinese/Taiwanese will respond to those songs.

No response from those first 2 songs that I've learned. But when I learned the 3rd one which I don't know yet the title, just the melody, there's a tremendous response from Chinese/Taiwanese that even 4-year-old kids know it. I SAID TO MYSELF, "THIS IS IT, I WILL LEARN THIS SONG BECAUSE IT'S MORE POPULAR THAN THE OTHERS!

I know now the title of it --"Yue Liang Dai Biao Wo De Xin". The mother of my 2 Taiwanese piano students Carol Hsu and Yo-Yo Hsieu wrote in Chinese characters the singer of that song --Deng Li Juin. 

The 2011 Chinese Songs Singing Contest (for Palauan singers only) is one of the major reasons that I learned an additional 9 most popular Chinese songs because I accompany those singers/contestants live using a keyboard.

The contestants must sing 2 songs out of 9 available choices. They have to sing 1 song in the first round and another different song in the 2nd round.

I practiced with the contestants (8 girls and a lone guy) with the songs available -- Yue Liang Dai Biao Wo De Xin (The Moon Symbolizes My Heart), Tian Mi Mi (Sweetly Sweet), Ye Lai Xiang (Night Jasmine), Lan Hua Cao (Orchid), and Gao Shan Qing (Evergreen Mountain).

I practiced with 4 girls while the other 5 practiced with a young Palauan keyboard player. I noticed that all contestants pieces were No. 1 and No. 2 songs. Only the eventual grand winner sang a different 2nd song --Gao Shan Qing.

One of the instructor in Palau Community College Howard Charles sang a beautiful version of Ye Lai Xiang (Night Jasmine).

The event was held at Palasia Hotel with the Taiwan Ambassador Maggie Tien rendering a Taiwanese song with me playing the accompaniment on the keyboard. Gloria Bilung Salii, First Lady Valeria Toribiong, Carlos Hiros Salii, Ambassador Tien and another high ranking Taiwanese official were the judges. President Johnson Toribiong were able to made it on time after coming from off island official trip.

All of the girls that I practiced were able to get the top prizes --$300.00 to the grand winner. I was paid by Ambassador Tien the same amount as the prize of the grand winner.
IT LOOKS LIKE THERE ARE 2 GRAND WINNERS!


Sources: Chess and Music (Perfect Combination)
             The Beginning of Chess in Palau
             By Roberto Hernandez
             To be published as a book in the future

               Music and Me
            By Roberto Hernandez
            Tia Belau Newspaper
            March 2012 -- April 2013
            http://palau-chess.blogspot.com
            April 2013--September 2015
   



     

(529) HERNANDEZ, LARA, GUEVARRA TOP PRR CHESS TILT (TBN-Nov. 09-15, 2007)

TOP seed Roberto Hernandez, newcomer Dennis Lara and pastry chef Jaime Guevarra finished 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively in the conclusion of Palau Royal Resort rating chess tournament held on Halloween night, Oct. 31, 2007 at Dorm 1.

Four crucial games were played on the final day. After Nino Flores lost to Guevarra, Hernandez had a sigh of relief and virtually clinched the title after Flores lost another one to Lara.

Paul Garcia ended his surge for the top 3 finish when he lost to Lara in a 30-minute or rapid chess time control to speed up the game.

All other games were declared draws or defaults as players didn't show up in the final night.

The mostly affected player was Abe Francisco, who lost 13 games via default and finished at 14th spot.

 Roberto 'Tube Ice' Tubice edged Laurence Abuton at 8th spot by just 2 points.

Arnel Pama still made it at 7th slot and will receive a medal from Mr. Allan Tuppil, the Food & Beverage Manager of PRR, who donated $100.00 cash prize, a trophy and 5 medals for the 4th to 8th finishers.

Pama and  Mr. Tuppil have a short vacation and will be back on the 10th of this month.

Awarding of cash prize and medals will be held after they have come back. 

Flores and Guevarra finished with identical 28 points but Guevarra prevailed in the Sonnenborn-Berger tiebreak 359.5 to 297.

Hernandez will receive $50.00 cash prize and he will donate $20.00 to King Royal Chess Club of PRR.

Lara and Guevarra will donate $10.00 and $5.00 of their $30.00 and $20.00 cash prize respectively.

The new ratings of the players who participated in the tourney was released and Guevarra emerged as the highest rated player ahead of Lara as he scored a victory once over Hernandez and twice over Ivan II chess computer. Lara and Flores drew their 2 games with Ivan II to lose 40 rating points.

FINAL STANDINGS OF PLAYERS WITH THEIR WIN-LOSS-DRAW RECORD AND NEW APPROXIMATE RATING      1. Roberto Hernandez (29-4-3) 30.5 pts. (2076)  2. Dennis Lara (27-5-4) 29 pts. (1838)  3. Jaime Guevarra (25-5-6) 28 pts. (1951)  4. Nino Flores (26-6-4) 28 pts. (1865)  5. Paul Garcia (24-8-4) 26 pts. (1823)  6. Zaldy Ranopa (23-8-5) 25.5 pts. (1845)  7. Arnel Pama (21-12-3) 22.5 pts. (1773)  8. Robert Tubice (19-13-4) 21 pts. (1771)
     9. Laurence Abuton (17-15-4) 19 pts. (1770)  10. Tony Penas (13-15-8) 17 pts. (1762)  11. Erick Ventinilla (12-17-7) 15.5 pts. (1754)  12. Paquito Suringa, Jr. (13-20-3) 14.5 pts. (1670)  13. Excalibur Chess Computer (5-14-17) 13.5 pts.   14. Abe Francisco (10-21-5) 12.5 pts. (1670)  15. Ivan II (3-15-18) 12 pts.  16. Manny Dulay (9-23-4) 11 pts. (1647)  17. Randy Sioson (10-25-1) 10.5 pts. (1611)  18. Arnold Rivera (2-29-5) 4.5 points (1608)  19. Zueni Mirabueno (0-32-4) 2 pts.  

Danny Dandoy, the 1st runner-up of the 2004 Non-Master chess tournament will join the Rapid Chess tournament organized by Knights and Rooks Chess Club to start on November 18 at Jean's Boutique and Store. 

Guevarra and Garcia will likely join the tilt also and a newcomer named Michael Mercado of Aqua Water will test the top players of Palau in the year-ending tournament.

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
            Tia Belau Newspaper 
            Page 13
            Volume 17
            November 09-15, 2007      

(528) GARCIA STILL IN CONTENTION (TBN-Nov. 02-08, 2007)

PLAYING 2 players at a time becomes a trend in the last week of Palau Royal Resort rating chess tournament with Paul Garcia playing the 2 chess computers simultaneously and beating Excalibur in 54 moves of Dutch Defence and Ivan II in 19 moves of Queen's Pawn Opening. 

He lost to Robert 'Tube Ice' Tubice when he missed a rook check that would have given him a whole piece advantage in the endgame. 

Instead, he played passively and lost to his catalyst in a Bishop Opening game but still in contention for the top 8 slot.

Another 3 medals were added to the prize donated by Mr. Allan Tuppil, the Food & Beverage Manager of PRR.

OTHER RESULTS OF THE PENULTIMATE ROUND OF THE TOURNEY:

     Top seed Roberto Hernandez played 2 players at a time and beat them both.
     He clobbered Zaldy Ranopa in 42 moves of Modern Defence and survived a strong resistance from Laurence Abuton in 31 moves of Sicilian Defence. 

     Another simultaneous game was played by Arnel Pama versus Dennis Lara and Jaime Guevarra but lost both games one the eve of his departure for emergency leave.

     Ranopa scored the quickest victory over Ivan II when he sacrificed a rook and a bishop without any material consideration except to maintain his initiative in mounting a bewildering attack.

     He unified his forces into perfect harmony so that when his heavy artillery ignited the first salvo, the belligerent forces were in frenzy dodging the spitfire.    Pandemonium broke loose as continuous shelling ravage Ivan's territory and was mated on the 19th move.

     With the tournament to be concluded on Oct. 31, 2007, many players will not be able to finished their remaining games and organizers will decide if they will forfeit those games to the players who refuse to play when asked to like Arnold Rivera, Abe Francisco and Randy "Buhawi" Sioson.

     Awarding of cash prizes, trophy and medals will be held after Mr. Tuppil's short vacation. He and Pama will be back on Nov. 10, 2007.

     Two weeks after the awarding, a rapid chess tournament will be held again with players having the pleasure of not annotating their moves anymore.

     On November 18, 2007, the Knights and Rooks Chess Club (Palau) will have their own rapid chess tournament which will conclude on Dec. 16, 2007. 

     If there are still games to be played, it will be held on Dec. 23 to coincide with KRCC Christmas Party and Blitz Chess Festival.

     Jaime Guevarra showed interest in participating as his time schedule can have him play a game on Saturday and another game on Sunday, most probably morning.

     STANDINGS OF PLAYERS AND THEIR WIN-LOSS-DRAW RECORD:
     1. Roberto Hernandez (25-4-1) 2. Jaime Guevarra (18-5-3) 3. Nino Flores (19-4-0) 4. Zaldy Ranopa (17-6-2) 5. Arnel Pama (17-12-2) 6. Dennis Lara (16-5-0) 7. Robert Tubice (16-10-2)  8. Paul Garcia (14-7-0) 9. Laurence Abuton (14-10-2) 10. Paquito Suringa, Jr. (12-17-0) 11. Abe Francisco (10-6-0) 12. Tony Penas (9-11-0) 13. Erick Ventinilla (8-15-1) 14. Randy Sioson (6-16-0) 15. Manny Dulay (6-20-0) 16. Excalibur (4-13-5) 17. Ivan II (2-14-4) 18. Arnold Rivera (2-5-0) 19. Zuenie Mirabueno (0-32-4).

           

    

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
               Tia Belau Newspaper
               Page 13
               Volume 17
               November 02-08, 2007

(499) PAMA SEIZES LEAD, ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF KRCC (TBN-Aug. 03-09, 2007)

ARNEL Pama was elected Chairman of King Royal Chess Club, the newly-formed chess club of Palau Royal Resort (PRR) with just one vote margin over Abraham 'Abe' Francisco in a tightly contested election, 8-7.

Francisco automatically became the Vice Chairman of the club with unopposed Roberto Hernandez as Secretary/Treasurer.

The Board of Directors consists of Allan Tuppil, Edgar Cayanan, Hernandez and Francis Diesta.

Pama played the most number of games and took the lead with 6-4-0 win-loss-draw record.

He lost to Francisco in his last game on Monday, July 30.

Paquito Suringa, Jr. (2-3-0) lost to Laurence Abuton (2-2-0) in 22 moves of King's Pawn Opening.

Pama dealt Paul Garcia (3-2-0) his first loss in 53 moves of Reti Opening.

Robert Tubice (3-1-1) had the 2nd best record and trounced Garcia in 51 moves of Sicilian Defence.

Pama whipped Suringa, Jr. in just 20 moves of another Reti Opening.

Francisco lost a controversial game against Ivan II Chess Computer when a bishop was put off the board and was captured by the machine.

It will be replayed with 2 boards to be used to avoid it from happening again.

Top seed Roberto Hernandez (3-0-0) got the best record after nipping new employee Dennis Lara (4-2-0) in 60 moves of Caro-Kahn Defence.

Lara then scored the shortest game of the tournament with a 6-move conquest of Randy Sioson (0-4-0), who also dropped a game against Nino Flores (1-2-0) in 49 moves of Danish Gambit.

Erstwhile leader Jaime Guevarra (3-1-2) suffered his first lost against Flores in 34 moves of Queen's Pawn Opening.

Pama used his pet Reti Opening but to no avail as he was drubbed by Tubice in 25 moves.

He used the same opening again vs. Tony Penas (0-1-0) and prevailed in 46 moves.

A game later , he clobbered Excalibur Chess Computer in 53 moves of Ruy Lopez.

Sioson continued his slide by succumbing to Abuton in 20 moves of Irregular Opening.

Garcia scored his 3rd win by outplaying Abuton in 50 moves of Pirc Defence.

Eric Ventinilla (1-3-1) scored an upset victory over Guevarra in another 50 moves of King's Pawn Opening when the latter blundered away his rook in the endgame.

Zaldy Ranopa (0-0-1) drew his first game of the tourney with Guevarra in 73 moves of Giocco Piano.

Ventinilla drew also with Tubice in 33 moves of Danish Gambit.

Manny Dulay, who recently joined the field, whipped Sioson in 40 moves of Reti Opening but lost to Suringa, Jr. in 29 moves of King's Pawn Opening.

Suringa, Jr. scored his 2nd win by outwitting Sioson in 39 moves of another King's Pawn Opening while Guevarra held on to a 2-pawn disadvantage to draw with Excalibur in 77 moves of Sicilian Defence.

A lady joined the field of 18 participants and will start her first game on Thursday, her day off.

Zueni Mirabueno played varsity chess in her college days and will try her mettle against fellow co-employees to regain her top form.

Source:
Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Page 13
Volume 17
August 03-09, 2007

(473) MUSIC AND ME (May 16, 2013) Maricar Genova --GREENER PASTURE

GREENER PASTURE
Maricar Genova left Palau for good last month seeking greener pasture to Canada. She is the Supervisor of Waves Restaurant of Palau Royal Resort. (Photos by Roberto Hernandez)



When Roberto Hernandez started playing piano at Palau Royal Resort in June 01, 2007, he didn't know that Maricar Genova is just a few days ahead of him working at PRR.

He just learned about it when these photos were taken as a souvenir for working together in more than 6 years.

Maricar will try her luck in Canada, where some workers of PRR have found better paying jobs there like Edgar dela Rosa and Felix Lapitan, the Gardening Supervisor who is also a member of Palau Chess Federation.

Lapitan participated in the 2005-2006 Rapid Chess tournament where he led the 28 other players in the first 7 rounds of the double round-robin event.

Former PRR Food & Beverage Manager Allan Tuppil also seeked greener pasture -- in Vietnam this time. He became the GM of Bhaya Cruise.

An interesting chain of event happen when he took a 2-month vacation and helped Edgar Cayanan, who replaced his position at PRR, to replace him again this time in Vietnam.

When Edgar arrived there, Allan found another greener pasture but still in Vietnam-- as GM of a smaller hotel.

When "Pinoy Chessers Thrive in Palau" was published in "The International Filipino" monthly magazine, a separate story of Allan Tuppil's venture in Vietnam was also featured in the same magazine.

Hernandez became a monthly contributor in The International Filipino, being headed by Windsor John Genova (not related to Maricar), who has been a reporter of Tia Belau Newspaper in 2004.

A few months ago, Edgar Cayanan asked Hernandez to look for musicians in Philippines -- a keyboard player and 2 lady singers, to play in Bhaya Cruise for one year.

Hernandez found only a guitarist and 2 lady singers which Edgar found too late and maybe got what he needs when he personally go to Philippines to audition them.

Edgar can play bass and accoustic guitar, drums, piano and knows a lot of international songs. His favorite songs that he used to request to Hernandez are "That's What Friends Are For" by Dionne Warwick and Friends; "Ebony And Ivory" by Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder; "Hotel California" by Eagles in which one time he plays the accompaniment on the piano and Hernandez played the adlib to the amazement of a security personnel, who can't believe that a person can have so much talents.

Edgar is one of Hernandez' choice of his dream to form a senior band that all members can play at least 4 different musical instruments. For every song that they will play, they will change the instruments that they are playing with the quality of their music not affected.

AND EVERY MEMBER CAN SING -- 1ST, 2ND AND 3RD VOICES FOR HARMONY! That's showcasing talents!



Source: Chess and Music -- Perfect Combination
(The Beginning Of Chess In Palau)
History of Chess In Palau
(To be published as a book in the future)