(1459) MUSIC AND ME (Sept. 28, 2017) HELPING FRIENDS, CO-EMPLOYEES GET THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSE

Ronnel Gutierrez failed the driving test twice in a funny turn of events in getting it. It's the opposite of my roommate Rey Alenain and F & B Manager Edwin Acuyan, who both passed the written exam with a perfect score of 100%.

   HELPING FRIENDS/RELATIVES, 
     CO-EMPLOYEES GET THEIR
          DRIVER'S LICENSE
      I have more than 16 friends/relatives and co-employees that I have helped to get their driver's licenses after I've got my own in 1996. At Image Restaurant, I helped my daughter Karen Gennibeth Miranda Hernandez Cando, my wife Flor Miranda Hernandez, co-employee Romeo Coritico, Michael Carolino, Hermie and Ebot Leano. I trained Karen how to drive near the Papago International Resort, where my friend Amante Caballero worked for 19 straight years in Palau without having a single vacation. We are 5 inside the Toyota Corolla car (Karen, me, Flor and Muhini Castaneda, Karen's friend and classmate.
          Karen is a fast learner while Flor is so nervous that I have to turned the steering wheel to the left so that she will not hit a house!

          The most 'memorable' helping was with Ronnel Gutierrez, where we practice driving inside the parking area of Palau Royal Resort. When he passed the written exam, we set a date for his driving test with me driving him to the Bureau of Public Safety for the morning time test. 
          While inside the car, I warned him that sometimes policeman who is doing the test is cocky and will really test you by giving you instruction that is unlawful, like turning left when there is a sign that no left turn from 7 am to 5 pm. I also advise him not to drive fast because in Palau, they don't issue you ticket for slow driving but to those who drive faster than the Palau limit of 25 mph outside residential area, 20 mph in commercial area and 15 mph at school zone. I wish I should have not said the thing about cocky police officer/s because it affects his mentality about it.
          The policeman is very furious when they come back after a few minutes and said, "Your friend is very stubborn! He didn't listen to me when I said "Go faster". He failed!"
          While inside the car in going back to PRR, I asked him what happened. He said, "I drove slowly and the officer asked me to drive faster. I thought that he is just testing me by giving me an instruction to drive fast so I didn't listen to him."
          The next driving test was done by a lady police officer. I said to myself, he can pass this driving test because the lady officer is not as strict and cocky as the first one.
          But he failed again! Ronnel said that,"all the driving routes that we have gone went smoothly until she asked me to turn left in going back to BPS station. I am signalling to the left but the car is not aligned in the middle that the cars behind me cannot pass as well as the other cars at the other side in front of us. 

         At the 3rd time, Ronnel went with Amos Mesubed, the PRR specialist who knows many police officers that work at BPS. This time, Ronnel passed. The payment of $25.00 for 5 years license was paid by the management (Jesse Tsai), who asked Ronnel to get the license because he is at the Purchasing Department and he always go outside to buy PRR stocks and other supplies.
         Ronnel is interested to come with Palau chess team to Norway in 2014 so before that, I registered his name as one of the contestant in the 2013 Palau Rapid Chess Championship where he's got a Rapid Rating for possible inclusion in the team.

I didn't know that when an applicant for driver's license in Palau got a perfect 100% score in the written exam, he can have the driving test right away. This happened when I come with my roommate Rey Alenain for written exam. He passed it with a perfect score and as they are getting ready to board my old white car (Toyota Levin), the police officer said, "Can you get a better car?"

We go back to PRR and borrowed Erick Ventinilla's car (who happened to sold it to Albino Yap and later Albino sold it to me for $150.00 and I sold my old car to James dela Cruz for $150.00 also.

Edwin Acuyan, PRR F & B Manager, also got 100% in the written exam and get the driving test right away. Of course he passed it. He bought me cookies, choc. coconut juice as gratefulness for helping him.

The most 'unusual' incident is when Marc Montales, a chef at Chinese section, asked me also to get driver's license. He passed the written and when it's time for driving test, I am the one who's driving because he can be charged with driving without license if he will be the one to drive to the station.

The officer lets him use my car for drive test. When they come back, Marc told me that he failed the test but the officer will let him get a license for $20.00 that includes his girlfriend Cherry Tayag to get a license also with him giving her the drive test.

In going back to Palau Royal Resort, I let him drive and I noticed that he is also stepping at the brake and gas pedal at the same time. The police officer knew that he is not really ready yet to get license and the 'offer' is just to make extra money through bribery.

Eventually, he and his girlfriend got their license and when I saw that the officer is having another Filipino guy who is having a driving test, I can't resist to think that he will offer the same 'package' if he will know that the one taking the test is not ready yet to have a license.








Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
               Tia Belau Newspaper
               December 29, 2002 -- December 16, 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 16, 2017
              
              The History of Chess in Palau
              By Roberto Hernandez
              June 09, 2002 -- December 16, 2017

(1277) OLYMPIANS PREP GAMES CANCELLED (TBN-August 01, 2016)

:  THREESOME TO BAKU OPENING CEREMONY

                   L-R: Jeff Balbalosa, Roberto Hernandez and Dennis Gonzales are veterans of 2014 World Chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway’s Opening Ceremony. The three will represent Palau again in the 2016 WCO in Baku, Azerbaijan together with first-timers Allan Alcid and probably Paquito Suringa, Jr. with Delegate Eric Ksau Surangel Whipps. The Opening Ceremony will be held on Sept. 01, 2016 at 8pm.

                                                       (Photo by Eric Ksau Surangel Whipps)

           OLYMPIANS' PREP GAMES

                         CANCELLED

 

It was decided during the Palau Chess Federation’s Board Members meeting on June 02 that a short tourney of about 5 or 6 weeks will be held for Olympians’ preparation for the upcoming 2016 World Chess Olympiad in Baku, Azerbaijan on Sept. 01-14.

                The Palau Chess Team Open section members (Roberto Hernandez, Dennis Gonzales, Jeff Balbalosa, Paquito Suringa, Jr. and Allan Alcid) are about to have a round-robin tourney using the Chess Olympiad time control or Classical, of 90 minutes for each player to make 40 moves with an increment of 30 seconds starting from move 1 and another 30 minutes to finish the game. This short tourney will commence right after the final round of the first prep tourney, the 2016 Palau Rapid Chess tilt (Part 2) has concluded.

                Palau top chess player Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. and No. 3 Tito Cabunagan are willing to participate in the event but Jeff’s early departure to Philippines on the 1^st week of August prevented him to participate in the non-FIDE rated event. Last Olympians prep games in June-July 2014 was criticized by PNG top player CM Joselito Marcos as “prep games and FIDE rated?”

                Many players esp. CM Bernardo Garcia insisted it to be rated so that their ratings will be higher which is not a good strategy as Palau was fitted against stronger first round opponents in the 2014 World Chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway.

                To have a little taste of Olympiad time control, Alcid practiced with Hernandez at Palau Royal Resort Dormitory 1 Lounge on July 22, using a faster 25 minutes + 10 seconds increment time control. He insisted to write the moves and they played 2 games in which Hernandez won the 1^st one and Alcid rebounded to extract a whole point in their 2^nd game. He keeps the score sheet to study the 1^st game in which he lost the initiative after winning the exchange (a rook for a bishop). THE MOVES:

Alcid, Allan (1750) - Hernandez, Roberto (1798) [A85]

2016 Olympians Practice (1), 22.07.2016

            1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 e6 4.Nf3 Bb4 5.Bg5 0–0 6.e3 h6 7.Bh4 g5 8.Bg3 Ne4 9.Qc2 Nxc3 10.bxc3 Be7 11.h4 g4 12.Ne5 Kg7 13.h5 Nc6 14.Nxg4 Qe8 15.Ne5 d6 16.Ng6 Rf6 17.d5 Nd8 18.Nxe7 Qxe7 19.Bh4 e5 20.Bxf6+ Qxf6 21.Be2 Nf7 22.f4 b6 23.Kd2 a5 24.g4 Kh8 25.gxf5 Bxf5 26.e4 Bd7 27.fxe5 Nxe5 28.Raf1 Qg5+ 29.Kd1 Bg4 30.Bxg4 Nxg4 31.Qd2 Ne3+ 32.Kc1 Nxf1 33.Qxg5 hxg5 34.Rxf1 Kg7 35.Kd2 Kh6 36.Rh1 Rf8 37.Ke3 g4 38.a4 Rf3+ 39.Kd2 Rh3 40.Rf1 Kxh5 41.Rf7 g3 42.Ke2 Rh2+ 43.Kf1 Ra2 44.Rxc7 Kg4 45.Rg7+ Kf3 46.Rf7+ Kxe4 47.Rg7 g2+ 48.Kg1 Kd3 49.Rg3+ Kxc4     0–1

            The itinerary of Palau Chess Team has been changed from Palau-Manila-Dubai-Moscow-Baku and return through China, to Palau-Manila-Thailand-Turkey-Baku and return. The tickets were bought more than a month in advance to get some discount esp. from Turkish Airline, who is trying to recover from terrorist attack a few months ago.

            In the revised Visa application form, in which electronic visas will be given to the players, instead of falling in line at Baku Airport, Roberto holds 3 positions as Team Captain, Player and Counselor to the Congress and General Assembly.

            All information have been filled up except the email address of Suringa, who have 2 email addresses but have not used them for more than 5 years that is why it is not working anymore. Hernandez asked him more than a dozen times to make a new one so that he will receive the individual invitation to his new one. He keeps ignoring Hernandez request. If Suringa would not make it to Baku, it is his own fault.

            They will all leave Manila with Delegate and PCF President Eric Ksau Whipps on Aug. 31 and will arrive in Baku on Sept. 01 so that Team Palau can attend the Opening Ceremony at 8pm (Azerbaijan time). Mr. Whipps will go back to Manila to attend a wedding on Sept. 08 while the rest of the team will depart Baku on Sept. 14 and will be back to Palau on Sept. 16.

            Solution to last week puzzle No. 3485: 1. f8=B!! Yes! The pawn was promoted to a dark-colored Bishop to force mate in 2 moves. 1 . ..  Ke8 2. Nf6 mate. Nobody solve this puzzle so nobody won the $7.00 cash prize.

            This week puzzle No. 3484: White to move and mates in 2 (Solution next issue)

Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez

                 Tia Belau Newspaper

                 Pages 9-10

                 Volume 25

                 Issue 61

                 August 01, 2016

                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 15, 2012 --April 18, 2013

                http://palau-chess.blogspot.com

                April 25, 2013 -- August 01, 2016

                The History of Chess in Palau

                By Roberto Hernandez

                June 09, 2002 -- August 01, 2016   

(375) MUSIC AND ME (Jan. 24) Elilai, PRR, Chris & Music Lessons

FIRST TIME AT ELILAI
Roberto Hernandez, 3rd from right, has been to many European countries but first time to go at Elilai in their department's late Christmas party on Friday, January 11, 2013. From left, Midori -- the wife of PRR GM Mike Kawaguchi, 4th from right, Rea Arceo, Ella Asuncion, Lorna Castaneto, Katsuhito Yamane and Amos Mesubed.
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)



        ELILAI, PRR, CHRIS AND
             MUSIC LESSONS

THE EXECUTIVE, Sales and Marketing Department of Palau Royal Resort held their department’s late Christmas party at Elilai on January 11, 2013 at 7:00 pm.

Together with General Manager Masayuki ‘Mike’ Kawaguchi’s car were Katsuhito Yamane (driving), Roberto Hernandez, GM, his wife Midori, Ella Asuncion, Lorna Castaneto and Rea Arceo.

Amos Mesubed joined the group an hour later using his car.

There is live entertainment by a Brazilian lady singing with a preset accompaniment of mostly jazzy music. While sitting and about to order their food, Roberto mentioned to everybody that he will be 21 years staying in Palau on Feb. 04 but it’s his first time to be at Elilai.

Like the previous late Christmas party of Executive, Sales and Marketing department especially at Dragon Tei in 2010, Amos is again telling stories about what they call in Philippines“green jokes” that mostly involve funny jokes about sex.

This time, GM, Roberto and Amos are the ones doing the talking. GM’s story about his experience in Franceis very funny and educational. The group had some photos taken and nobody ordered dessert because they all had enough.

Before they leave, the 2 foreign chefs introduced themselves to GM and they have about 15-minute conversation. That’s enough time for Lorna, Rea and Ella to prepare a photo session with the chefs.

It didn’t happen but on their way to leave, Roberto made a sign of picture taking to Chris Johnson, the Swedish chef. After some photos were taken, Roberto gave 2 of his business cards to Chris and asked him to give the other business card to his colleague.

Ella was dropped at her residence about a kilometer away from Elilai. Roberto called the Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ (4^th Watch) if he can still attend the prayer meeting but it’s finished already.

The next day, Roberto got a text message from Chris. He said that he read from Roberto’s card that he offers music lessons and that he’s looking for a long time of a music tutor. He inquired about the fee, available time, requirements and other information on how to get music lessons.

When Roberto responded that Chris must have his own keyboard, it somehow lost his interest because he doesn’t have a keyboard to start with. But when Roberto offered to lend his spare keyboard, they agreed that he will have twice a week lesson. Chris is off on Mondays, works from 10am-2pm and 6pm-10pm Tuesday-Sunday.

Roberto suggested an hour each on Tuesday and Wednesday (8-9am) or 2 hours straight on Monday which sounds perfect for him. They agreed to start on Monday at 10am-12:00 noon and will meet at PIDC store which is about 200 meters from his rented apartment.

With his spare keyboard, adaptor, music stand, sustain pedal and music scores, Roberto met Chris again in front of PIDC store. The 2-hour lessons seemed like 20 minutes only because Chris is a very fast learner. He learned in that short period of time the songs “Jambalaya”, “Achy Breaky Heart”, “Beautiful Sunday”,“Leaving on a Jet Plane” and “Merrily We Roll Along” using the combination of reading notes and “by ear”.

He can play now all the chords in piano by using Roberto’s formula like the Major, Minor, 7^th, Major 7^th, Minor 7^th, 6^th, Minor 6^th, Diminish, Augmented and Sustain.

When Roberto learned that he is from Sweden, he mentioned to him that Palau’s Delegate to the 2008, 2010 and 2012 World Chess Olympiad is Jan Berglund, a Swedish, who is married to a Filipina – Bessie.

After a very fruitful first lesson, Roberto offered to lend Chris his keyboard but he needs to buy an adaptor. He went with Chris at Surangel to buy the adaptor. Roberto offered to drop him again to his apartment but Chris said he’ll have lunch at nearby restaurant and will enjoy the sun (at 12:00 noon!) in walking back to his apartment which he is sharing with the other chef.


Source: Music and Me by Roberto Hernandez
              Tia Belau Newspaper
              Pages 8-9
             Volume 22
             Issue 07
             January 24, 2013