FAREWELL PARTY FOR CHEF HORIE AND DAVID CHEN
Palau
Royal Resort Executive Chef Masaki Horie bids farewell to colleagues
and co-employees during the Farewell and Welcome Party at the Conference
Room of PRR, which was used 3 times as venue for inaugural 2006 Palau
Invitational Chess Championship, 2011 PICC and 2012 Palau National Chess
Championship. (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)
BEFORE
I WRITE ANYTHING ABOUT THIS EVENT, PLEASE READ THESE 2 ISSUES OF MUSIC
AND ME -- NO. 154 (Composer of Palauan Song "Ngesuas") and No. 259
(Music Control)
THEY'VE BEEN TO PALAU 7 TIMES
Mr.
Katsutoshi Nakada, right, and his wife Michiko Nakamura has been to
Palau 7 times already. In April 2012, they are back again and have this
picture taken again and sent it through Facebook to Roberto, who thanked
them for chocolates/pastries/donuts from Morozoff that they have given
to him. ARIGATOU GOZAIMASU!
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)
COMPOSER OF PALAUAN SONG "NGESUAS"
On June 30, 2011 as I’m about to
play piano music at Waves Restaurant of Palau Royal Resort, a group of Palauan
family are having dinner at a table in front of the piano. There’s also a BBQ
for Japanese guests outside.
When I sit down
to start playing, the Palauan father of the family asked me, “Is that a song
book?” I said yes, and lend it to him and said, “Would you like to take a
look?” I gave him the dark blue notebook
in which the cover is a photo of me and Palau President Johnson Toribiong taken
on August 09, 2009.
I
started to play Palauan songs and he knows almost all the Palauan songs that
I’ve played. Sometimes he sings softly when he knows the lyrics.
When
I played “Ngesuas”, he pointed at a teen-age girl and said to me that the
composer of that song is her father. I lend her my green book where there are
Palauan songs at the last few pages and she chooses a song.
The
father told me personally that it’s his wife’s birthday today and asked me to
play “Happy Birthday” right now. I suggested to him that to make a more
dramatic approach, he should ask for a birthday candle, get 4 pieces of cake
from buffet and ask some of the staff to sing for her.
I
help in arranging that situation and when the all-lady employees sing the
‘Happy Birthday Song’, it has a big impact even to the other guests.
Executive
Chef Horie is very busy with the Japanese BBQ and when he goes inside,
sometimes he hears the father or me singing softly. He ordered Chris
(supervisor) to tell me something: “Stop playing Palauan songs”.
When
Chris told me that, I’m almost finish with the Palauan song I’m playing, and
then the girl mentioned her requested song. After playing it, she gave me $5.00
tip. I still continue to play Palauan songs. Why should I stop when guests are
enjoying it? It’s not only the Palauans that are enjoying it but also
Taiwanese.
I
think the father notice what Chris told me and while paying their bill, he
wrote something on a piece of paper. Before leaving, he approached me and said,
“You know a lot of Palauan songs. I know most of those. I own the SLC Club.” I
gave him my business card also. Some of them ordered ala carte and some have
buffet dinner.
After
they left, Chris told me what the father had written on a piece of paper – THAT
THE SERVICE IS BAD. THE FOOD ARRIVED LONG TIME BUT THE MUSIC IS VERY NICE!
On
my 2nd day of working as musician at PRR (June 02, 2007), I’m
playing the Japanese song “Sakeyo” with expression. I thought Chef Horie will
“feel” it but I’m shocked with what he said—“Don’t play that kind of song here
at PRR. It’s not suitable in this kind of place.”
I
think what he means is that “Sakeyo” is an “Enka” song which means Japanese
song where the theme is about the breaking up of lovers or their quarrels/disagreements.
A
few months later, he asked for my Japanese songbook while having a drink at
Breeze Bar. He made a list of more than half of my repertoire of Japanese songs
and ordered me not to play those songs—AIJIN, AMENO BOJO, Chako no kaigan monogatari,
COMO ESTA AKASAKA, DANSHING All NIGHT (Dancing All Night-correction), FUTARI DE
OSAKEO, ITOSHI NO ERI (Itoshino Elly –correction), KANPAI, KAWA NO NAGARENO NI
MIO MAKASE (he combined “Kawa No Nagareno Yo Ni” and “Tokino Nagareno Mio
Makase”), KITA SAKABA, NAGISA NO BALCONY, ROPPONGI RARABAI, SAIGO NO IIWAKE,
SAKE TO NAMIDA TO OTOKO TO ONNA, SAKEYO, SUKIYAKI, TUGUNAI (TSUGUNAI
–correction), WAKATTE KUDASAI, WAKARENO ASA, WAKARETEMO SUKINAHITO.
When
I complain why “Itoshino Elly” is included? It’s the most popular Japanese
song. He said, “It’s an order!” I wonder who order it. I know it’s not GM Isao
Takahashi’s order.
It’s
like a cat and mouse game since then. When he’s around, I will not play those
20 songs. It’s good he’s not around when I played “Kawa No Nagareno Yo Ni” to a
lone old Japanese guy in March 27, 2008. I made that guy cried because of my
expressive playing and he gave me $100.00 tip twice!
Still
in March 2008, Chef Horie asked me again of a list of all Enka songs I know. I
asked him, “Then, I will not play it at Waves Restaurant?” He said, “No, our
guests are asking for it for you to play on their function.”
Now
he realize that it’s not what HE don’t like that I should not play but what the
guests like to hear.
SINCE THEN, I can play whatever
songs I’d like to play …. UNTIL… there is a change of General Manager. Mr. Takahashi was assigned in Shanghai,
China and was replaced by Mr. Masahiro Fujita, the former Rooms Director of PRR
for 2 years. HE ORDERED CHEF HORIE, WHO ORDERED FOOD AND BEVERAGE MANAGER EDWIN
ACUYAN TO FORBID ME TO PLAY JAPANESE SONGS!!!
Two
weeks ago, I arrived at 6:00 pm to play piano. Japanese couple came in at the
same time with me. They sit farther away near window. I played Japanese songs
for 30 minutes and the lady comes to me and gave me $10.00 tip and said,
“Subarashi”, which I think means excellent or very good.
The
next day, GM and Chef Horie is telling Edwin to make a letter on a piece of
paper saying that I will not play Japanese songs again. And I have to sign
it! Edwin says, “It’s childish. How
about Japanese songs derived from American songs?” When I checked my repertoire
of Japanese songs, 13 of them are American songs that were adapted into Japanese.
I
DIDN’T PLAY ANY JAPANESE SONGS WITHIN THIS WEEK. When I finish in making
American lyrics to the other Japanese songs that I know, then I can play all of
those songs and if they hear me playing those songs, I can say that it’s
American adaptation of that song.
I
AM AT MY BEST WHEN I CAN PLAY ANY MUSIC I WANT TO PLAY!
Source: Music and Me by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Pages 10-11
Volume 21
Issue 26
May 03, 2012
HE CAN'T PLAY PIANO WITHOUT MUSIC SCORE
The
Japanese guy in this photo is impressed with the way Roberto Hernandez
is playing piano without sight of music notes or score. He can only play
when there's a music score in front of him. Hernandez uses scores only
when he don't know the melody of a
song. (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)
MUSIC CONTROL
ON JULY 24, 2012, a lot of firsts
have happened to my music career:
While playing piano at Waves Restaurant of
Palau Royal Resort, a Taiwanese guy with his teen-age son asked me if I can let
his son play ONE song for the newly-wed Taiwanese couple next to their table.
I
let him play ONE song and the newly-wed couple came near the piano with the guy
taking video of the boy. After ONE song, they requested him to play another
one, this time it’s a classical piece. He’s good and plays with expression
already at his young age.
In
the middle of the 2nd song, Chef Masaki Horie came very close to me
and firmly said, “Enough!”
After the 2nd song,
back to ‘normal’ again but before playing my 3rd song, Chef Horie
ordered me to sign a newly printed “PIANIST GUIDELINES” that said—DON’T PLAY
TAIWANESE AND JAPANESE MUSIC -- DON’T
SING WITH THE SONG YOU PLAY ---DON’T
PLAY GUESTS REQUEST BECAUSE THEY’RE GOING TO SING ALONG WITH IT ---DON’T LET GUESTS PLAY THE PIANO.
FAILURE
TO FOLLOW YOU WILL BE GIVEN CORRESPONDING PUNISHMENT.
PREPARED
BY: CHEF HORIE MASAKI (Signed) 7.24.12
ACKNOWLEDGE
BY: ROBERT HERNANDEZ
When
I signed it, I asked him if I can have a copy so that I can show to guests who
are requesting that GUIDELINES. Five minutes later, I’ve got a copy with his 2nd
signature and date 7.24.12 that says “get signature from Robert”.
Another
5 minutes later, a young American lady showed me a list of her requested songs
“Pick 2, your choice” –“Sound of Silence” and “Bridge Over Troubled Water” by
Simon and Garfunkel; “Unchained Melody”
by Righteous Brothers; “Everything I Do (I Do It For You)” by Bryan Adams and
“With Or Without You” by U2.
This is the original handwritten request of that American lady.
Chef
Horie is looking at us when I showed her the Guidelines. It’s the first test
that I’m following it.
She said, “DON’T PLAY TAIWANESE
AND JAPANESE SONGS –but my requests are American songs.”
I
said, “I know all of your requests, not only 2 of my choice. I will play all of
it but please don’t sing along with it.” I was able to play all her requests
without Chef Horie’s knowledge.
After
playing the 5th one, I followed it up with another Simon and
Garfunkel song “Scarborough Fair/Canticle” and she comes again to me and said,
“I like also the one you’re playing now. Can I give you tip?”
She
thought giving tip to me is also prohibited. I said it is okay and she gave me
$5.00 in new single dollar bills. And I played some more songs of Simon and
Garfunkel.
Then
our VIP and regular guests, Mr. Uehara and his family came a few minutes later.
The last time that they’ve been at PRR was in March 22-25, 2012 where they gave
me $10.00 on 3 occasions –March 22, 24 and 25. It’s my day off on the 23rd.
Chef
Horie leads them to their table but he is not around when they requested Disney
movies songs, Carpenters and Beatles songs. Mr. Uehara gave me $20.00 each this
time on 3 consecutive nights.
He
said they will be back again in Palau in January 2013. He asked me also what
date I’m going to Istanbul for the 2012 World Chess Olympiad.
I
mentioned to him in March 25, 2012 to please come again to Palau before August
27-September 10, 2012 because I’m not at PRR on that date till September 14,
2012.
The
boy’s father approached me again before 9 pm. He wants his son to play another
ONE. I said to him, “You said before, only ONE song. Because of that extra
song, this GUIDELINE is issued just now.” And when he read the part “DON’T LET
GUESTS PLAY THE PIANO”, he didn’t insist anymore.
When
Tonet Medilo read the guidelines, she asked me some questions that either me
can’t answer—Why is he trying to control your music? Is he jealous that you are
making money from tips? But you’re not forcing them to give you tips. It’s from
their heart because they enjoy your music. Isn’t he happy that guests are
enjoying your music? Is he jealous also of your popularity? Do you ever get
complaint because of playing so-so music?
Even
with a small problem like this, I usually ask for God’s help to clear the minds
of people who are giving me hard time because I’m doing my job. Maybe it’s HIS
way so that I can adapt some popular Japanese and Taiwanese songs into gospel
songs to praise HIM! PRAISE THE
LORD! GLORY TO GOD!
Source: Music and Me by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Pages 8-9
Volume 21
Issue 52
August 02, 2012
This
is the Taiwanse boy that plays ONE song for the newly wed Taiwanese
couple (behind him). Chef Horie, with chef hat, is leaving the place. He
comes back later when the boy played another one. With a firm voice, he
said to Roberto, "ENOUGH!"
Mr.
Uehara, right, came with his family the night that Chef Horie is trying
to take control of the kind of music he wants me to play. JEALOUSY?
Maybe.
"FRIEND" and "BABE"
BECOME "CHEF"
Before
the Farewell Party for Executive Chef Masaki Horie and David Chen, I
heard a news from Paquito 'Pax' Suringa, Jr. about their leaving --THAT
CHEF HORIE DOESN'T LIKE TO RENEW DAVID FOR ANOTHER 2 YEARS AND IN
RETALIATION, MICHELLE LIAO DIDN'T RENEW CHEF HORIE FOR ANOTHER 2 YEARS.
It's
from Jovelyn Rodriguez that I've got the right and true reasons of
their leaving --DAVID WILL RENEW ONLY IF HE WILL BE GIVEN AN INCREASE IN
SALARY. HE'S DOING NOTHING BUT STANDBY AT WAVES RESTAURANT WHERE HE
SHOULD BE IN THE CHINESE KITCHEN.
CHEF HORIE DIDN'T "BITE" TO HIS DEMAND.
The
reason why Chef Horie has resigned is because in Japan, if you're 40
years old already, it's very hard to get a big loan. Chef Horie is 39
and he still has one year in his contract when he resign to take
advantage of that incentive so that he can start a business of his own.
Edwin
Acuyan, the returning Food & Beverage Manager, adapted a song from
Seals entitled "One Friend" and changed the appropriate lyrics (I
becomes we because many will sing it, and Friend becomes Chef).
A
day before the party, I've thought of an idea to change the lyrics of
the song "Babe" by Styx to "Chef" because it's the only song that Chef
Horie liked and he came to me and praise that song 4 years ago. I think
he likes the song.
After
the speeches and it's time for picture taking, Chef Horie come to me
and said, "Thank you for the song. You still remember, hah?"
At
that time, all my bad feelings about him disappeared and was able to
ask for a photo with him for the first time. We have no photo together
in all of my 6 years at Palau Royal Resort.
Source:
Music and Me by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Pages 10 & 11
Volume 21
Issue 26
May 03, 2012
Music and Me by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Pages 8-9
Volume 21
Issue 52
August 02, 2012
Chess and Music (Perfect Combination)
The Beginning Of Chess In Palau
By Roberto Hernandez
November 2013
To be published as a book in the future
