(316) MUSIC AND ME (Oct. 11) Palau Royal Resort Traditional Christmas Choir

THE 2010 PRR CHRISTMAS CHOIR
Members of the 2010 Palau Royal Resort Christmas choir pose for a souvenir photo before their live performance with the number one supporter Ms. Michelle Liao. This year's performance will be better.
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)



PALAU ROYAL RESORT
TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS CHOIR

ROBERTO Hernandez started working as musician at Palau Royal Resort in June 01, 2007 and since then, every Christmas tree lighting of PRR, he’s a member of the choir playing and selecting the Christmas songs to be performed by its staff.

Since 2007, they had performed almost all the popular Christmas songs (about 5 or 7 songs) with some “favorites” being repeated in the next year like “Christmas Story”, “Jingle Bell Rock”, and lately“Feliz Navidad” but with the Palauan version in the last part that spiced the performance.

All the time, Ms. Lucille Partisala, the Accounting Manager, is always conducting the choir and most of the time, her knowledge in music is always of big help to improve their choir’s performance every year.

An innovation in 2010 by Hernandez to use the upright acoustic piano was unsuccessful because of the intervention of Mr. Beppu, the Sales and Marketing Director, to position the piano with Roberto not facing the choir but the front desk. The sound of the piano is good to the people in that area but for the choir, it is hardly heard.

The good sound of the piano attracted the attention of one of the staff of Taiwanese Embassy and they invited Hernandez to accompany the performers/contestants of the inaugural Chinese Song Singing Contest held at Palasia Hotel in November 2, 2011.

The 2^nd Chinese Song Singing Contest will now be held on Oct. 30 at the same venue. The song selection this time is wide and half of it is for male singers unlike in the inaugural where all the songs are for female. Hernandez appreciated the good melody, lyrics and variation of the songs this year that he enjoyed learning those 7 songs.

Lorna Castaneto, the Sales and Marketing Supervisor, asked Hernandez to select this year’s songs for the choir and he selected the ones that had never been sung by the choir in the last 5 years: 1. Happy Christmas (War is Over) by John Lennon 2. The Twelve Days Of Christmas 3. Someday at Christmas by Jackson 5 and 4. Belau For Christmas by Johnny B.

One month before the performance of the choir, they are practicing twice a week with the last practice at the same spot where they will perform.

Some talents in singing can be tapped from the practice. While there are retentions of members, additions are always welcome for more improvement. Thanks for the support of Management and for giving the adjustments of the members in their various time schedules.

CHRISTMAS IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER.

Source: Music and Me by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Pages 12 & 17
Volume 21
Issue 72
October 11, 2012

(309) RAPID PLAY RULES OF FIDE

MASUM SWEPT 'BUHAWI' LIKE A TORNADO

Masum Billah, left, one of the invited players of Edgar Cayanan Cup Rapid Chess Tournament at Palau Royal Resort Dorm 1, drubbed Randy 'Buhawi' Sioson in the last 2 games of the Cup on Feb. 21. Sioson was nicknamed Buhawi (Tornado) for his show off attitude and boasting. Other participants who are watching the game were (R-L) Paquito 'Pax' Suringa, Jr., Roberto Hernandez, Ronel Gutierrez and 'Georgie' Gabris.

(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

RAPID PLAY RULES OF FIDE

THE NEXT tournament in Palau will be the 2010 Rapid Chess Tournament to start on April 11. The FIDE Rules of rapid play will be applies as follows:

A1 A rapid play game is one where either all the moves must be made in a fixed time of at least 15 minutes but less than 60 minutes for each player; or the time alloted + 60 times any increment is at least 15 minutes but less than 60 minutes for each player.

A2 Players do not need to record the moves.

A3 Where there is adequate supervision of play, (for example one arbiter for at most three games) the Competition Rules shall apply.

A4 Where supervision is inadequate, the Competition Rules shall apply, except when they are overridden by the following Law of Rapid play:

a. Once each has completed three moves, no claim can be made regarding incorrect piece placement, orientation of the chessboard or clock setting. In the case of reverse king and queen placement, castling with this king is not allowed.

b. The arbiter shall make a ruling according the Article 4 (The act of moving the pieces), only if requested to do so by one or both players.

c. An illegal move is completed once the opponent's clock has been started. The opponent is then entitled to claim that the player completed and illegal move before the claimant has made his move. Only after such a claim, the arbiter shall make a ruling. However if both kings are in check, or the promotion of a pawn is not competed, the arbiter shall intervene, if possible.

d. 1 The flag is considered to have falled when a player has made a valid claim to that effect. The arbiter shall refrain from signaling a flag fall, but he may do so if both flags have fallen.

2. To claim a win on time, the claimant must stop both clocks and notify the arbiter. For the claim to be successful, the claimant's flag must be up and his opponent's flag down after the clock have been stopped.

3. If both flags have fallen as described in (1) and (2), the arbiter shall declare the game drawn.

B L I T Z

B1 A blitz game is one where all the moves must be made in a fixed time of less that 15 minutes for each player or the alloted time + 60 times any increment is less than 15 minutes for each player.

B2 Where there is adequate supervision of play, (one arbiter for one game) the Competition Rules and Article A2 shall apply.

B3 Where supervision is inadequate the following shall apply:

a. Play shall be govern by Rapid play Laws as in Appendix A except where they are overridden by the following Laws of Blitz.

b. The Articles 10:2 and A4.c do not apply.

c. An illegal move is completed once the opponent's clock has been started. The opponent is entitled to claim a win before he has made his own move. However, if the opponent cannot checkmate the player's king by any possible series of legal moves, then the claimant is entitled to claim a draw before he has made his own moves. Once the opponent has made his move, an illegal move cannot be corrected unless mutually agreed without an intervention of an arbiter.

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez

Tia Belau Newspaper

Pages 13 & 15

Volume 19

Issue 10

March 08-14, 2010

(181) LOW TURNOUT ON OPENING DAY

CHESS NEOPHYTE GOT HIS BAPTISM OF FIRE
Jeffrey Negrillo, left, played his first tournament game in Palau on Nov. 17 against Mohammad Manik Hossain, 2nd from right. Jeff got his baptism of fire and lost in 42 moves of King's Pawn Opening. Before their game, Manik practiced with George Gabris, right, while macho man Erick Ventinilla poses and watched the game in the sideline. Next Wednesday, Ferdie Altea will play Manik in the dashing game of wits.
                                                                            (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

DUE TO Manny Pacquiao - Antonio Margarito boxing bout on Sunday, Nov. 14, a very low turnout of players participated on the opening of 2010-2011 Palau National Chess Championship.

Some newcomers have come to Beken's Store and General Merchandise as early as 10 am.

The one-sided fight ended with Pacquiao winning by unanimous decision and ended at about 2:30 pm (Palau time).

After attending the 4th Watchers service at Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ (4th Watch), Roberto Hernandez waited for players at Beken's Store.

While setting the chess table, Mohammad Manik Hossain came and they practiced one rapid chess game.

They draw the number of players before playing their official game at 4:00 pm.

THE FOLLOWING IS THE NUMBERING OF PLAYERS: 1. Dennis Gonzales 2. Bernardo Garcia 3. Mohammad Manik Hossain (he drew his own name), 4. Roberto Hernandez (strangely, he drew his own name also), 5. Menandro Manuel 6. Jeffrey Negrillo 7. Andres Mestizo II 8. Tito Cabunagan 9. Elizlade Madrinan 10. Ferdi Altea 11. Jose Misael de Jesus 12. Masum Billah 13. Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. 14. Amante Caballero and 15. Manuel Mahor, Jr.

Elpidio Manaligod, Mario Ramos and Romeo Caballes were not included in the list of 15 players because they cannot be contacted through their telephone numbers.

Caballes' return to Palau return to Palau is not yet certain but he will difinitely be accepted as late comer.

The two invited Palauans will miss this edition of PNCC due to schedule conflict of Tutii Joe Chilton and health reason for Flavin Andres.

Before their practice and official game, Hernandez borrowed 6 chairs from PMCC and set up another chess table in case some players will come to play.

In their official game, Manik blundered away a bishop on the 18th move and Hernandez prevailed in 31 moves of Sicilian Defence.

No other players came until 6:30 pm and the two call it a night as Manik has to work at 7:00 pm at Airai KB Shell Gas Station.

Roberto and Manik have the same day off (Wednesday) and they set up a match at Palau Royal Resort Dormitory 1 on Wed. Nov. 17 at 7pm. Manik will play Jeffrey Negrillo, who's been to Palau for just 2 months.

Manik practices with Hernandez, George Gabris and to the new security personnel of PRR. Hernandez offered to train him for a possible slot to Palau Chess Team at 2012 World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey.

Hernandez has all the materials to train a player like chess clocks, chess software, books, puzzles, Laws of Chess, ChessBase9 (where over 4 million games since year 1600 can be studied) and free time.

During their game, Jeffrey experienced for the first time to write his moves in Algebraic notation. He committed consecutive blunders on move 27th and 29th and was mated by a bishop on the 42nd move.

Before their game, Manik and Hernandez have started talks about saving once a month $50.00 for buying their own airfare for the Istanbul, Turkey World Chess Olympiad.

There is no election of president of World Chess Federation in 2012 and it will be hard to find airfare sponsor in a non-election Olympiad.

While talking about that, an email from Mr. Gary Bekker, former Oceania Zone President and the sponsor of Hernandez' airfare to Australia last year, noted his response to Hernandez' email: "Hi Gary, it's been a while since I have communication with you. Me and Tito Cabunagan are trying to go to New Zealand for 2011 Oceania Zonal Chess Championship. Brian Jones and Paul Spiller are trying to get me an airfare subsidy like you gave me last year. Could you please advise them on how you were able to get it? It is the only way that I could go there. If I will have to spend for the whole airfare, I cannot make it. I thought that you will come to 2010 World Chess Olympiad in Russia. I will forward to you the questionnaire sent to me by FIDE and Geoffrey Borg. In this way, you will know Palau and me better. I hope you're doing fine. Best regards, Roberto."

Mr. Bekker's response is good news: "Hi Roberto. Thank you for your email. I subsidized your airfare with my own personal money. Hopefully Brian and Paul will be able to find a corporate sponsor or arrange a discount with the airlines to assist you with your travel costs this time. Unfortunately, I have been extremely busy with my IT work and was unable to go to the 2010 Olympiad and sadly, will be unable to attend the 2011 Oceania Zonal either. Thank you for keeping in touch and for sending me the Palau questionnaire to keep updated on chess developments in Palau. All the best wishes for you, Tito and all of the Palau players. Gary Bekker."

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez

Tia Belau Newspaper

Pages 12-13

Volume 19

Issue 47

November 22-28, 2010

(119) DENNIS RETURNS, KEYANGES BEGINS

POSSIBLE TEAMMATES TO ISTANBUL
Mohammad Manik Hossain, left, lost another game this time to Dennis Gonzales. Ferdie Altea and George Gabris pose for another featured photo. Keyanges Asanuma, back, took a short break to have a picture with the participants of 2010-2011 Palau National Chess Championship. Manik, Keyanges and Ferdie might be teammates to the 2012 World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)



                  DENNIS RETURNS, KEYANGES BEGINS

HE'S BEEN inactive from competitive chess since the 2006 Palau National Chess Championship where he has beaten Palau's no. 3 player Roberto Hernandez in that event.

Now he's back and the first participant to pay his registration fee in the ongoing 2010-2011 Palau National Chess Championship. He has borrowed the talking and taunting chess computer (Ivan II) to prepare for the first match that was held at Palau Royal Resort Dormitory 1 on Wednesday, Nov. 24 starting at 7:00 pm.

His opponent, Mohammad Manik Hossain, misplayed a simple pawn move that will close the b file of Dennis' rook. After occupying his adversary's 7th rank, Dennis prevailed in a marathon 65-move victory of Sicilian Defence game.

On Sunday, Nov. 21, Hernandez, Ferdie Altea and Jeffrey Negrillo waited at Beken's Store for the 2nd round of PNCC. They set up 2 chess tables and practice rapid chess while waiting for some players to arrive.

Current Palau's number one player Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr., Menandro 'Boy' Manuel and Manuel 'Jun' Mahor came later in the afternoon. No official game was played but Hernandez and Cyril played blitz chess (10 minutes) where the latter beat the former.

It's time for Menandro to try Cyril and he lost also. In their second game, Hernandez defeated Cyril in a Sicilian Defence (Najdorf Variation). Their game is so book-line that Hernandez was able to trace all the moves till the last one, on the 36th.

THE MOVES: Cyril (white) vs. Roberto (black) 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bd3 b5 7. Ndxb5? axb5 8. Bxb5+ Bd7 9. a4 Bxb5 10. Nxb5 Nxe4 11. Qd5 Qa5+ 12. Bd2 Nxd2 13. Qxd2 Qxb5 14. axb5 Rxa1+ 15. Ke2 Rxh1 16. Qc3 Kd7 17. b6 Nc6 18. b4 Rb1 19. Qc4 Rxb4 20. Qa6 Nd8 21. Qa7+ Ke6 22. Qc7 g6 23. Qxd8 Bg7 24. Qc7 Bd4 25. c3 Bxb6 26. Qb7 Rb2+ 27. Kd3 Rb5 28. Qd5+ Kf6 29. c2 Rb2 30. f4 Bc5 31. Qe1 Rhb8 32. Qc3+ e5 33. g4 Ra2 34. g5+ Kf5 35. Qe1 Ra3+ 36. Kf2 Rxa2+ White resigns.

A short and informal meeting was also held during the gathering and chess practice. It's been agreed that the $100.00 registration fee suggested by Menandro will be reduced to half ($50.00) for the rated players while it's only $20.00 for the unrated and $10.00 (the regular) for those who will not participate in the big cash prize.

Ferdie and Jeffrey will pay only the regular registration fee. It is also suggested and approved that the official venue will be the Palau Royal Resort Dormitory 1 because Gene Pastrana is not around during every game as he is in the process of acquiring US visa for a 5-year flight mechanic job in Guam where he is reportedly be making $50,000.00 a year salary! It's the same salary as Palau's President and OEK members.

Everybody is happy with this turn of events in Gene's life as he suffered financial crisis since 2008. It is also the main reason why he didn't make it to 2010 World Chess Olympiad in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia as reserve player of Palau chess team.

The other 2 members, Cyril and Bernard Garcia have different reasons in missing the Olympiad --when Mr. Berglund failed to provide confirmation number that he paid the airfare of 5 players (Manila-Bahrain-Dubai).

It's very puzzling to think that with Mr. Berglund's status, he failed to get a receipt/confirmation number of any kind in paying e-ticket worth almost $5,000.00.
As a result, only 2 players (Hernandez and Cabunagan) made it to Russia and because of a 3-player minimum to play in an Olympiad, the duo were not permitted to play as a team.

An attempt to field in their Australian team captain also failed because there is a process and payment in changing federation. The last hope was with Mr. Berglund, who is not a member of either Swedish Chess Federation or USA Chess Federation.

But he cannot provide enough evidence that he's been to Palau at least once.

Keyanges Asanuma, the new security personnel of PRR, started his training with Hernandez on Wed. before the start of Dennis vs. Manik match. In their first training match, Keyanges was able to obtain enough material advantage to win but a touch move rule cost him to relinguish the advantage.

He was taught to always observe the rules of chess and that he will learn more when he lost in a game. Not knowing the "en passant" capture, he blundered away again another piece.

It's a very entertaining and productive training for Keyanges, who might be included in the Palau Chess team to 2012 World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey if he will start saving now for airfare, or find some sponsors.

New Zealand Chess Federation President Paul Spiller has sent an invitation to Hernandez and Cabunagan stating: "Letter of invitation to representatives of the Palau Chess Federation to attend the Oceania Zonal Chess Championship and inaugural meeting of the Oceania Chess Confederation in Rotorua, January 25th - 31st.
Please be advised that the New Zealand Chess Federation Inc. would like to cordially extend an invitation to the representatives of the Palau Chess Federation to attend the Oceania Zonal Chess Championship and inaugural meeting of the Oceania Chess Confederation to be held in Rotorua between January 25th and 31st 2011.
These representatives are namely Mr. Tito Cabunagan Mr. Roberto Hernandez.
Yours sicerely, Paul Spiller --President New Zealand Chess Federation".

Hernandez would like to thank Ms. Yupha Ongrung of West Travel Agency for giving him an itinerary of their trip to New Zealand as follows:
RP/ROR1S2101
1 CO893 Y 21JAN 5 RORMNL HK1 925P 1100P 738E0
2 QF020 Y 24JAN 1 MNLBNE HK1 635P 400A+1 333E0
3 NZ732 Y 25JAN 2 BNEAKL HK1 I 820A 230P 320E0
4 NZ101 Y 01FEB 2 AKLSYD HK1 I 700A 830A 763E0N
5 QF019 Y 01FEB 2 SYDMNL HK1 115P 610P 332E0
6 CO892 Y 04FEB 5 MNLROR HK1 II 1025P 205A+1 1738E0


Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper Volume 19 Issue 48 Page 12-13 November 29 - December 05, 2010