(1570) MUSIC AND ME (Aug. 09, 2018) OMGI--MY SWEETEST GIRL MUSIC STUDENT

COUSINS THEY ARE -- OMGI AND YARS
    These two piano students of mine are cousins and were featured in the 24th issue Tia Belau Newspaper (Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez) in March 26, 2018.

       OMGI-- MY SWEETEST GIRL
                MUSIC STUDENT

IN Feb. 02, 2018, while I am teaching Kai Hindenburg piano, a Palauan mother is waiting for me to finish the lesson to talk to me about the possibility of teaching her daughter piano, guitar or ukulele.

Vameline, the mother, and I agreed on Feb. 7 Wednesday afternoon lesson for her daughter Omgi from 1:30-2:30 pm.

After attending the morning devotion at Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ (4th Watch) Palau Locale from 5-6:30 am, I went jogging at Palau Track and Field Oval and proceed to the house that Vameline instructed me and check the place.

A text reminder from Vameline while I am having lunch at Palau Royal Resort cafeteria confirmed my first tutorial to Omgi.

I brought a guitar, keyboard and ukulele to test which instrument will fit her most. There is a guitar there. When I test it, it's out of tune and even if I tune it, it still not good enough to encourage Omgi to learn guitar. That cheap guitar is good only as toy.

I told Omgi's grandmother that it is not advisable to teach Omgi with that out of tune guitar so I get the keyboard from the car and there it is! Omgi likes it.

We started with drill so that her soft and delicate fingers will be flexible. She is only 6 years old. She can't do 3 fingers chords so I am teaching her Jambalaya, Leaving on a Jet Plane and the Palauan song Dil Dil Lomais using the "single fingered" mode of the keyboard, like what all Palauan musicians are using. I have never seen Palauan keyboard players that use fingered mode. 

I remember playing for the inauguration of Melekeok State governor 24 years ago that one of the singer/entertainer of that event is Haley Erich. When he performs, he is standing. He holds the mike with his right hand and doing the single fingered chords with his left hand. Pressing one key, and he's ready to sing while chewing betel nut. After a song, he will spit in the "olbaul" or spitting can (empty Budweiser beer can).

Although the first lesson of Omgi is not impressive, her grandfather, former high government official of Palau Alex Merep, was able to sing/hum to the tune of Palauan song Dil Dil Lomais.

In the succeeding lessons, I've noticed some very sweet characteristic of Omgi... she will hug me after each lesson and will say, "See you next week, Robert".

There's one time that she hugged me 3 times and saying the same "See you next week, Robert".

SHE HUGGED ME MORE THAN MY ANY OTHER MUSIC STUDENTS COMBINED!

When I text Vameline these words, she said, "Awee...I'm so glad to hear that. Thank you. I will make sure to tell her she's doing good."

There were 2 times that Omgi forgot to hug me when they are leaving hurriedly for outdoor activity (swimming, etc) but she will make up in the next week and will hug me twice.

When the school year 2018 started, we changed the Wed. 1:30-2:30 slot to Monday, 3:00-4:00 because her school is finished at 2:30.

A day before going to 2018 World Chess Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia, I asked Vameline if it is still possible to teach Omgi 3-4 pm today Monday, Sept. 17, 2018? She text me, Yes.




Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
               Tia Belau Newspaper
               December 29, 2002 -- September 17, 2018

               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 -- September 17, 2018

              The History of Chess in Palau
              By Roberto Hernandez
              June 09, 2002 -- September 17, 2018

(493) CHESS AND MUSIC (TBN-June 22-28, 2007)

IN THEIR own way, chess and music are considered art in different perspective.

If combined together, a good harmony to the mind and soul could develop.

What would you feel if you are playing chess against the top player of Palau while your son is piano music with another boy playing guitar?

That's what happened last Sunday, Father's Day, June 17 at Jean's Boutique and Store.


There is no ongoing at the time and National Master Menandro 'Boy' Manuel is playing blitz chess with many times venue host Gene Pastrana.

During Pastrana's son (Ken) music session, a boy with guitar (Jielton Cabierte), visited Ken and they jammed together some easy songs with Palau's 4th ranked player Roberto Hernandez, who is now the resident musician at Palau Royal Resort (PRR).

The trio's music somehow inspired the older Pastrana as he dominated Manuel in their games.

He even managed to draw a seemingly lost position by perpetual check.

At some point, the two are humming with the group when they played popular tunes like Jamaica Farewell, Leaving On A Jetplane, Jambalaya, Achy Breaky Heart, Green Green Grass of Home, Cotton Fields, Tom Dooley, Tiny Bubbles, the Mexican song La Cucaracha, Spanish song Rancho Grande and 2 of the most popular Filipino songs in Palau "Anak" (Son) and "Kumusta Ka" (How Are You).

Cabierte's father is playing guitar with the Sacred Heart Catholic church's choir.

He taught his son how to play guitar and he's done a good job as Hernandez saw great potential from Jielton, who participated in 3 chess tournaments last year.

He finished 2nd runner-up to Ken in those 3 outings and won $50.00 in the inaugural Ambassador Marino Cup Rapid Chess tournament held last year (June 25, July 02, July 09, 2006).

The Philippine Ambassador Ramoncito Marino donated $1,000.00 prize pot to that tourney which was divided into 4 divisions: rated, beginners, juniors and women.

Hernandez and Jose Omega won the rated division while Vincent Vergara of Moylan's Insurance topped the beginner's section.

Ken emerged as the only unbeaten player of the tilt and pocketed $75.00 while Hernandez' wife Flor, subdued Ms. Juvy Bulan for the title in a cliffhanger tiebreak game.

In Hernandez' 2 weeks stay at PRR's Dormitory 1, he discovered some good chess players with potential to be a rated player.

One of them is Nino Flores, who almost defeated Hernandez in their first 2 games after the former missed endgame tactics.

Arnel Pama is seriously considering a chess career and Mr. Jaime Guevarra is surely one of the more experienced who can make it if he will take the game seriously.

This year's Ambassador Marino Cup will go international as 2 NM from Philippines and USA confirmed their participation in the event to be held from August 30-Septermber 03, 2007.

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Page 13
Volume 17
June 22-28, 2007