KOSTANG REMELIIK -- A COLLEAGUE SINCE 1993
I
met Kostang Remeliik in 1993 at Image Restaurant. I've learned from him
the lyrics and tune of Hawaiian song "Honolulu City Lights." He learned
from me the running chords of Besame Mucho --
Em----Am---G#dim-Am-B7-Em---. (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)
BEST PLACE TO JOG ---
LONG ISLAND PARK (PALAU)
Meet Colleague Kostang Remeliik,
Co-Employees at PRR
I
jog every Wednesday morning at 6:30 am here at Long Island Park after
the morning devotion at Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ (4th
Watch) Palau Locale.
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)
I
usually walk briskly first and run for a few meters and walk again.
When I met a colleague Kostang Remeliik one Wednesday morning, he said
he is now singing at Elilai Restaurant. In this photo, Elilai is located
at the top of the hill. In 2012, the Sales and Executive Office
Departments held their Christmas Party in January 2012 there where I met
Chris Johnson, a chef there, and became my keyboard student for a few
months.
A selfie with Kostang Remeliik at Long Island Park. Kostang is still holding the business card of Roberto.
Kostang
is singing at Palau Pacific Resort on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and
Friday. At Elilai Restaurant, he sings on Tuesday, Sat. and
Sunday.
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)
Some
regular joggers/walkers at Long Island Park are senior Palau ladies and
men. Palau Senator Philip Reklai advised me not to do push ups and
jogging. Just walk briskly where your hands are swinging. He said it's
good exercise for a man of my age.
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)
While
jogging/walking, I look also around and sometimes find a school of
rabbit fish, blue and green parrot fish, skip jack, small fishes of
different colors/striped, needle fish, some grouper. You feel really at
fish with nature and sea.
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)
There
is a court for beach volleyball or badminton. Felix Oling, new employee
of Palau Royal Resort, and Lee Lozano, played badminton there even
without a net.
I used to walk/jog half naked under the early sun because I'm not exposed to the sun most of the time.
I do the 30 push ups using the concrete green bench.
On
December 03, 2014, at 4:50am, while I'm on my way for Morning Devotion
at Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ (4th Watch), I saw big smoke.
There's a fire going on. I'm not sure of the place. It looks like the
house of Dr. Victor Yano, where I used to teach piano to his daughter
Jasmine in that house in 2007-2009.
After
I came back from Australia to represent Palau in the 2009 Oceania Zonal
Chess Championship, Jasmine's interest in piano diminished and haven't
teach her regularly since then.
When I started to jog/walk, the fire is still not contained. I took this photo when it's already bright.
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)
AS REPORTED BY JOSE RODRIGUEZ SENASE
Island Times
Volume 10
No. 10
December 05, 2014
FIRE HITS M-DOCK
DUMPSITE/LANDFILL
A fire of still unknown cause swept through the National Dumpsite/Landfill at M-Dock on Wednesday, December 03, 2014.
According to Bureau of Public Safety (BPS) Director Ismael Aguon,
the fire started around 1:00am on Wednesday, December 3, 2014.
He said the Fire Department was able to put the fire under control after a few hours.
The BPS head said that unexpectedly the fire started raging again
around 7:00 am, prompting a massive response from the Fire Department.
The fire was raging hot with smoke visible several kilometers away.
Smoldering tires could be seen littered around the dumpsite as
firemen hosed the area with water. The stench of burning tires could
also be smelled from afar.
The
fire apparently started among the thousands of used tires in the area.
Aguon said the cause of the fire is still being investigated.
A man working at the dumpsite said that they were surprised of the
occurence as Palau experienced heavy rains for the several days.
Around 4:00pm on Wednesday, the fire was on its death throes with small, scattered fires seen in the area.
The American Civic Action Team (CAT) also assisted in controlling the fire by bringing in a water trailer.
The
dumpsite/landfill at M-Dock is Palau's largest waste disposal facility.
It has been in operation for more than 50 years and is located in an
area of shallow reef and mangrove wetland and in close proximity to
residential areas and tourism facilities. It covers an area of about 6
hectares.
Previously, the M-Dock was operated as an open dumpsite, which
polluted the surrounding marine environment as a result of leachate
run-off. With support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency
(JICA), under the Project for Promotion of Regional Initiative Solid
Waste Management, in 2006-2007 the M-Dock was rehabilitated into a
semi-aerobic "Fukuoka -style" landfill.
However,
the landfill reached its full capacity in 2012, and as a temporary
measure, until a new landfill is established, the Solid Waste Management
Office of the Bureau of Public Works (SWMBPW) has constructed a new
dike to expand the existing capacity of the landfill. While after more
than 8 years, a site for the new landfill has been identified on
Babeldaob, the new sanitary landfill facility will need to be developed
prior to closure of M-Dock.
There have been proposals in the past to close the M-Dock
dumpsite/landfill and replace it with another landfill located in
Babeldaob.
A
Task Force created by President Remengesau in 2013 to study the matter
came up with its findings early this year. The Task Force recommended
for a survey of M-Dock landfill.
The landfill at M-Dock has already reached capacity and is
threatening to overflow. It is feared that the problem will lead to
irreparable damage to the environment.
The
survey is to look into the available holding capacity of M-Dock at
present time and the rate of waste coming to the landfill at a given
time.
The Task Force believes that with these date, the useful life of
M-Dock can be estimated. The estimate is reportedly necessary as it
dictates the amount of time left to plan, develop and open a new
landfill.
Source: Chess and Music (Perfect Combination)
The Beginning of Chess in Palau
By Roberto Hernandez
December 2014
To be published as a book in the future
