(1115) MUSIC AND ME (Oct. 22, 2015) GENEROUS AND THOUGHTFUL PRR GUESTS

On Oct. 12, 2015, we have many guests at Waves Restaurant of Palau Royal Resort. Two of them are Japanese guys at the elevated center column at the right side of the piano. As they are talking, I haven’t played yet Japanese songs.

     When I played one of the most popular Japanese songs “Nada Sou Sou”, they applauded and later, the shorter guy, left, gave the waitress Ivy Pura $20.00 to give to me. I said thank you to them and the next song that I played is “Kou Jou No Tsuki”, in which I sang it to the delight of other Japanese and Taiwanese guests.

   F & B Manager Mervin Lee Cuyugan advised me not to sing again because Ma’am Michelle is at the wooden area. I still sing in lower tone and only to the part that I know the lyrics. Thirty minutes later, the other Japanese guy, right, requested “My Way”. I asked him, “Do you like the English version or the Japanese?” He said the Japanese version. I played it in Japanese version and sang it in low tone.

     Ten minutes later, he gave me another $20.00. They have taken many photos including me as their background. I put the songbooks that distract the view of my face to the left side.

    Before they go back to their rooms, I stop playing and gave them my card and we have a photo taken. When they go back 2 days later, they sit at the same table again. The guy who requested “My Way”, requested the same song again and gave me another $20.00. That night, they are going back to Japan. They said they will be back next year. AS USUAL, I FORGOT TO ASK THEIR NAMES.

     On Sept. 22, 2015, I’m playing keyboard at Breeze Bar of Palau Royal Resort. There are many Japanese guests there who appreciate my singing of Japanese and American songs. When I played “Hotel California”, there’s a Japanese guy, about 3 meters from my left, who is singing it with me. He knows the lyrics although you can really tell he’s Japanese because of the accent.

     At 11:00 pm, I stopped playing and gave the couple (guy) my card. He’s got $10.00 ready as tip and gave it to me after giving him my card. WE HAVE A PHOTO TAKEN AND AS USUAL, I FORGOT TO ASK THEIR NAMES.

On Dec. 16, 2013, Michiko Nakamura, left, gave me and my wife Christmas gifts (cards, postcards, photos and brown blazer, which I said to her that I will wear in Norway upon participation in the 2014 World Chess Olympiad (Aug. 01-14). Her and Katsutoshi ‘Kuma’ Nakada, right, have been to Palau 8 times. They are regularly sending me postcards from different countries that they have visited. She even sent me a Halloween card. In 2013, they gave me a dozen assorted chocolates and dough nuts from Japan. All of them are sweets so I gave to my wife because I’m diabetic.

One of the Taiwanese guys in this photo with Palau President Tommy Remengesau and First Lady Debbie, gave me $10.00 for accompanying a group of Taiwanese singers who sung 2 popular Palauan songs. Also included in this photo are Minister Baklai Temengil, the Palau National Olympic Committee General Secretary, Social Security Administrator Greg Ngirmang, where I tuned his piano many years ago, and the 2 top persons of Palau Royal Resort—Chairman Lin and President Liao. 

Sources: Music and Me

              By Roberto Hernandez

              Tia Belau Newspaper

              March 15, 2012 -- April 2013

              http://palau-chess.blogspot.com

              April 2013 --October 22, 2015

              Chess and Music (Perfect Combination)

              The Beginning of Chess in Palau

              By Roberto Hernandez

              June 09, 2002 -- October 22, 2015

              To be published as a book in the future 

    

(430) MUSIC AND ME (April 04, 2013) While Paying Their Bill

I FORGOT TO ASK THEIR NAMES
This Japanese couple enjoyed my music till closing time. We have some talks about my music experience in Palau. I promised them to feature our photo for this issue. Here it is! Please see the photo in color at http://palau-chess.blogspot.com
Post No. 462 "While Paying Their Bill"
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)



     WHILE PAYING THEIR BILL

In more than 10 occasions while playing piano at Waves Restaurant and Breeze Bar of Palau Royal Resort, that some customers are already paying their bill and ready to go back to their rooms, and while waiting I will play to them my best songs (usually Japanese).

With that short time of waiting, some of them got hooked by my expressive playing and will give generous tips even being satisfied only for a few minutes.

HERE ARE SOME NOTABLE “GOING HOME BUT STAYED” –

1. In Feb. 09, 2009, I am setting the keyboard at Breeze Bar when an old Japanese couple already paid their bill but when they see me setting the keyboard, they stayed for another 30 minutes. The guy requested “My Way” and “Love Me Tender”. I played some more old Japanese songs and before leaving, they give me $20.00 tip.

2. March 13, 2009 – Same situation, different guests. There’s a group of Japanese from Liao’s room who are paying their bill and while waiting, a lady asked Executive Chef Masaki Horie for me to play“Amazing Grace” and she gave me $5.00. She requested again “Tennessee Waltz”and gave me another $5.00.

3. May 16, 2009 -- A group of Japanese have their dinner at Liao’s room of Palau Royal Resort. While paying their bill, more than half of them surrounded me and requested some Beatles and Japanese songs. Emma, a singer at Discovery Tours, relay to me the requests of others far away. Later, she was able to collect $27.05 from satisfied guests in just a few minutes.

4. May 18, 2009 –American couples are paying their bill and I played popular American songs & got $5.00 tip.

5. March 20, 2011 – A group of Japanese with 5 of them in wheelchair, have dinner at wooden area. After their dinner, they surrounded me and I lend them my song book and played all their requests. Two of them gave me $5.00 each. (For complete story, please refer to http://palau-chess.blogspot.com The no. 280 post entitled “A Letter From A 5-year-old Japanese Girl”).

6. Oct. 28, 2012 –2 Japanese ladies are paying their bill. I played “Oribia O Kikinagara” and some popular Japanese songs and they gave me $10.00 tip.

7. Jan. 08, 2013 – Regular VIP guests Mr. Uchiho and his wife are paying their bill. Mr. Uchiho sat next to me and talk to me in Japanese. I answered in ‘broken’ Japanese and started to play old Japanese songs. He enjoyed my music together with his wife. They sung a couple of old Japanese songs and before going back to Japan that same night, they gave me $20.00.

8. Feb. 2013 – While setting the keyboard at Breeze Bar, a Japanese family thought that it’s closing time and ready to leave. I told them that I will start to play music. There are 5 of them –Grandpa, grandma, their son and daughter-in-law and a boy. Grandpa requested “Unchained Melody”,“Can’t Help Falling In Love”, some Japanese songs and gave me $20.00 tip. They enjoyed the night requesting and listening to my playing and singing popular American and Japanese songs. Before leaving, the son gave the boy an additional $10.00 tip for me but the boy don’t let go the $10.00 bill even in exchange of toys, keys and edimame! The father gets another $10.00 from his pocket and gave it to me.

THERE ARE SOME MORE THAT I CAN’T RECALL ANYMORE.

THE POINT IS… IF I CAN STILL GET SOME TIPS WITH CUSTOMERS ALMOST ABOUT TO LEAVE, I HAVE SOME ‘MAGIC’ WITH MY MUSIC TO HAVE THEM STAY FOR A FEW MORE MINUTES AND A FEW MORE DOLLARS TIP!

Source:
Music and Me by Roberto Hernandez

Tia Belau Newspaper

Pages 9 & 10

Volume 22

Issue 27

April 04, 2013

(367) MUSIC AND ME (Jan. 10, 2013) Honesty

*(This is not the original photo that appears in Tia Belau Issue 03)

Have a problem uploading photo.

A WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS

At right is an employee of PRR who treated his lady friends to a Christmas decors, night view and live music at Breeze Bar of PRR. The man at left sang a lot of international songs.

(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

                          H O N E S T Y

BILLY Joel has a hit song entitled “Honesty”. It’s one of his popular songs that many Japanese guests that I’ve met at Palau Royal Resort usually requested.

Being that popular and one of the most requested American songs in my repertoire, I have memorized its lyrics and complicated chords, intro and finale.

I usually sing it when the guests at Breeze Bar of PRR are closer to me because mike is not allowed there.

But the lyrics of “Honesty” are not relevant to my stories of being honest:

1.) In 1994, I’m playing keyboard at Image Restaurant with Willy dela Cruz as drummer. This was after our lead guitarist and singer Wilson Prima left Palau for good so only 2 of us remained performing for a few months. When Willy found a more stable job as butcher at Surangel and Sons, I’ve performed solo since then until early 2005.

One night of “not-so-busy” evening, a Taiwanese lady with 2 other Taiwanese guys requested “My Way”. Instead of playing it instrumental, I’ve sang the song to her delight.

Later, she come to me and put tips in my polo shirt’s pocket.

We still perform till 9:00 pm and when they leave, it’s time for karaoke, which I operate also. I look at the tip that she had given me – there are 3 single dollar bills and 1 hundred dollar bill!

I know she made a mistake in giving me that because if she will give me $100.00, there’s no need to add 3 one-dollar bills. And she is Taiwanese. Unlike generous Japanese, I know she can’t afford to give me much.

I told about it to my employer Margarita Borja Dalton and I said to her that if she will come back again, I’ll return it to her to see what amount she really wants to give me.

SHE CAME BACK 2 DAYS LATER! I played “My Way” again even though she didn’t request it. During our break, I told Margie that I will return to her the $100.00 but she prevented me and said, “If she don’t remember it, don’t give it back and give some to the kitchen staff.”

When she left without mentioning about it, I gave $40.00 to my partner Willy, $20.00 for kitchen staff and $43.00 for me which I thought I don’t deserve.

A few months later, I met that woman again in front of OEK building (Palau Congress). When we talked, she is interested to hire me as musician to her soon to be opened restaurant.

I politely declined the offer. How can I work honestly to her when I’ve been dishonest to her earlier?

2). Former Palau Senator Steven Kanai once sang karaoke with me operating it. At past 12:00 midnight, he left and stayed at the entrance smoking cigarette. When I check his table, I found a $50.00 bill on the chair where he sat. I ran to him and returned it. He said, “Ole, you’re a good man! If you need my help someday, just tell me.”

3). And lastly, before New Year 2013 at Breeze Bar, Ogie Pineda is paying their bill when I saw $50.00 fall from his pocket with the wind blowing it for about 2 meters from him. I just call his name and pointed to the fallen $50.00. Ogie didn’t say anything, it’s okay to me. I’ve known him for a while as one of our regular guests.

CONTINUATION OF “MY REPERTOIRE OF INTERNATIONAL SONGS”

              Last 25 songs of “B”

1975   BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY (Queen)                                                                                             DB250

BOMBATEL (Palauan Song)                                                                                                  DBI 61

BONGGAHAN (Sampaguita) (Filipino Song)                                                                  OPM188

1966     BORN FREE (Matt Monro)                                                                                                                                                                                                                       B 230

1967      BOTH SIDES NOW (Joni Mitchel)                                                                                               V 2

BOULEVARD (Dan Byrd)                                                                                                          B 168

BREAKING MY HEART (Michael Learns To Rock)                                                                DB 59

BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO (Neil Sedaka)                                                                        DB 19

1982 BREAK IT TO ME GENTLY (Angela Bofil)                                                                                      B 328

BREATHE (Faith Hill)                                                                                                                 DB 11

BRIAN’S SONG

1969 BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER (Simon & Garfunkel)                                                       R 150

B R I D G E S (Sergio Mendes and Brazil ’77)                                                                      R 151

BUGHAW NA BUHANGIN (Filipino Song)

B U H A T (Rico J. Puno) (Filipino Song)                                                                            OPM 92

BUHAY MUSIKERO (Mike Hanopol) (Filipino Song)                                                       OPM19

BULAG, PIPI AT BINGI (Freddie Aguilar) (Filipino Song)                                               OPM51

BULAKLAK (Kuh Ledesma) (Filipino Song)                                                                     OPM107

BULONG-BULUNGAN (Filipino Song)                                                                               OPM116

1966       BUS STOP (The Hollies)                                                                                                            B 111

BUT IF YOU LEAVE ME (Junior)                                                                                                DB 71

BUTSIKIK (Yoyoy Villame) (Filipino Song)                                                                         OPM91

1948     BUTTONS AND BOWS                                                                                                              DB 252

1957     BYE BYE LOVE (Everly Brothers)                                                                                               B 197

1967      BY THE TIME I GET TO PHOENIX (Glenn Campbel) (Johnny Rivers – 1965)                       V 3

Source:

Music and Me by Roberto Hernandez

Tia Belau Newspaper

Pages 8-9

Volume 22

Issue 03

January 10, 2013