(1291) MUSIC AND ME (July 28, 2016) SUMING 7 BAND (Pacific Islands Diplomatic Allies & Fiji Tour)

This is Suming's autograph. I asked for it after the 2nd Chinese Songs Singing Contest held in 2013 at Sea Passion Hotel. Taiwan Ambassador to Palau Maggie Tien hired me for the 2nd time with less participants this time. But the variations in songs are more wide and challenging.

Like in the first Singing Contest, she paid me $300.00 for my effort to accompany the singers live with a keyboard. The champion also received the same amount as my fee.

Sources: Music and Me by Roberto Hernandez
              Tia Belau Newspaper
              March 15, 2012 -- April 18, 2013
              http://palau-chess.blogspot.com
              April 25, 2013 -- November 11, 2016

              Chess and Music (Perfect Combination)
              The Beginning of Chess in Palau
              By Roberto Hernandez
              Soon to be published as a book
              

(514) PHOTOS --2ND CHINESE SONGS SINGING CONTEST

The 5 contestants of 2012 Chinese Songs Singing Contest. From left to right, Bow Umed -- champion; Howard Charles, Jr. --1st runner-up; Jemty Peter, Jr. -- special prize;Latoya Ngirmetrang--special prize and Eaghan 'Owen' Ngiruldelsang--2nd runner-up.
                                                          (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Uroi Salii, left, has been taught by Roberto Hernandez piano for 2 years. She's got a Taiwanese scholarship and studied in Taiwan for few years. She's one of the emcee in the 2nd Chinese Songs Singing Contest.
                                                                 (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Suming, middle, and his band performed in the middle of the 2012 Chinese Songs Singing Contest. The multi-awarded ethnic group performed in many other countries.
                                                       (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Suming awarding the special prize to Latoya Ngirmetrang, who is the only contestant who participated also in the inaugural Chinese Songs Singing Contest held at Palasia Hotel in Nov. 02, 2011.
                                                   (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Howard Charles, Sr., right, is a music teacher at Palau Community College. He is awarding the special prize of Jemty Peter, Jr. Howard, Sr. sang the Taiwanese song "Yue lai Xiang" (Orchid) as special number during the inaugural singing contest.                                           (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Palau newly elected Vice President Antonio Bells is awarding the $200.00 cash prize of Howard Charles, Jr. during the awarding held at Sea Passion Hotel.    (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)         

Father and son Howard Charles, Sr. and Howard Charles, Jr. pose for a souvenir photo with Vice President Antonio Bells.                                                    (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

2012 Chinese Songs Singing Contest champion Bow Umed receiving his cash prize ($300.00) and gifts from Minister Rechuer, who is also one of the judges together with Ambassador Maggie Tien and Suming.
                                                               (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Left to right -- Eaghan 'Owen' Ngirudelsang, Jemty Peter, Jr., Ambassador Maggie Tien, Bow Umed, Suming and Latoya Ngirmetrang.                                         (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

The three contestants of 2012 Chinese Songs Singing Contest pose with Suming for a souvenir photo-- from left to right -- 1st runner-up Howard Charles, Jr. ($200.00), Suming, Jemty Peter, Jr. (special prize) and Eaghan 'Owen' Ngirudelsang ($100.00).                   (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

             Roberto Hernandez was paid $300.00 for playing the accompaniment of all songs that the contestants have sung. Two songs for each contestant, who has to sing 2 songs from 7 popular Taiwanese songs provided with lyrics (in Taiwanese and English).
            Hernandez was paid the same amount in the inaugural Chinese Songs Singing Contest.
            He's got nothing for accompanying on a grand piano a Korean classical singer in 2011. He was given only a gift (a coffee cup).
            During the Japan Fair at Ngerchemayong Cultural Center, he was asked to sing 3 Japanese songs and was paid $50.00.


Source: Chess and Music (Perfect Combination)
               The Beginning of Chess In Palau
               To be published as a book in the future

(468) MUSIC AND ME (May 09, 2013) Blue Fin Tuna Festival

RARE AND EXPENSIVE BLUE FIN TUNA

The head of this blue fin tuna was on display during the Blue Fin Tuna

Festival at Palau Royal Resort's Waves Restaurant.

(Photo by Jovelyn Rodriguez)

Palau Royal Resort and Sea Passion Hotel bought a big blue fin tuna and they split it with PRR getting 151 kilos of it worth $25.00 per kilo for a total of $3,775.00.

Intentionally, PRR bought the part of tuna with the head so that they can display it during their promotion of Blue Fin Tuna Festival.

For more than a week, the head is displayed for at least 5 hours everyday. In its 4th or 5th day, it begun to stinks. When customers started to complain about the smell, the cooks wrapped the head with cling film.

PRR bought another smaller blue fin tuna (whole) for a cheaper $10.00 per kilo. The head is now being displayed till May 11 (Sat.).

While in the rest room, Mr. Taiku of Belau Tours and me had a short conversation about blue fin tuna. He said he had blue fin tuna sashimi that night at PRR and it's really good.

He also mentioned that in Japan, a whole blue fin tuna costs at about $15,000.00.