(703) MUSIC AND ME (Feb. 06, 2014) HAJIMETE (FIRST TIME) IN PALAU

JUN KAWABATA -- FIRST TIMER IN PALAU (HAJIMETE)
     Jun Kawabata, right, is first time guest at Palau Royal Resort. He enjoyed the night of music with Roberto Hernandez at Breeze Bar. He likes to hear Palauan songs.                         (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

                                              (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)


 This newly-wed (honeymooners) Japanese couple are also first timers in Palau. They enjoyed Roberto's rendition of Japanese songs. Roberto jokingly told them before they leave --"Please come back to Palau again with your baby."
    The date then is Feb. 26, 2014 at Breeze Bar of Palau Royal Resort. They are about 7 meters away from me playing Japanese songs on a keyboard. The lady, Yuka, knows all the Japanese songs I'm playing and while I'm singing most of the songs I'm playing, I can see her lips synchronized with my singing.
   At 11:00pm, I talked to them and tell them a story about Sakurajima mountain/volcano in Kagoshima City when it spewed ashes and I forgot to close the window of my apartment's room in April-September 1982.
   The ashes inside my room is about 2 centimeters thick.
Before going home, I asked for their names because I have hard time remembering names of persons if I will not write it.
   The guy's name is Masang Matsushita.
 

(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

In March 13, 2014 Thursday, Jun Kawabata, right, gave me $10.00 tip in the first time that we met. He requested Palauan songs. I played and sang for him "Dil Dil Lomais".

   Later when I talk to him, he come to Palau by himself. I joke him that you look for a wife in Palau.

He said he will come back on Saturday. He didn't but came back on Sunday again and gave me $5.00 this time.
    





                           HAJIMETE
                            FIRST TIME IN PALAU

I ALWAYS ask our guests, especially when they enjoy my music, if it's their first time in Palau.

When they say yes, I will ask them to please come back to Palau.

Almost all of them will answer "sure". And I believe them especially if the guests are Japanese. Palau is like a paradise. It's worth seeing it again, and again, and again.

  

On March 20, 2014, this Japanese couple enjoyed my music. The lady gave me $2.00 tip. She said she is a singer in Japan and her husband is bass player and drummer.

They are first timer also in Palau and will be back again to Palau with her parents and their baby! Yes, she is pregnant.                         (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)







Source: Chess and Music (Perfect Combination)
             The Beginning of Chess In Palau
             By Roberto Hernandez
             February 2014
             To be published as a book in the future

(702) PHOTOS (Micronesian Open 2014 Round 1-9)

Roberto Hernandez, left, and FM Brian Jones at Surangel Construction Office at 2:30 pm. on Feb. 19, 2014. Roberto has to work at 7-11pm and Mr. Jones is the only available player at daytime.
                                                       (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Mr. Jones prevailed in 58 moves of Pirc Defence.                 (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

2nd game of Roberto vs. Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. They are about to play at Bethlehem Park but it's raining hard and they decided to proceed to Surangel Construction Office with more privacy and quiet. Their game ended in a draw with both having a king and a pawn on h file.
                                         (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

On Friday, Roberto's day off, he played against Angie Parrado and won in just 13 moves when Angie touched the h pawn instead of g pawn and was mated.          (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Before going to Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ (4th Watch) Palau Locale, for Prayer Meeting, Roberto left Jose Celiz, left, and Dennis Gonzales with the latter regaining his lost pieces and on the offensive. Finally, Jose resigned for his first loss.          (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Tito Cabunagan, middle, escaped with a win in his game against Jeffrey Balbalosa, left, who was rattled by the blitz play of Tito. FM Brian Jones, right, drew his game against Palau top player Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. in a closed game without a breakthrough.                          (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)





                                    
CM Bernardo Garcia, Palau first title player, demolished WNM Angelica Parrado, who managed only one draw against Rafael Paloma in 9 games. Paloma also had half point in 9 games.
                                           (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Instead of playing their game on Sunday at 4pm, Roberto, right, and CM Bernardo Garcia played their game on Friday evening. Roberto prevailed in their English Opening game. Baby Edna Mission poses for a souvenir photo.                                                              (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Roberto played his game against Tito Cabunagan on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 9am. Roberto gave up his queen for a pawn and 2 rooks and have an overwhelming advantage but missed a good rook attack on Tito's queen before checking his king. Cyril saw the missed opportunity and after analyzing the game, it's a sure win for Roberto but he lost instead.                              (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Tito Cabunagan is watching the game between FM Brian Jones and Jeffrey Balbalosa. Another win for Mr. Jones. Only Cyril was able to draw with him in the event.     (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Mrs. Margaret Jones watches her husband's game against Jeff. Mrs. Jones also joined Brian in Guam during the 2013 Guam International Chess Tournament in Feb. 15-21 where Palau sent 3 players -- Balbalosa, Ksau Anthony Flores Whipps and his mom Joy Flores Whipps.     (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Roberto, left, defeated Jeffrey Balbalosa in their game on Saturday afternoon. Tito and Cyril drew their game after Tito escaped from another troublesome situation/position. Cyril scored 6 points in the event with 4 draws, 4 wins and a loss.                                  (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Palau No. 2 Jose Celiz, right, clobbered Hernandez in their game on Sunday afternoon. The two shared 4th place with identical 5.5 points. With the winner over the other or direct encounter, Celiz is 4th and Roberto 5th. In the March listing of FIDE rated players of Palau, Jose retained his no. spot with 5 points increase while Roberto is still 3rd with 6 points increase.               (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Brian Jones prevailed over CM Bernardo Garcia, left, in their Sunday afternoon match.
                                         (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Cyril subdued Rafael Paloma.                                    (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Cyrelle Ann Montel, Cyril's daughter, watches the Jones-Garcia match while Angie and Dennis Gonzales are fighting it out at the other board.                                         (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)
                                                

 Robert, right, vs. Rafael Paloma, who couldn't sustain his material advantage and bowed to Roberto in another Sunday afternoon match.                                       (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Jose Celiz, left, is up by a piece against the stingy CM Bernardo Garcia and their game ended in a draw by perpetual check.                                                                (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Jeff vs. Dennis, right. Angie vs. Cyril.          (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)               

Final game (9th) of Roberto, right, against Dennis Gonzales. He won to finish the event with 5.5 points and tied Jose Celiz at 4th place.                                               (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)