Hoseok vocals

They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, and like many Singaporeans, that is how I feel about Teo Heng. The KTV studio, known for its affordable prices, is a place that many 80s and 90s kids would flock to belt out tune after tune. Unfortunately, the pandemic has been giving Teo Heng a pretty hard time and the family business has been struggling to stay afloat. In addition, the pilot programme to reopen nightclubs and karaoke outlets has been put on hold , so it unlikely that singing will be allowed in karaoke joints anytime soon. Despite these uncertainties, Teo Heng has tried to make the best out of the situation by leasing out their rooms for other uses. Starting from today (March 19), guests will be allowed to book rooms at their Causeway Point and Bedok Point outlets to, as they say, "work, dine & chill". Their third outlet at JCube is slated to reopen on a later date so Westies can keep a watch out for that. Curious to see how this will be like, I ... » Learn More about I tried working at Teo Heng for $4/hour and it was slightly disappointing — here’s why

You may recognise Sebastian Tan as Hennessey in the 2010 production of Dick Lee's beloved musical, Fried Rice Paradise. However, in the upcoming television adaptation of the musical, Sebastian won't be reprising his role as the charismatic son of a villainous businessman. Instead, he will be playing the villainous businessman himself - Rickson Goh. "I've aged," he deadpans to AsiaOne at the drama's launch party last night (June 20) before chuckling. Yes, the 46-year-old is well aware that he's playing the dad now but when this reporter pointed out that the trajectory is similar to celebrated Broadway singer and actress Lea Salonga's transition from Eponine to Fantine in Les Miserables, he agreed readily. Sebastian is well known for his stage persona, Broadway Beng - a flamboyant and risque character who blends English and Hokkien humour effortlessly. So, what was the transition like? "At first, I was averse to it..." he joked as he let out a hearty laugh. He quickly ... » Learn More about From Broadway Beng to villain: Sebastian Tan is now old enough to play a dad in TV’s Fried Rice Paradise

THE government has signed a tripartite agreement with a private group led by business tycoon Enrique Razon and American drugmaker Moderna for 20 million doses of its Covid-19 vaccine. Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., chief implementer of the National Task Force Against Covid-19 and the country’s vaccine czar, signed the deal with Razon, chairman of International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI), and Patrick Bergstedt, Moderna senior vice president. Galvez thanked Razon “for his incessant support to the national government in our fight against this pandemic,” and Bergstedt “for keeping up with their commitment in providing 20 million ‘doses of hope’” for 10 million Filipinos. Under the agreement, the government secured 13 million doses of the Moderna vaccine, and the private sector ordered another 7 million doses for its frontline workers. Moderna said it was working on an emergency use authorization (EUA) so it could roll out its vaccine in the country. The Philippines ... » Learn More about PH signs deal for 20 million Moderna doses

PHOTOS: Free Youth Facebook page Last night’s Bangkok protests around Sanam Luang, adjacent to the Grand Palace, the Democracy Monument and along Ratchadamnoen Nok Road, descended into clashes between a small rump of anti government protesters and riot police. It was a night where less was said and most of the events became theatre for the troupe of journalists pursuing the action. Police were waiting, fortified with shipping containers that had been stacked up to impede the progress of the protesters. But the tactics, on both sides, are now well understood and the young protesters were well prepared to move the containers and proceed. Police used rubber bullets, tear gas and fired off their high-power water cannon as a warning salvo. Earlier in the day, Samesky Publishing was raided where the Redem group had stored books about the Thai monarchy. Police seized the books, “Monarchy and Thai Society”, critical of the current monarch and calling for constitutional limitation of ... » Learn More about Anti-government Bangkok protest descends into scuffles between activists and police

33 people, including protesters and attending police, ended up casualties of last evening’s anti-government protests according to Erawan Medical Centre. The protest, reacting to the seizure of books discussing the Thai Monarchy and including pro-democracy speeches from last year, started off in Sanam Luang during the afternoon. But it quickly escalated after police erected a wall of shipping containers preventing protesters access to the road to the Grand Palace. During the ensuing scuffles, police threatened protesters with the high-power water cannon truck, used tear gas and rubber bullets, and chased down individual protesters, leading to at least 5 arrests. You can watch Free Youth’s video of the aftermath of the protest HERE . The events, captured and broadcast in real time on social media, portrayed an undisciplined display of farrago, from both sides. Fires were lit along the road by protesters and police were seen stomping on protesters on the ground. Other protesters ... » Learn More about 33 people injured and 5 arrested in last night’s protests near the Grand Palace in Bangkok

ON March 7, Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong made a passionate call to Chinese voters to give the MCA support in his presidential address at the party’s general assembly. Since then, his appeal has fuelled some reactions from the community. While die-hard detractors have continued to rule out the MCA completely, others have engaged in serious discussions on whether the community still needs the MCA to represent their interest. With the 15th general election (GE15) likely to be held after the Covid-19 pandemic is overcome under the current inoculation drive, any subject on GE15 stirs interest. And so does Dr Wee’s appeal. The MCA leader, also Transport Minister, made the appeal twice on March 7. During his long speech, he made the appeal with an important message to Chinese voters: “I sincerely hope the Chinese community will give us an opportunity. This is to ensure there will not be a situation whereby all other ethnic groups are present in the government, except for the Chinese. ... » Learn More about Will Chinese voters give MCA a chance?

Spotify launched a new website Thursday addressing questions on how it pays out royalties, but failed to dampen mounting anger from musicians struggling to survive in the streaming era. "Artists deserve clarity about the economics of music streaming," Spotify said on its new Loud & Clear site, adding that it aims to "increase transparency by sharing new data on the global streaming economy and breaking down the royalty system, the players, and the process". It said 13,400 artists had generated revenues of $50,000 or more from its app last year, and 7,800 generated more than $100,000. But it added: "Spotify does not pay artists or songwriters directly. Instead, Spotify pays the rights-holders... Once that revenue leaves Spotify's hands, how much an artist or songwriter gets paid depends on their agreements with rights-holders." Indeed, artists signed to major labels will typically take only 20 percent of these revenues and may have to split the remainder between band members ... » Learn More about Spotify launches site explaining how it pays artists

MANILA, Philippines — If the life of the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo has a message for Filipinos living through the current pandemic, it is to never lose hope and never stop fighting. That was the reminder given by Vice President Leni Robredo on Tuesday, August 18, which coincides with the eighth death anniversary of her husband, Jesse. According to the Vice President, the fight against the COVID-19 crisis could be a long game, but one that the country’s officials and citizens should never give up. “This can be a long and lonely struggle, lalo na ngayon. Lagi kong pinapaalala sa mga kasama ko sa opisina pag nawawalan ng saysay ‘yung ginagawa: long game ito,” Robredo said in an online speech for the launching of Jesse Robredo Institute for Leadership and Good Governance. “‘Yung mga set backs ay temporary. Kaya dapat, laban lang nang laban. Ganoon si Jesse. Kapit lang nang kapit,” she stressed. Jesse died in 2012 in a plane crash , when a Piper Seneca plane ... » Learn More about Robredo urges Filipinos to emulate late husband amid pandemic: He never gave up

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo believes that the strategy to beat the COVID-19 pandemic is to address issues head on, and not merely evade problems that the health crisis may produce. Speaking in an online forum hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Robredo said that facing issues squarely — like admitting that there were a lot of shortcomings in the government’s COVID-19 response, and using scientific tools and data — would be of great help in assessing and eventually solving the problems. “If we want to turn things around, the first step is facing up to these facts. We have to acknowledge where we have come short; find out what we’re doing wrong, look at what others have done right, and learn from them. This is what it entails for the nation to get its act together,” the Vice President said in her speech, released by the Office of the Vice President on Thursday. “We must face COVID-19 head-on—with courage, and with a relentless and ... » Learn More about Robredo: Address COVID-19 problems head on, don’t evade it

MANILA, Philippines — The rising number of local officials killed — 25 mayors and vice mayors — since 2016 has prompted a call for a Senate investigation of the alleged culture of lawlessness under the Duterte administration. In filing Senate Resolution No. 683, detained opposition Sen. Leila de Lima urged her colleagues to launch an inquiry into the wave of attacks on city and municipal leaders across the country, the latest of which involved Calbayog City Mayor Ronaldo Aquino, who was shot dead by policemen under disputed circumstances on March 8. “This bloody incident is not the first of its kind,” De Lima said, referring to Aquino’s killling. She noted in her resolution that the tally of mayors and vice mayors killed since President Duterte came into power had reached 25. “The events of the past few years have shown that the police under this administration have all but eliminated peaceful surrender of anyone that they unilaterally and unlawfully determined to be their ... » Learn More about De Lima seeks Senate probe into killings of local leaders