Filipino rapper Geo Ong — known for his no-holds-barred rhythmic delivery in his music video Parokyana, which has reached nearly 12 million views on YouTube — is to perform in Taoyuan early next month, the event organizer said.
The 22-year-old rapper who hails from Puerto Princesa, a city on the Philippine island of Palawan, is to headline at Laklakan 4 — the latest edition of a Filipino series of hip-hop events — on June 9 in Taoyuan, Alpha Martial Eagles Production founder Allan Viray said.
Ong’s visit, his first to Taiwan, would inspire migrant workers who love hip-hop music, especially those who spend their days off writing their own songs and creating beats, hoping that they, too, will have a big break someday, Viray said.
“The concept came to my mind [as a way] for them to get inspired when they see this man [Geo Ong], so they can continue to pursue their dreams in the music industry,” he said.
Ong is welcomed by many hip-hop lovers in Taiwan’s Filipino community because he “gets real” in his music by rapping about current issues in society, Viray said.
An example of this is Ong’s song Parokyana, in which he singles out “gold diggers” — people who act “easy” in exchange for cash, a new smartphone or gifts — to satisfy their desires and needs, he added.
Parokyana, or “regular customer,” has gotten more than 11.8 million views on YouTube since it was posted on Dec. 21 last year.
Laklakan 4 is also to feature rap battles between veteran rappers from the Philippines, including Aklas, J-king and Romano; local Filipino rappers DJ and Rzone; and Japan-based Filipino-Japanese rapper Shoji, promotional material released by the organizer said.
Foreign travelers entering Taiwan on a short layover via Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport are receiving NT$600 gift vouchers from yesterday, the Tourism Administration said, adding that it hopes the incentive would boost tourism consumption at the airport. The program, which allows travelers holding non-Taiwan passports who enter the country during a layover of up to 24 hours to claim a voucher, aims to promote attractions at the airport, the agency said in a statement on Friday. To participate, travelers must sign up on the campaign Web site, the agency said. They can then present their passport and boarding pass for their connecting international
Temperatures in northern Taiwan are forecast to reach as high as 30°C today, as an ongoing northeasterly seasonal wind system weakens, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said yesterday that with the seasonal wind system weakening, warmer easterly winds would boost the temperature today. Daytime temperatures in northern Taiwan and Yilan County are expected to range from 28°C to 30°C today, up about 3°C from yesterday, Tseng said. According to the CWA, temperature highs in central and southern Taiwan could stay stable. However, the weather is expected to turn cooler starting tonight as the northeasterly wind system strengthens again
COOLING OFF: Temperatures are expected to fall to lows of about 20°C on Sunday and possibly 18°C to 19°C next week, following a wave of northeasterly winds on Friday The Central Weather Administration (CWA) on Sunday forecast more rain and cooler temperatures for northern Taiwan this week, with the mercury dropping to lows of 18°C, as another wave of northeasterly winds sweeps across the country. The current northeasterly winds would continue to affect Taiwan through today, with precipitation peaking today, bringing increased rainfall to windward areas, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng (劉沛滕) said. The weather system would weaken slightly tomorrow before another, stronger wave arrives on Friday, lasting into next week, Liu said. From yesterday to today, northern Taiwan can expect cool, wet weather, with lows of 22°C to 23°C in most areas,
Taiwan sweltered through its hottest October on record, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, the latest in a string of global temperature records. The main island endured its highest average temperature since 1950, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng said. Temperatures the world over have soared in recent years as human-induced climate change contributes to ever more erratic weather patterns. Taiwan’s average temperature was 27.381°C as of Thursday, Liu said. Liu said the average could slip 0.1°C by the end of yesterday, but it would still be higher than the previous record of 27.009°C in 2016. "The temperature only started lowering around Oct. 18 or 19