The Filipino variety television show Asap is bringing its Asap Live event to the UAE for the first time — renamed Asap 19, to commemorate its 19th anniversary, and featuring a multitude of top singers, actors, performance artists, comedians and more. Guests will be treated to two hours of live music, comedy and other entertainment. Here are just a few of the celebrities expected to headline the event, which is part of the Dubai Shopping Festival.
Charice
This pop star was still a teenager when her first self-titled album Charice (2010) debuted in eighth place on the Billboard 200 chart. She didn't have a conventional start to her career. having gone viral in 2007 when she and a fan uploaded videos of her performing onto YouTube. A few television appearances later, including the Ellen Degeneres and Oprah Winfrey shows, Charice had earned herself a record deal. Oprah said of her: "You are a force to be reckoned with. That voice comes from something bigger than yourself."
Bamboo
Bamboo Mañalac, popularly known only by his first name, began his career as the lead vocalist of the group Rivermaya and later started his own band with three other musicians, only to break up in 2011. Bamboo has continued his career, though, and in 2012 released his solo debut album No Water, No Moon, consisting of 12 tracks. This will be Bamboo’s second UAE gig; he last performed here in October last year at a show that also featured his former band Rivermaya bandmates.
Piolo Pascual
The multi-talented 37-year old is an actor, musician, model and producer kicked off his career in 1994, when he was invited to audition for German Moreno's That's Entertainment show. He had to move to the US, but upon his return to Manila he scored a series of television roles — eventually starring in Lagarista (2000), which hit the international film festival circuit, and playing a villain in the soap Esperanza (1998). As his acting career burgeoned, so too did his singing career — with a series of gold and platinum albums. He turned his hand to producing with Manila (2009), which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and toured film festivals across the globe.
Zsa Zsa Padilla
The singer and actress Zsa Zsa Padilla began her career at a young age, starring in a Nido milk commercial at the age of 10. However, her true big break was joining the influential Hotdog Band in the 1970s, which proved a powerful launch pad for her solo career a year later.
Following this success, offers for film and television roles poured in. Padilla famously acted alongside her future partner, the comedian Dolphy, in Mga anak ni Facifica Falayfay (1987). Now 49, the "Divine Diva" has more than a million Twitter followers.
Fame runs in her family — not only is she the daughter of the famous actor and boing referee Carlos “Sonny” Padilla Jr, but also mother to the singer-actress Karylle and the singer Zia Quizon.
Aiza Seguerra
Seguerra also found fame at a young age, having taken part in a popular variety show called Eat Bulaga!'s Little Miss Philippines in 1987. She went on to star in a series of television programmes and films, acting in 25 films before the age of 20. She later turned to music and released the hit single Pagdating ng Panahon, alongside a quintuple-platinum album, in 2001. The 30-year-old has released 10 albums to date, including four gold albums, one platinum and another double platinum.
Enrique Gil
The 21-year-old actor, model, rapper and dancer began acting when he was 16, securing roles in television commercials after attending acting workshops. After his first major role in the action-drama Pieta (2008), Gil worked his way through various television shows and films — most recently co-starring in the film She's the One (2013).
• There will be two ASAP 19 shows tomorrow, 4pm and 9pm, at Dubai Festival City this Friday. Tickets range from Dh85 to Dh365. For more information, call 04 390 2180 or visit www.facebook.com/TFCMiddleEast.
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
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Fresh faces in UAE side
Khalifa Mubarak (24) An accomplished centre-back, the Al Nasr defender’s progress has been hampered in the past by injury. With not many options in central defence, he would bolster what can be a problem area.
Ali Salmeen (22) Has been superb at the heart of Al Wasl’s midfield these past two seasons, with the Dubai club flourishing under manager Rodolfo Arrubarrena. Would add workrate and composure to the centre of the park.
Mohammed Jamal (23) Enjoyed a stellar 2016/17 Arabian Gulf League campaign, proving integral to Al Jazira as the capital club sealed the championship for only a second time. A tenacious and disciplined central midfielder.
Khalfan Mubarak (22) One of the most exciting players in the UAE, the Al Jazira playmaker has been likened in style to Omar Abdulrahman. Has minimal international experience already, but there should be much more to come.
Jassim Yaqoub (20) Another incredibly exciting prospect, the Al Nasr winger is becoming a regular contributor at club level. Pacey, direct and with an eye for goal, he would provide the team’s attack an extra dimension.
Jewel of the Expo 2020
252 projectors installed on Al Wasl dome
13.6km of steel used in the structure that makes it equal in length to 16 Burj Khalifas
550 tonnes of moulded steel were raised last year to cap the dome
724,000 cubic metres is the space it encloses
Stands taller than the leaning tower of Pisa
Steel trellis dome is one of the largest single structures on site
The size of 16 tennis courts and weighs as much as 500 elephants
Al Wasl means connection in Arabic
World’s largest 360-degree projection surface
Ovo's tips to find extra heat
- Open your curtains when it’s sunny
- Keep your oven open after cooking
- Have a cuddle with pets and loved ones to help stay cosy
- Eat ginger but avoid chilli as it makes you sweat
- Put on extra layers
- Do a few star jumps
- Avoid alcohol
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More from Neighbourhood Watch
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Five hymns the crowds can join in
Papal Mass will begin at 10.30am at the Zayed Sports City Stadium on Tuesday
Some 17 hymns will be sung by a 120-strong UAE choir
Five hymns will be rehearsed with crowds on Tuesday morning before the Pope arrives at stadium
‘Christ be our Light’ as the entrance song
‘All that I am’ for the offertory or during the symbolic offering of gifts at the altar
‘Make me a Channel of your Peace’ and ‘Soul of my Saviour’ for the communion
‘Tell out my Soul’ as the final hymn after the blessings from the Pope
The choir will also sing the hymn ‘Legions of Heaven’ in Arabic as ‘Assakiroo Sama’
There are 15 Arabic speakers from Syria, Lebanon and Jordan in the choir that comprises residents from the Philippines, India, France, Italy, America, Netherlands, Armenia and Indonesia
The choir will be accompanied by a brass ensemble and an organ
They will practice for the first time at the stadium on the eve of the public mass on Monday evening
More on animal trafficking
More coverage from the Future Forum
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
