Philippines Governor Urges Public To Denounce Loud Karaoke Singers To Fight Coronavirus



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In a Facebook post early Tuesday morning local time, Cavite Province Governor Jonvic Remulla urged the public to report noisy karaoke singers to authorities to help fight the coronavirus.

In the post, which began by quoting the lyrics from the late American singer Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” and The Buggles’ “Video Killed the Radio Star,” Remulla told his constituents that a good night’s sleep was one of the best ways to strengthen the immune system.

“The curfew is not only designed to reduce mindless night walks. It is also intended to strengthen the body through good, deep sleep,” he said.

But one of the most frequent complaints from voters had been the “relentless abuse” of people singing karaoke, he said.

“This is the favorite pastime of those who have nothing to do from last night until dawn,” Remulla said.

“If he is drunk, on the amount of drink and especially his excursion is against the time, he can be accused and taken to the premises on the spot,” he wrote. “If you don’t want to sleep early, let yourself sleep! Learn to respect the neighbors who have to get up at 4 am (like me).”

Customers sing karaoke at a nightclub in Davao City, Mindanao Island, in the southern Philippines, on May 10, 2016.

National pastime

Karaoke is a favorite national pastime in the Philippines. Karaoke bars are spread throughout the archipelago and it is common for people to have their own karaoke system at home, making the activity a staple of social events.

In recent years, several people have been killed in the country after singing the karaoke classic “My Way,” in crimes dubbed “My Way Killings” by local media, according to a 2010 New York Times report.

The Philippines has reported more coronavirus cases than any other Southeast Asian country, with more than 272,000 confirmed infections, including at least 4,700 deaths, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

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Cavite, a province in the north of the main Philippine island of Luzon, is home to 3.6 million people. The province has reported at least 8,860 Covid-19 cases and 197 deaths, according to Remulla’s post.

Last month, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte announced that closure restrictions would be relaxed in Metro Manila, Cavite, and the provinces of Bulacan, Laguna and Rizal, according to CNN affiliate CNN Philippines.

Under the new rules, more businesses will be allowed to reopen, restaurants will be able to offer dinner services, and religious gatherings will be allowed at 30% capacity in all five areas, as long as health protocols are strictly followed, as per the report.

Despite that, the Philippines has reported thousands of new cases each day for much of September, government data shows.
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