The Mercedes-Benz C Class – World Car of the Year. Click image to enter the website to know more.

Holy cow.. I’m so in love with the Mercedes-Benz C 180. I rode it for a couple of days and wow, wow, wow!!! It reminds me why Mercedes is always a great comfort for a cruise and plus it packs some power on the road though it’s not much of a use since we can’t break the speeding rules here :p

I kinda find it strange that many prefer the CLA over the C180 because for me, I would take the C180 any day. I’ve test driven both models and the C180 has a slight edge for me. It’s no surprise that the Mercedes-Benz C Class was named 2015 World Car of the Year.

So why would you settle for less? Further more the price of the C180 is pretty reasonable on the road. Even my friends were surprised by the price tag. You’re paying a reasonable premium price for an awesome luxurious car.

First let’s talk about the design. There is so much difference from the previous C Class models and the latest one is much edgier and sleeker especially the front appealing look with the sporty central car embedded in the nose. I love the blue colour of the C180 and it stole some praises from my friends too.

There is so much to like about the interior too – the cockpit and the control panel near the arm rest area. It makes things more convenient for the driver. I could control the ambient lighting inside the car to the climate control. It might take a while to get used to it at first but once you mastered it, it gives you many option as a driver.

I felt comfortable on my seat and it just fits me nicely. I’m not used to the low setting since I’ve been driving an SUV for a decade now. Sometimes it takes me a while to get out of the car even after I’ve reached home because I was too comfortable in the driver seat.

Loving the colour of the Mercedes C180. Caught many eyes on the road.

The driving experience of the C180

Nicely lit during night

Enjoy my ride on a Sunday 😀

Ok, now the drive experience is what gives me a lot of thrill. I love to play with the Agility Select Function, allowing you to choose from Eco, Comfort, Sport and Sport +. Of course, I chose the Sport + (Vrrrrrooomm….). The Eco and Comfort modes were fun … for a little while. I just needed some boost on my ride and once I tried Sport+ it was tough to get back to Eco unless the tank is running low.

The Sport+ sharpens the throttle and adds weight to the steering while stiffens the dampers. My passenger buddies were too thrilled when I took them on the Sport+ cruise on the highway. Of course, the AMG C 63 would have better experience on the Sport+ mode with better suspension and steering. The C180 uses the 7G-Tronic Plus transmission which helps to reduce fuel-consumption and emissions without compromising for power.

So ladies and gentlemen, if you happen to drop by Jati Transport showroom, I highly recommend you to test drive the Mercedes-Benz C 180.

The control panel and also where I stuffed my gadgets

Listening to my favourite song/score during all my rides

In the comfort of the C180 after a heavy lunch with Pranika at Red Chillies

The young boys were in for a thrill of their lives

The interior of the C180

Comparing with my brother’s C250 and of course, his car is more powerful than the C180

 

Click to enter Jo’s Indiegogo project

This is the first. I had a quick glimpse of the idea when Josephine On represented it at Pechachuka Volume 6 last December. Today it’s a reality. Her planning has been sublime to say the least because it is close to becoming a reality through means of crowd funding (Indiegogo). If you heard of Kickstarter, then Indiegogo is one of the similar ones. Yes, my friend Jo On has made to the international stage with her prototype.

To me, this is just simply brilliant. To have a local person from Brunei to be selected as one of the candidates to showcase her prototype on crowd funding website. In a way, it makes me wanting to do a similar feat of creating my own kind of prototype and see if it will be demand once it’s up on Indiegogo.

So what is Jo’s prototype? It’s the All-In-One Bag for good journeys under the Goodtabi brand. It’s smarter, better and hassle-free and furthermore, it will feel timeless because of the multiple functions it provides.

Do you know that ideas are created when we face problems? Jo bumped into one during her travels and the rest was history. With the Swanston Bag, your journey will be hassle free. You don’t have to worry about missing passports or even messy cables here and there or even worrying about water bottle leakage that might spoil your gadgets and important documents.

So to my friends, do help my friend Jo in her Indiegogo (crowd funding) project and once she reached the USD 25,000 target, her prototype will be good to go for production and delivery before end of the year. With only less than 24 hours, the Swanston Bag idea has raised USD 1,123 so far which is 4% of the actual target. There are still 34 days left to raise. Let’s hope for your support and click here to find out more.

You can follow on their Facebook Page or instagram @goodtabi or check out the link for Jo’s Indiegogo project.

The Swanston Bag is pretty multi-functional

Water resistant material

RA: You mentioned that you traveled a lot. The idea of the Swanston bag came from your travel experience. What is the biggest tick-off moment for you when it comes to traveling with a hand carry?

Jo On: Function is the keyword. I like to keep my belongings organized, so I know exactly which pocket to reach for if I need something specific. One of the biggest reasons why I founded Goodtabi is due to a silly, silly mistake I made during a trip to Taiwan back in 2013. I had one of those backpacks with only one single large pocket so naturally, I packed my essentials, gadgets and coffee bottle in the same place. It was during then this bottle cracked open and leaked all over my backpack, causing damage to everything I had inside. The damage to my camera was irreversible. Not to mention my backpack was drenched in the fumes of coffee throughout the first half of the trip.

I do also like to travel light at times, hence the Dual-Strap feature was born. The Dual-Strap feature allows smaller standalone bags to be attached and detached from the main bag. One of the detachable items is a zippered clutch that can fit important items such as passport, phones, cash and cards. So once I arrive at my travel destination, I can leave the main bag at the hotel and just carry the clutch around.

Another must-have during my travels is comfort. If I’m carrying a backpack, I need the shoulder straps to be padded and wide.

RA: How long did you take you from the moment of your idea to the day the idea is out on Indiegogo? Are you happy that it’s finally out and visible to millions online? What else are you feeling after being live on Indiegogo?

Jo On: I spent the entire 2014 just looking around for backpacks and also doing some research on what is currently on the market as well as observing the ever-changing habits of travellers. By the end of 2014, I was dead-set on creating my own line of travel products. 2015 was a year of designing, prototyping, factory and warehouse visits.

Before and even after the Indiegogo launch, I’ve still got butterflies in my stomach every single second! I have to say, the preparation part was especially stressful as there were a lot of things to consider with regards to the elements that go into the campaign.

Jo On with the prototype bag, Swanston

RA: Your project will definitely inspire many local entrepreneurs like yourself to take up the challenge and present their ideas to the world. Do you feel that you could be the “kick-starter” for many locals to showcase their ideas?

Jo On: I’ve seen a lot of local entrepreneurs who are good at their craft. I hope this will spur them to act on their ideas on a global scale, no matter how big or small. I firmly believe in taking chances. You won’t know if you don’t try, even if it results in failure. Crowdfunding, from what I understand, is probably one of the less risky ways of getting your ideas out there, in the sense that you don’t need to fork out a large capital and also have a chance to gauge if your product will actually work on the market.

RA: How was the preparation? I notice a few videos and photos as well as the content for your product. How much have been invested in this project?

Jo On: Definitely a lot of time was invested! The branding, design and video production were done by Hoco Creative, a creative agency I co-founded, so that helped accelerate things with regards to the production. A lot of the preparation to the campaign went into developing sample prototypes and the brand / identity. A few months were lost because of the long shipping time it took for the prototypes to reach me (they were sent by sea!). I could have gone for courier services but that would’ve left a huge dent in the bank account, especially when there are a lot of back and forth changes. But once everything is finalised, courier services make most sense as it is very important to get your product out there asap.

Money-wise, at least BND8-9k has been invested, inclusive of prototyping, transport, accommodation, website, video production and graphic design. The bulk of it went into prototyping, transport and accommodation.

Jo On gave some sneak peaks during the Pechakucha presentation last year

RA: Where did you source your product and materials? And is the design created by yourself?

Jo On: I contacted a few Chinese manufacturers through a couple of different online sources and from there, we started exchanging Whatsapp and Skype messages. Of course, to be on the safe side, I had to fly over to visit the factory in person. I was glad to find out that my manufacturer primarily handles European clienteles, mainly from Scandinavian countries and a few big brand names as well.

Through many failed prototypes, I spent a lot of time looking for the right material before I settled on the final one. Every time I ship the prototypes over from the factory to Brunei, I would ask the manufacturer to include their material swatches so that I could have a first hand look and feel of the colours and texture. I am big on texture so the previous materials I had tried were either too heavy or didn’t suit the outcome I wanted.

The design was handled by myself. As a graphic designer myself, I had a bit of an advantage as it helped me produce drawings that the manufacturers could understand well enough to proceed with production.

RA: If you didn’t reach your target of funds (of USD 25,000), will this project still carry on? Or perhaps another similar product?

Jo On: If the funding does not succeed, I will definitely look back on where I went wrong and try my best to rectify the problem. I’ve worked a bit on Plans B and C if things don’t go well but of course, plan A is most ideal 🙂 Regardless, I will carry on this project as I am super passionate about travelling. I want to keep producing products that make life easier, hassle-free and less stressful.

 

Baiduri Prestige and Smart Executive members being toured by representatives from Sejalin Enterprise

Baiduri Bank, in collaboration with Sejalin Enterprise, organised an exclusive preview of Bang & Olufsen’s design-centric electronic sound systems at the Bang & Olufsen showroom in Kiarong last week for their Prestige and Smart Executive members.

During the cocktail style event, a representative from Sejalin Enterprise gave a briefing on Bang & Olufsen products.

According to Hjh Maripaz Abdullah, Head of Business Development and Special Programmes in Baiduri Bank, “We understand our members’ refined tastes and affinity for luxury, and Bang & Olufsen is a brand which not only caters to that but also embodies sophistication as well as quality.”

Baiduri Prestige and Smart Executive members present during the night were also treated to discounted prices on Bang & Olufsen product bundles. Bundle 1, consisting of the Beoplay A2 Bluetooth Speaker with the Beoplay H3 Earphones, was available at discounted price of BND776 (usual price is BND876). Bundle 2, which consists of the Beolit 15 Bluetooth Speaker and Beoplay H6 Headphones, was available for only BND1,296 (usual price BND1,396). Finally, guests can also purchase any Duba Height Adjustable Table and SBS Ergonomic Chair combination, with BND100 off.

On top of this, the first 20 Prestige or Smart Executive members to purchase these exclusive bundles were treated to another BND100 cash rebate when they purchase using their Prestige or Smart Executive cards.

Present at the event were Ms Dorothy Newn, Head of Group Communications Department, Ms Ng Yick Wei, Head of Group Marketing Department, as well as staff of Baiduri Bank.

 

The KB Sentral building located before entering Kuala Belait area

It was Batman and Superman fever last week

The Brunei District YoYo Contest 2016

Only officially opened last November, KB Sentral Shopping Centre (@kbsentral) has been picking its pace for the past month or so with many activities line up for the benefit of the public. It’s more like a one stop shopping place for the residents of Kuala Belait, Seria and also our neighbouring state of Miri. Just look as it as the KB version of Times Square Shopping Centre in Berakas. It may take time to get more traffic but it has been gradually on the rise after many awarenesses of newspapers and social media.

Below are some of the events that have been ongoing for the month alone in March 2016. Good job on the management on creating activities at KB Sentral as it certainly helps a lot of publicity around the area. Surprisingly not many people know of its existence, thinking perhaps it’s just a place for accommodation.

Anyway, I will be running some competition on IG so do stay tune. Below are some of the pictures taken from KB Sentral Facebook Page. Keep it up, guys!!

It was good to see the Anti-Drug roadshow organised by the Narcotics Control Bureau (@nodrugsatall) earlier this week

The youth enjoying the card games as part of the Vanguard Tournament

Ah, something for the public to be aware. You can win a bungalow or a car as part of the KB Sentral’s promotion.

There’s also a monthly draw for shoppers at KB Sentral

Photo competition and you can win awesome Canon cameras from Interhouse Company

Deadpool at KB Sentral Cube Enterprise which was officially launched last weekend

One of the Ultraman visiting KB Sentral for the residents of KB

The strongest kid, Aiman Mujibur, pulling two stationery cars

 

Late post: A special dinner was held at Parkview Hotel’s Al-Barakah Ballroom on last Wednesday, featuring an appearance by none other than the heroes from the ‘Ultraman Live in Brunei’ show.

The guests for the dinner consisted of in-house guests and ticket holders of the show, who had the opportunity to dine and meet four of the Japanese pop icons.

Ultraman Zero, Ultraman Ginga, Ultraman Tiga and Ultraman Mebius shook hands and took photos with the diners.

Executive Director of Parkview Hotel Hambali Pehin Orang Kaya Shahbandar Dato Seri Paduka Hj Mohd Salleh said they were lucky to be able to house team Ultraman, who came all the way from Japan.

Marketing Manager Dk Sabrina Pg Hj Abdullah also expressed she was delighted with how they were able to etch smiles across their guests, be it adults or children.
The Ultraman Live in Brunei 2016 has been an instant hit among Bruneians and it was such a timely manner that it was held during the school holidays.

The final show of the Ultraman show ended on Monday, 28th March. I myself was impressed with the show and I do hope to see more of this kind of entertainment in Brunei. Oh yea, this probably was an improvement from last year’s entertainment (for kids) by a different organiser who showcased some dinosaurs.

 

The most sought for magazine in Thailand – GQ Thailand issue April 2016. Image courtesy of @gqthailand

 

Promotion at Loft & Co and the promotion will be until end of March 2016.

 

Hj Minorhadi, Head of Government Relations & Special Projects Division, BIBD (right) with ALAF Students for the closing ceremony of the “ALAF TA’ARUF Camp 2016. Image courtesy of BIBD.

To further support the development and progression of students under the BIBD ALAF programme, BIBD has arranged learning camps to help build their self-confidence, develop their communication capabilities, and instil a sense of appreciation of the aims of the ALAF program.

The learning camps are divided into three camps with the first, Refresher Camp, starting on 26 March. The Refresher Camp is specially organised for the latest forty-six students who were recently awarded and included into the ALAF programme for 2016.

On the other hand, the second and third camps, the H.E.L.P (Holiday English Language Programme) camps, are arranged for around eighty students. These camps are organised with the cooperation of the CfBT to deliver bespoke English training camps for the BIBD ALAF programme students.

The H.E.L.P camps include lectures, hands-on and task-based activities to promote teamwork. The camps are also designed to foster a ‘can do’ belief in their English abilities and to establish good learner training habits.

The BIBD ALAF programme currently includes more than one hundred students, whose funding are collected from efforts of BIBD’s Corporate Social Responsibility, which include BIBD Charity Expeditions for ALAF, along with generous contributions from corporate agencies as well as general public since its launch in May 2013 by Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah.

Guest of honour speaking to one of the ALAF students. Images courtesy of BIBD.

During the closing ceremony and certificate of participation for the ALAF students. Image courtesy of BIBD.

The ALAF programme was developed in close partnership with the Department of Schools, Ministry of Education, and in 2015 a Memorandum of Understanding was also signed with the Islamic Studies Department from the Ministry of Religious Affairs. This will lead to constant efforts and close collaboration between all parties to ensure the successful implementation and provision of assistance to the ALAF programme.

The ALAF programme provides the selected students with provisions for school and tuition fees, educational materials and welfare, as well as mentoring and counselling necessities amongst others. All these efforts are meant to ensure the absolute commitment of these students towards the development of their education, and prevent them from being bothered by other commitments. The ALAF programme will also continue to provide support and assistance to these students until the end of their respective educational requirements.

Through ALAF, BIBD hopes to align its support to His Majesty’s 2035 vision of obtaining a 100% level of education for everyone, which in turn is hoped to help reduce poverty. In Shaa Allah, this will lead Brunei towards a more prosperous and peaceful future, making Brunei populated with educated, highly skilful and successful individuals, in line with internationally set standards.

Donation: Members of the public wishing to contribute into the BIBD ALAF fund may do so with a minimum donation of B$1.01 into the BIBD ALAF account at 1018181811 via BIBD channels such as the BIBD Online website, BIBD Mobile app, BIBD ATM and CDMs, and BIBD branch counters. The public can also set up a BIBD Standing Instruction to ensure a monthly donation into the ALAF fund.

As an added option, BIBD account holders can also use their accumulated BIBD Hadiah Points for cash conversion into contributions into the ALAF fund account. Progresif users can also make donation to the ALAF programme via its dedicated SMS in denominations of BND 1,5,10, 15 and 20 by typing “ALAF” and entering the amount selected, and sending it to 38988.

 

Many reasons to love the Audi Q7

Audi’s new Q7 has earned a Top Safety Pick+ from IIHS, despite requirements being tightened for 2016.

To qualify, winners must earn “good” ratings in each of the IIHS’ five crash-worthiness tests, the small overlap, moderate overlap, side and roof strength and head restraints tests, and to have an “advanced” or “superior” rating on front crash prevention system.

The German SUV did “good” in the five crashworthiness evaluations and scored a “superior” rating for front crash prevention, as the model has standard Audi pre sense city with automatic emergency braking, which can detect moving and stationary vehicles as well as pedestrians, at speeds up to 52 mph (84 km/h) and initiate braking if potential collision is detected.

“This year’s Top Safety Pick+ award for the 2017 Q7 represents our brand’s longstanding commitment to bringing innovative technologies to the market.”, said President Audi of America, Scott Keogh.

The new Audi Q7 also recently earned the top 5-star rating in the Euro NCAP safety rating in January. There will be a press launch of the Audi Q7 pretty soon. Do check out my IG and Snapchats this coming Thursday.

 

Check out the new groupie chat apps by Tap Get

Chat Group Hell: We’ve all been there – stuck in a chat group that you can’t leave because it’s either rude, FOMO on juicy gossip or just not wanting to be ‘that guy’ who leaves. What Time is a new app where you’ll never get stuck in an unwanted group and it keeps conversations on topic.

It’s a simple idea: rather than having chat groups that stay open forever and get easily flooded with multiple topics going on all at the same time, it would be better to chat in groups that:
A. Only exist for as long as they’re needed, and
B. Stay on topic.

Only existing for as long as they’re needed. Chat groups start with a timer counting down from 24:00 hours, new messages sent to the group will add a further 10 minutes, but eventually as the conversation ends it will reach 00:00 and the group is closed.

Staying on topic. Groups are based on what ‘time’ it is, such as: “It’s Party Time”, “It’s Coffee Time” or even “It’s Sexy Time” and chat along with shared photos scrolling along the background so everyone in the group knows what everyone else is talking about.

The world does not need another social-network but group chat could be better, Tap Get CEO Keeran Janin commented, ”Groups in apps like Whatsapp and Messenger already do a great job of keeping us close with family and friends – but overuse for the wrong events spoil the experience – so rather than create a whole new platform we made What Time as an alternative app to chat about short-lived events that works with your existing social networks”.

Currently What Time works with Facebook contacts, adding support for other networks is planned for future updates.

What I feel: This is an interesting and thoughtful app especially for those with multiple group chats and some may seem redundant and unnecessary after the event is over or simply the chat group has literally gone dead. It’s good to see Keeran coming up with new ideas to make life more convenient and hassle free and still make it relevant in our everyday lives. The app is up and running on IOS. I’ve tried it and so far, it’s a great idea. This app takes two (or many) to tango but once the party gets a hang of it, this is a solid way of communicating and I love the interface as well.

For Android users, you might have to wait for a stable version as it’s still on beta. I do hope the traction of users will increase over a course of time.

Keeran Janin, CEO of Tap Get, releasing his new app called What Time. This image three years ago when he won the best logo competition for National Day. Sorry buddy, I googled and this came out :p

Now you can chat with your closed friends interactively and the inbox clears itself

Also available for iWatch

 

I have this is an awesome ride. The Mercedes-Benz C180 and there is so much I wanna talk about this car. Stay tune for more review of the C180. Like they say, “The best knows no alternative”. Click image to know more about the C-Class saloon from Jati Transport.

The interior of the Mercedes-Benz C180. Classy and my kind of feel.

 

Her Royal Highness Princess Fadzilah Lubabul Bolkiah (centre) of Divas playing as a stopper in the recent ORA Gryphons Fast Pitch Softball Tournament

Cudas scoring a run and they won the tournament with a perfect record of 7 wins

Divas finished fourth at the ORA Gryphons Fast Pitch Softball Tournament 2016 in Singapore yesterday.

Her Royal Highness Princess Fadzilah Lubabul Bolkiah was among those who laced-up for Divas at the three-day tournament.
Divas defeated Wolvens 7-6 in their final round-robin match after losing 11-6 to eventual winners Cudas at the Raffles Institution Softball Field earlier yesterday.

The country only representative in the tournament collected 12 points after four wins and three losses sitting only behind host ORA Gryphons who are in third place with 15 points.

Champions Cudas collected maximum 21 points after winning all their games, meanwhile, Maiko Japan, a Japanese team based in Singapore finished second with 18 points to their name.

Divas kicked-off their campaign on Friday with a close 3-2 defeat to ORA Gryphons before bouncing back with an 8-7 victory over River Valley High School.

The faced Cudas in their third match on the same day, but the match was abandoned due to bad weather.

The next day saw Diva defeated Raffles Institution 7-6 but they lost to Maiko Japan 3-2 in their following match.

Divas defeated Mudball 12-7 later in the day, their biggest win in the tournament.

“The first game with Cudas this morning was a continuation from the first day as the game was stopped after 58 minutes due to lightning…we started off rather sleepily and made a few errors which cost us the game,” said Divas team manager Sofiah Isa in an interview with The Brunei Times yesterday.

“Nevertheless, I think we played extremely well and exceeded our expectations…and we were presented with the fourth place trophy which was unexpected as we only came to this tournament to see where our level is in the region.

“We enjoyed this tournament and each and every player have gained a lot of exposure. We have definitely learnt a lot from here and are very proud of our achievement.

“Each and every one of us have improved after every game and by the end of the tournament our coach (Gedda Valencia) can be proud to say that all our players managed to hit well,” Text by Ak Fauzi Pg Salleh and images courtesy of ORA Facebook Page.

A Divas player trying to reach home plate

Hit and run

Divas team player manager Sofiah Isa in action

Divas receiving a trophy from the organisers

Team Divas in Singapore. Image courtesy of Divas

 

Ben Affleck in the recent interview. But who cares… the movie made tons of fortune over the weekend

Who’s your favourite Batman?

Who cares if the movie sucks, right? As long as you can still make millions of dollars. I somehow wonder if Zack Synder the director of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice has the same ego as Michael Bay. It’s okay to make shitty movies, just as long as you have strong brand around it. Just look at Transformers and we never learn our lessons too as moviegoers that no matter how bad Transformers is, we will still have the urge to catch it by hook or by crook.

Now the same applies to BvS. Critics have been harsh on them and with a low rotten tomatoes scoring of 29%, it defied the odds as it smashed box office records for the month of March. It raked in USD 170 million over the weekend and it’s the fourth biggest opening ever. Worldwide is even better. They have earned a total of USD 424 million. Now they are capable to overtake the success of another popular superhero Deadpool. We shall wait and see.

What are my thoughts of the movie? I caught it twice actually and beginning to understand some of the plots that might be a little confusing for first timers. I also spotted some “easter eggs” moments. Want to know more of my review? Just click here or listen to my podcast for my review (spoiler free).

As for Zack Synder, you’re lucky that the fans are still willing to pay for your hit-and-miss movie.

Podcast review of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice with Jason Rumpus on the popcorn panel

 

It’s still uncertain if this will be brought in to Brunei. We shall wait and see

 

Who’s gonna represent Brunei in April? Do come to multipurpose hall today and find out

The Challenge Trophy

 

I’ve been busy with car launches and the latest one will be the eye catching one for many. It was the official launch of the four models of the Porsche Cayenne. Firstly it’s the Porsche Cayenne Diesel, Porsche Cayenne V6, Porsche Cayenne S and Porsche Cayenne Turbo S.

QAF Eurokars Sdn Bhd, the official importer of Porsche vehicles in Brunei, unveiled the models at their showroom yesterday. Guests and the media had the privileged to witness the event as the models were unveiled by Mr. Roger Fletcher, General Manager of QAF Motor Group and Mr. Clement Chong, Deputy General Manager of QAF Eurokars Sdn Bhd.

According to Roger Fletcher, the success story of the Cayenne began in 2002, and continued to be contributing to Porsche’s growth significantly. The Cayenne made the idea of an everyday sports car into reality, allowing the Porsche drivers to maximise the everyday driveability. The company believe that Cayenne will continue to be a strong performer among the other models.

So what’s the difference with the previous models? It has a sharper design, boosted efficiency and extensive set of standard features: Those are the key characteristics of the new Porsche Cayenne. As a sports car among sport utility vehicles (SUVs), besides offering five seats and extensive high-end features, it primarily offers a lot of room for a lot of driving fun. With high performance and typical Porsche design DNA.

The new Porsche Cayenne are now available in the Brunei market, members of the public who are interested to take a closer look at the sports car in the SUV segment can head down to the Porsche showroom in Beribi. For now, if you are interested for a test drive, then pop by their showroom tomorrow Sunday 26th March from 10am to 4pm and their lovely assistants will be able to help you.

Here are some specs for your perusal.

Cayenne Diesel. Three-litre V6 turbodiesel with 262 hp (193 kW); eight-speed Tiptro- nic S; acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.3 seconds; top speed 221 km/h; fuel consumption 6.8–6.6 l/100 km; 179–173 g/km CO2.

Six-cylinder V engine; cylinder angle 90 degrees; grey cast iron engine block; aluminium cylinder heads; four overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder; hydraulic valve lifter; common rail diesel direct injection (2,000 bar) via piezo-controlled injectors; one turbocharger with variable turbine geometry (VTG); two inter- coolers; controlled exhaust gas recirculation with cooler; air in- take system with map-controlled swirl flap; two-stage pressurised lubrication control with wet sump; engine oil volume 9.3 litres; emissions control system with oxidation catalytic converter, SCR system and diesel particulate filter; thermal management for engine and gearbox coolant circulation; extended auto start/stop function Plus.

Cayenne S. 3.6 litre V6 bi-turbo with 420 hp (309 kW); eight-speed Tiptronic S; acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.5 seconds; top speed 259 km/h; fuel consumption 9.8–9.5 l/100 km; 229–223 g/km CO2.

The Cayenne S with a 3.6 litre V6 bi-turbo engine is new. This engine was specially developed for Porsche SUVs and was initially fitted in the Macan. In the Cayenne S it surpasses the previous V8 engine in all key data. The bi-turbo charging and downsizing via a reduction of the engine capacity and the number of cylinders enable a clear efficiency increase coupled with improved driving performance. For example, the power output has increased by 20 hp to 420 hp and the torque has increased by 50 Nm to 550 Nm, whilst the fuel consumption has fallen by 0.9 litres to less than ten litres per 100 kilometres.
The power output of the top model Cayenne Turbo has also increased by 20 hp to 520 hp and the torque by 50 Nm to 750 Nm. It therefore accelerates three tenths of a second more quickly than its predecessor and reaches a top speed of 279 km/h. Nevertheless, fuel con- sumption has been reduced by 0.3 l/100 km.

Cayenne Turbo S. 4.8 litre V8 bi-turbo with 520 hp (382 kW); eight-speed Tiptronic S; acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds, top speed 279 km/h; fuel consumption 11.5–11.2 l/100 km; 267–261 g/km CO2.

Eight-cylinder V engine; cylinder angle 90 degrees; aluminium engine block and cylinder heads; four overhead camshafts; four valves per cylinder; continuous inlet valve control by variable valve timing and lift (VarioCam Plus); hydraulic valve lifter; direct petrol injection; biturbo charging; integrated dry sump lubrica- tion; engine oil 11.55 litres, two three-way catalytic converter per cylinder bank, each with two oxygen sensors; electronic ignition with eight individual ignition coils; thermal management for en- gine and gearbox coolant circulation; variable overrun fuel cut- off; extended auto start/stop function Plus.

Power transmission. Engine and transmission bolted to form one drive unit; Porsche Traction Management (PTM): active hang-on all-wheel drive with electronically controlled, map-controlled multi-plate clutch; per- manently driven rear axle, fully variable distribution of power to the front axle; eight-speed Tiptronic S.

New LEDs at the front and rear.

The completely new LED main headlights including Porsche Dynamic Light System Plus (PDLS Plus) combine state-of-the-art lighting technology with intelligent additional functions. In addition to the static and dynamic cornering light of the PDLS (standard for the Cayenne Turbo), PDLS Plus additionally includes dynamic main beam: this is put on and dipped de- pending on the traffic situation. Furthermore, PDLS Plus has an intersection light that recog- nises the intersecting roads and T-junctions stored in the navigation system of the PCM, and illuminates the area to the left and the right with simultaneous activation of the static inter- section light. What’s more, LED headlights are much more energy efficient and their daylight- like light colour resulting in increased perception of contrasts can prevent driver tiredness.

Styling and body.

The Porsche designers have given the Cayenne a sharper and clearer design in its latest guise. At the same time the design emphasises the proximity of the Cayenne to the road and underlines its sports car character.

The rear of the new Cayenne in particular has been clearly modified. The rear lights now have a flatter and more precise design. Like the LED daytime running lights at the front, the brake lights have a four-part design. Registration plate recess, handle strip and lighting are integrated even more elegantly in the tailgate. What’s more, the new tailgate takes up the shape of the rear lights and continues it via a precise horizontal light-refracting edge. This emphasises the width of the vehicle and gives it a more powerful road stance. The new de- sign of the exhaust tailpipes that are integrated in the lower rear panel also contributes to this. All Cayenne S models now also feature a double-pipe design. The roof spoiler no longer has a step which means that it continues the basic line of the roof even more consistently and has a more powerful appearance.

 

The cast and crew of Belle the musical and produced by Relentless Entertainment. Not all cast and crew are in the picture. This was during the press conference of Belle held at Mabohai Shopping Complex. Click image to enlarge.

It’s just less than two weeks before you will get a chance to witness “Belle”, a musical production by Relentless Brunei Entertainment. It will take place on 1st and 2nd April at 7:45pm and also at on 3rd April at 1:30pm and all the shows will take place at Jerudong International School Arts Centre.

This is the third such production after the success of “Enchanted Forest” and “Poppins” and according to Amy Cheong, co-producer of Belle, the cast and crew are bigger than the previous production. This is also the first time that such event will be held at JIS Arts Centre which is a perfect choice for musical production.

Tickets are priced at $20 and $30 and the tickets can be purchased at Patisserie Cake shop, Misato Japanese restaurant, KFC at the Mall, The Escape Experience, Ximply Chriz, Relentless Studios and if you happened to be in KB, then go over to Pan Bright Travel in Supa Save Seria.

Do support “Belle” as they will deliver a very commendable performance all round from our very own local talents. I have seen their previous ones and I was quite impressed. This afternoon, I had the privilege to catch some of the sneaks of certain acts in “Belle” and I already have a good impression on the musical play.

Furthermore, the musical is also supporting for a good cause where small portions of the proceeds will go to SMARTER Brunei. This is also in line with their support to increase awareness on World Autism Day and World Autism Awareness month.

According to Amy, organizing a musical once a year is Relentless Entertainment’s way of showing Brunei what is available and more importantly what is possible while at the same time, giving back to the local community. They will strive to continue doing its part to help the local performing arts scene grow.

Synopsis: It’s a story about the spirited, headstrong village girl, Belle, who finds herself in an enchanted castle in search for her father. The castle is home to a prince and his servants who all live under the spell of an enchantress. If the prince does not learn to love, he will remain under the spell forever.

Some of the cast of Belle

Mardi Hedus and Amy Cheong, the co-founders of Relentless Entertainment and also the producers during the press conference earlier on today

One of the acts in “Belle” where the beast was encouraged to calm down his temper

My buddy Zainal Bostaman (in red) is back yet again

Kevin Lo playing the role of Gaston

Some of the cast and crew promoting their musical at Kristal FM studio yesterday. Image courtesy of @relentlessbrunei

 

Download SnapFeed app on your smartphones and check out the latest deals in Brunei and also get rewarded from respective merchants such as BurgerKing, KFC and Sushi Tei to name a few and also check out the new movie listings as well.

 

Podcast review of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice with Jason Rumpus on the popcorn panel

 

Her Royal Highness Princess Fadzilah Lubabul Bolkiah is currently in Singapore, competing for Divas in the ORA Gryphons Fast Pitch Softball Tournament 2016. Image courtesy of Yusri Adanan of The Brunei Times.

Team Divas during a training session. Click image to enlarge.

Divas (women softball team) will be representing Brunei at the ORA Gryphons Fast Pitch Softball Tournament 2016 in Singapore today.

Among those who will be lacing up for Divas at the eight-team tournament is Her Royal Highness Princess Fadzilah Lubabul Bolkiah.

Apart from Divas and a Japanese team based in Singapore, the rest of competition at the Raffles Institution Softball Field will be made up of Singaporean teams.

“This will be our first time competing outside Borneo so we would like to see where we stand among the other teams in the region,” said Divas team manager Sofiah Isa during the club’s friendly match against Gunners at the Jerudong Sports Complex yesterday.

“We have never played in this tournament before so it will be hard to tell how the competition is going to be.

“We have been preparing for this tournament since January under our new coach from the Philippines, Gedda Español Valencia.

“We’ve also played a number of friendly matches over the past month… We played Honey Beez from Miri and (local clubs) Chikara and Pasadena as we are trying to get as much game practice before we leave.

“The team is made up of some new players and existing senior players, and myself and Gedda will also be competing as players at this tournament,” added Sofia

HRH Princess Fadzilah Lubabul Bulqiah, Pg Anak Haffezah Syukrina PAH Hassanudin Al-Haj, Ivy Abad Carlos, Nimpa Villafranca Baral, Nur Hafizah Hj Abdul Sidek, Amalina Hj Abd Karim, Wan Hannah Hj Abdul Karim, Wan Syaza Hj Abdul Karim, Nur Amanina Amirah Hj Hasnani, Radin Noryoul Afiqah Ibnu Abdullah, Wan Rahmani Hj Suhaili, Dk Hjh Halyanoor Azamah Pg Hj Chuchu, Vanessa Pang Li Thuan, Hjh Adina Hj Mohd Aliddin, Athiyyah As’ad Mohd Jaafar and Siti Marlina Hj Marsal complete the 18-player squad.
The club’s coaches, Maj (Rtd) Wan Mohd Tambrin Shah and Mohammad Alli Hj Othman, are part of the squad who are now in Singapore.

Divas face ORA Gryphons on Friday and follow that up with two more matches against River Valley High School and Cudas.

They will meet Raffles Institution, Maiko Japan and Mudball the following day before closing their group stage campaign with a match against Wolvens on Sunday. Text by Ak Fauzi Pg Salleh of The Brunei Times.

The 10 team tournament over the weekend

 

The newly launched Hyundai Creta

The review test of the Hyundai Creta by Autocar India

I heard of the latest Hyundai Creta when I saw the advert in the local newspaper. Hence, I contacted Setia Motors, distributor of Hyundai, for some details of the newly anticipated launch of the Creta and wow, I was amazed by the price tag of the Creta (not even in the region of BND 30,000). Another model that caught my eye is the newest Hyundai Tuscon model. But today I’m gonna focus on the Creta.

Greta marks Hyundai Motor’s entry in the growing sub-compact SUV segment with strong product offering and hence boosting Hyundai Motor’s product line up. I’m so happy to witness the newest model being launched earlier this morning. Did you know that all the first batch of Creta are all being booked? That really shows that the Creta is already a huge hit way before the launch.

At the same time during the launch, Setia Motors feted three first owners of the Creta with a Vivo smartphone. Nicceeeeee!!

Unveiling the Creta were Mr. James Chin, General Manager of Setia Motors Sdn Bhd, Hj Irwan bin Lamit, Managing Director of BIBA At-Tamwil Berhad, Haji Ali Matussin, Sales Manager of Baiduri Finance and Hj Osman bin Hj Md Jair, Managing Director of Insurans Islam TAIB.

James Chin, General Manager of Setia Motors Sdn Bhd and Hj Ali Matussin, Sales Manager of Baiduri Finance unveiling the Hyundai Creta

Hj Osman bin Hj Md Jair, Managing Director of Insurans Islam TAIB and Hj Irwan bin Lamit, Managing Director of BIBA At-Tamwil Berhad unveiling the Hyundai Creta

The red Hyundai Creta looks good

Smile for the camera guys 😀

Creta Specs

Engine – 1.6 Gamma Duat CVVT Petrol Engine (Diesel coming soon)

Exterior
Front Projection Headlamps with static bending light
Rear camera display with dynamic parking guide
Rear parking censor
17” allow wheels
70% transparency tinted glass

Interior
Bluetooth handsfree
5” LCD Touch Screen AM/FM Radio with MP3
Supervision cluster
USB & AUX
Rear air-condition ventilation
Steering wheel remote control

Safety

Up to 6 airbags
Electronic stability control
Antilock braking system
hill-start assist control

Performance

1.6 litre petrol engine with 123 ps at 6400/rpm
6-speed auto transmission or manual transmission
low noise vibration and harshness level
low coefficient of drag

As I said before, Creta is already a huge hit after many customers have pre-booked the compact SUV. Creta is one of the toughest and strongest SUVs in its segment. It is designed with a strong body shell that denotes high structural strength and sturdiness. The high body rigidity is designed for enhanced structural safety and improved durability.

Do drop by Setia Motors showroom in Beribi if you are interested to test drive the new Creta. Who knows you might be one of the proud owners of the Creta.

Nadzri does what he does best – being a great host/emcee – to kick off the event

One of the first buyers of the Hyundai Creta and she earned herself a Vivo smartphone

Another recipient of the Vivo smartphone

Setia Motors management with representatives from Baiduri Bank, BIBD At-Tamwil and Insurans Islam TAIB

 

Associates of Concepts Computer holding $10 vouchers where you can earn when you purchase above $30 in a single receipt and only valid during every end of the month. In this case, 27th March to 30th March.

As an ongoing thank you for their customers, Concepts Computer will be giving away $10 dollar vouchers for every purchase above $30 (in a single receipt) made during March’s end of month celebrations. During every end of month (27th till 30th), Concepts Computer will open up their showroom from 9 am to 9pm, to accommodate and serve their customers better. And this month, customers making a purchase during this period will be eligible for $10 vouchers.

When asked regarding the month end celebrations and the voucher give-away, Vincent Pao, General Manager of Concepts Computer, said, “The IT Retail business in Brunei Darussalam is more challenging nowadays, with savvy consumers using online sources to make purchasing decisions, brick and mortar IT retailers need to focus more on providing better services for customers.” He continued, “Retailers will need to be more creative, more innovative and offer better range of products to respond to consumers, which is why we are thankful for our loyal and regular customers, and we want to keep them happy by providing these vouchers.”

Also present during the event, Zul Abdul Rahman, Marketing Executive at Concepts Computer added, “We are giving away $10 vouchers during the month-end (27th till 30th), with every purchase of $30 on a single receipt.” Zul added, “These vouchers are only valid for their next purchases made with Concepts Computers and will be valid for 30 days.” He continued, “We would hope that our customers understand that this is one way for us to show our appreciation for their loyalty and patronage.”

For more information regarding the month-end celebrations (on-going from 27th to 30th of every month) and the eligibility of receiving the give-away $10 vouchers, or any other enquiries regarding Concepts Computer and their range of products, please call 2233551, 2233552 or 2233553, or visit your nearest Concepts Computer retail outlet.

This is a popular item at Concepts Computer especially among teachers

Some of the gadgets

Affordable notebooks at Concepts Computer

A portable hotspot for you

You can even claim EASI cards with the vouchers. Quite handy

 

Podcast review of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice with Jason Rumpus on the popcorn panel

 

Review of Mercedes-AMG GT S by Kelly Blue Book – “It’s flat out fun!”

The Mercedes-AMG GT S continues to pick up awards: US car magazine “Motor Trend” chose the eight-cylinder sports car as “Best Driver’s Car”. In this year’s contest, the Mercedes-AMG GT S lined up against nine other sports cars at the Laguna Seca race track in California – where it easily achieved the best lap time.

“The Mercedes-AMG GT S has the sharpest, most precise steering we have ever felt on any Mercedes or AMG vehicle,” said Motor Trend editor-in-chief Ed Loh. “It makes massive power from a compact, high-tech turbocharged V8 engine. What most impressed my team is how well the GT S was able to combine these elements. It put all of its horsepower to the ground like an all-wheel-drive supercar and gripped the road through high-speed corners like a winged racer.”

With a lap time of 1:35.57 minutes, the Mercedes-AMG GT S not only kept all its competitors at bay at the legendary Laguna Seca race track, it also achieved one of the top three times ever recorded. At the end of the long and extensive series of test drives, the Motor Trend editors concluded: “The best sports car Mercedes has ever built.”

Motor Trend launched the “Best Driver’s Car” award in 2009, and has since become one of the most prestigious contests in the American auto media.

The reviews have been fantastic online – do check some of the video links on the Mercedes-AMG GT S: 1) Caradvice.com.au 2) Digital Trends 3) MotorWeek

You can visit Jati Transport Showroom at Gadong or Beribi if you are interested in the Mercedes-AMG GT S.

The Mercedes-AMG GT S is a beast. I saw this once in Brunei and it was like love at the first sight. Do visit Jati Transport showroom if you are interested to know more.

 

In today’s headline. Congratulations Soon Loo.

Soon Loo was the chief judge at the Ignite Entrepreneurship Challenge last year

By Command of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, the Prime Minister’s Office has announced that His Majesty has consented to the appointment of Loo Yau Soon as managing director/chief executive officer of Darussalam Enterprise (DARe).

The appointment is effective March 22, 2016.

According to the interviews in the local papers, he is truly grateful to His Majesty the Sultan for the consent to his appointment as DARe’s CEO. He was previously a board member of DARe, a newly established body in hoping to spear the SME ecosystem for the betterment of the Brunei’s economy and diversification.

DARe is led by the Minister of Energy and Industry at the Prime Minister’s Office Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Singamanteri Colonel (Rtd) Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Hj Mohammad Yasmin Hj Umar. Both of them and other board members have been very active recently, holding talks to young vibrant entrepreneurs especially the e-vendors to understand and create a better communication platform between the two parties. So far the responses have been encouraging from the entrepreneurs and they also increased their knowledge on the know-hows on the procedures and what not in building businesses.

What I feel: Well, this is definitely great news. To know someone that I truly admire on his passion in helping and inspiring others. I first saw him in UBD where he was a mentor/lecturer for one of the classes and the students then were really connected with him. He was mentoring them on creating ideas into reality and I was amazed by the presentation from the students. That alone gave a very good first impression of him. This was back in 2013 if I’m not mistaken.

Furthermore, he was a recipient of the Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World Award in 2013. That again, it’s a super milestone on its own. He has many accolades and recognitions along the way and don’t play, play k? since he has an MBA from Harvard University.

If you see this chap in public, don’t be afraid to say hi because he is very welcoming and enterprising. I wish you to the best in your capacity as CEO of DARe and this is a sign of better things to come. Good luck, buddy 😀

Check out the interview by Channel News Asia after Soon Loo being a recipient of the Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World Award

 

Vincent Goh, Managing Director of Netcom Computer House, and his team at the recent anniversary dinner at Parkview Hotel recently

Two weeks ago, Netcom Computer House celebrated their anniversary at Parkview Hotel (formerly known as Asma Hotel) in Jerudong. Around 100 Netcom associates and families were treated to a wonderful dinner filled with games and entertainment to the delight of the invitees.

I was also in the mood as I dressed up for the occasion, a black and white themed dinner event. Vincent Goh, the Managing Director of Netcom Computer House, delivered his welcoming remarks and thanked the team for their contribution in sustaining the company over the 20 years of established. Wow, 20 years is indeed a milestone alone.

Thank you, Vincent, for the invitation and also your support in these years. And Hassan, you’re the man behind the mic *lol* Perhaps, I can hire you as an emcee one day.

The newly promoted Dell affordable notebook, now available at Netcom Computer House

This does come in handy 😀

If you want better charge, then go for this

 

Are you catching Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice? I just got my tickets at The Mall Cineplex. It’s gonna be epic 😀

 

Katie Alice. Kitchen Kraft. Ginger. And many more.. These are the popular brands from the UK for plates, cups and cutlery and not forgetting the utensils you used behind the scenes in the kitchen. Normally we have the normal standard ones that we see at our local departmental stores. Now we have a dedicated cutlery and kitchen utensil physical store called “The Potters”.

It’s opening tomorrow officially to the public and it’s located at Unit 8, Setia Kenangan 2, Kiulap (opposite Pepper Lunch) and it’s open from 10am to 9pm and you can also follow their IG @thepotters_bn or contact them at 242 4000.

If you are interested in making sambal, this is convenient 😀

 

Yang Berhormat Dato Paduka Awang Haji Bahrin bin Abdullah, the Minister of Development and Chairman of Royal Brunei Airlines (5th from left) with board of directors of Royal Brunei, representatives from Darussalam Assets and Department of Civil Aviation during the launch of Operations Control Centre at Brunei International Airport last week

Outgoing Deputy Chairman of Royal Brunei Dermot Mannion in his welcoming remarks. This was also his final working visit in Royal Brunei Airlines.

Royal Brunei Airlines (RB) officially launched its Operations Control Centre (OCC) at Brunei International Airport last week.

On hand to officiate the launch as the guest of honour was YB Dato Paduka Awang Haji Bahrin bin Abdullah, the Minister of Development and Chairman of Royal Brunei Airlines.

As RB explained, at the Operations Control Centre the Corporate Business Unit and Operational Department handle the task of managing and coordinating execution of daily schedules as planned, while the OCC also houses the processes and personnel responsible for managing real-time operational decisions.

Its roles and responsibilities include proactively managing the impact of unplanned changes to schedules, providing quality service to the maximum number of passengers and directing the most cost-effective plan to return to published schedules.

Speaking at the event, Captain Saiful Bahrin Awang Bahar, Chief Pilot at RB Flight Operations called the launching “an important milestone”.

“As we are all aware, airline schedules typically do not operate as planned,” he said. “Hence, it is in every airline’s best interests to ensure that there is a proper management process in place to manage and coordinate the execution of daily schedules.”

Captain Saiful Bahrin Awang Bahar, Chief Pilot at RB Flight Operations delivering his remarks

Ribbon cutting to officiate the opening of the Operations Control Centre (OCC)

Viewing the OCC

This room is vital for monitoring flights. I’ve been one at Seattle and it’s huge.

Group photo at the OCC

Dermot greeting the pilots at OCC area

“OCC plays this important role for the day-to-day operations of all scheduled flights departing in and out of the Brunei International Airport.”

The newly structured OCC will see the integration of all the different but relevant departments involved, ranging from Ramp Handling, Reservations, MCC and Engineering Line Maintenance, in the same physical location, which they previously were not, Captain Saiful explained.

“In doing so, this will enable a more cohesive and coordinated workflow, as well as a faster and more informative decision-making process to help ensure the smooth operations of all scheduled flights.”

He added that, as and when required, the OCC can also function as a mini crisis centre able to handle disruptions far more effectively with all the affected departments in close proximity.

Speaking to reporters after the launch, RB’s new Chief Executive Officer, Karam Chand said, “The idea here is to get everybody into the same room and take advantage of all the technologies that are available.”

“I think by having people of all the key disciplines represented in the room, it helps in terms of decision-making. You can get to make a decision quicker, you can consider different scenarios. This is a live environment, you are doing your very best to have your aircraft flying as quick as possible. So by having all the disciplines, it really helps.”

“It’s really to make sure that we are looking after our customers,” he explained. “For example, in an operational environment, you would not normally see a commercial person, so now we are going to put a commercial person in this room as well. We’re always thinking about our customers ahead of everything.”

The outgoing Deputy Chairman and CEO of Royal Brunei Airlines, Dermot Mannion also spoke at the event, saying, “This is a state-of-the-art facility. Any airline in the world would be very proud to have the facility that we’ve now got, and as Karam says, in one area now, we have all of our key operations people present, which means they can monitor all of our activity across the network and do so very effectively.”

“It’s operating 24/7, so there could be 20 people operating in that area at any one time. In addition to the permanent staff in there, we have all the crews visit the area when they’re preparing for flights, so it’s a very active area all through the day and all through the night,” he added.

Also in attendance to witness the opening of the OCC were the RB Board of Directors and Darussalam Asset representatives as well as RB senior management and staff. Text by Danial Norjidi of Borneo Bulletin.

The photo of Captain Sharifah Czarena, Senior First Officer Dayangku Nadiah binti Pengiran Khashiem and Senior First Officer Sariana binti Nordin that spread around the world. Image courtesy of Royal Brunei Airlines’ Facebook Page.

There are so many things that I wanna talk about this picture. It went so viral that even big names such as Mashable and the newspapers in the UK were talking about it. The sharing of the image on Facebook reached into the millions of viewers with thousands of shares. It’s just phenomenal reach especially for a small country like Brunei.

The image of the three female pilots was taken during their flight from Brunei Darussalam to Jeddah during the 23rd February, the National Day. It was stated by former Deputy Chairman of Royal Brunei Airlines, Dermot Mannion, that it was coincidental that the roster featured three female pilots then.

Dermot was very proud that the RB brand has become viral even after weeks of posting. This is also a testament that there is an increasing number of female associates in the company namely engineering and also in the management team.

The incoming CEO of RB Karam Chand hopes the number of female representatives in the RB’s work force will improve to 50-50 especially in the management section. Currently it stands in the region of 40% of female employment.

Keep up the good job, RB! I’ve always been proud being a passenger of Royal Brunei.

 

The dance performance in closing the Japanese Language and Culture Week

Ms Bella won first place and the prize was presented by Ms Yuki IIDA from the Embassy of Japan in Brunei Darussalam

Times Square Shopping Centre ended its Japanese Language and Culture Week last Sunday, 20th March 2016. The event was held on 18th March, Friday until 20th March, Sunday at 10:00am till 10:00pm. The event was organized by Embassy of Japan in Brunei Darussalam, Times Square Shopping Centre and Japan Foundation. The co-organizers include Brunei Association of Japan Alumni (BAJA), Community Education & training Division (CET), BERSATU/SEAYP and supported by Japan Brunei Friendship Association (JBFA), The Japanese Association Brunei Darussalam, Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), The Japan Council of Local Authorities Relations (CLAIR), BJFA-UBD chapters, Language Centre, University Brunei Darussalam, Youth & Sport Department in the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, Brunei Kendo Alliance, Tsuburaya Production Co Ltd, Human Capacity Building Consultancy Services (HCBC) and One Universal Production Sdn Bhd (OUP).

Throughout the event there was a Manga workshop by a Manga artist from Japan, Ms Manaru Tenkawa, as well as a Calligraphy competition. The closing ceremony that was held yesterday started with the appearance of the heroes from Japan, Ultraman. The prize presentation then followed and was presented by Ms Yuki IIDA from the Embassy of Japan in Brunei Darussalam. For the Manga competition, the third place went to Khairul Anwar bin Abdul Aziz, whereas Justine Lim came second. Ms Bella won first place, walking home with two tickets to the Ultraman show. All the winners were also presented with manga related prizes sponsored by Ms Tenkawa.

The top 3 winners for Calligraphy competition were Redzwan Haji Nasir who came as first place, bringing home a CANON digital camera, whereas Lim Nyuk Lan came second, walking home with a G-Shock watch Afwan Jali won third place, bringing home $100 Kaizen food voucher. The event ended with a dance performance of “Soranbushi” by UBD, JENESYS and SSEAYP.

Moreover, Times Square Shopping Centre will be having a DC-themed Mini Carnival: 9th edition on 23rd March to 29th March 2016, followed with a Wedding Fair on 7th April to 10th April 2016. For further information, please call 2338208 or 2338006 during office hours. Press release by Times Square Shopping Centre.

One of the winners of the Calligraphy competition last weekend

 

Wu Chun as the ambassador for BMW China

Very few people in the world had the chance to be a brand ambassador for world-class brands such as Coca-Cola, Levis, Guerlain, Canon, Osim, Mido Swiss watch, Disneyland, Gatsby, Seven-Eleven and few others. BMW China has recently chosen Brunei’s second biggest export after oil and gas, Wu Chun, our very own international superstar as their spokesperson, who is also a brand ambassador for Royal Brunei Airlines.

A new car for the modern family— the first-ever BMW 2 Series Tourer was officially launched in the China market. Its also the first time BMW China has appointed a celebrity as their brand ambassador and they have chosen Wu Chun mainly because of his signature cool-trendy, inspiring and healthy family man image in the eyes of the public which BMW needed for this new target market.

In the BMW Group centenary year, the launch of the fourth localized BMW product – BMW 2 Series Tourer is another important milestone, a marker of BMW Brilliance’s localization process and commitment in China. This new car addresses a new customer group, strengthening the leading position of BMW brand in the premium car market, taking on a full vitality for “The Next 100 Years.”

Anton Heiss, president and CEO of BMW Brilliance remarked, “The first-ever BMW 2 Series Tourer marks a significant milestone of BMW Group’s commitment to China. This car precisely captured the new consumer trend in China.”

Wu Chun who recently did a TV commercial shooting for BMW just right after he wraps up his first Hollywood movie in Australia shared,” During my TVC shooting, I have the chance to drive the first-ever BMW 2 Series Tourer and this car comes with an innovative concept, combining BMW’s signature driving pleasure and versatility, and how customer-oriented BMW is.”

The award-winning BMW 2 Series (iF Design Award 2015), stands out as the most dynamic tourer car in the class. The extreme dynamic bodylines add a cool and sporty harmony, illustrating the signature look of a BMW car.

Jochen Goller, Dr. Anton Heiss, President and CEO of BMW China, Wu Chun and Olaf Kastner

Dr. Michael Liu, Kun Ling, Wu Chun, Dr. Anton Heiss and Jochen Goller