BIBD recently held a closing ceremony for its learning camps at the Orchid Garden Hotel for its Holiday English Language Program (HELP) Camps organised for the BIBD ALAF programme students. The learning camps also included a refresher camp for this year’s forty-six students recently introduced into the ALAF programme.

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

The HELP camps were organised with the cooperation of CfBT to deliver bespoke English training camps for BIBD ALAF programme students. The HELP camps also included lectures, debate sessions, 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 funds are collected from a variety of sources. These include the BIBD charity expeditions for ALAF, generous contributions from corporate agencies as well as the general public since its launch in May 2013 by Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah.

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.

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.

 

The winners of Area K6 Toastmasters International Speech Contest and Table Topics Contest with UBD Toastmasters members

Allen Ang, Area K6 Director, Rahman Tarsat of Brunei Speakers’ Club (2nd runner up), Pranika Lama of UBD Toastmasters Club (winner), Pooja Shivanand of Brunei Speakers’ Club (1st runner-up) and Sandy Siew Fun Tan, Co-organizing Chair of the contest. The winners are for the Area K6 International Speech contest.

Two UBD Toastmasters have recently emerged as champions in Toastmasters speech Contest. 1st place winner for International Speech, Pranika Lama shared the about gratitude, the moment you open your eyes. It was followed by Pooja Shivanand in second place, talked about “The Middle Way”, which is a balanced higher way between two extreme choices help us make better decisions. Between humility and arrogance, there can be modesty; between fear and rashness there can be courage. In third place, Rahmat Tarsat drew on her mother’s experiences to demonstrate the detrimental effect of negative thinking in her speech, ‘Believe and You Can’.

Meanwhile in Table Topic Category, Julius Hong won 1st place, followed by Yong Shih Ching in 2nd place and Hazwan Kamarulzaman in 3rd place for speaking on the same impromptu topic “Cherish Yesterday, Dream Tomorrow, Live Today”.

The contest took place at the Multipurpose Hall, Universiti Brunei Darusalam, where 8 participants competed in International Speech Category while 7 participants competed in Table Topics category. The objective of the contests are to provide an opportunity for speakers to improve their speaking abilities and to provide an opportunity to learn by observing the more proficient speakers who have benefited from their toastmasters training. Competition begins with club contests and winners continue competing through the area, division and district levels.

In Brunei, top 2 speakers from Brunei Speakers Club, Oil Town Talkers Club, Brunei Advanced Speakers Club & UBD Toastmasters Club vie for a chance to compete with Toastmasters from Sabah and Labuan. This year, Pranika Lama and Julius Hong will represent Brunei on Division K level in Sandakan, Sabah on 10th April.

At the end of the contest, each contestants received certificate of participation whilst winning certificates and trophies were presented by Area K6 Director Allen Ang.

Allen Ang, Area K6 Director, Yong Shih Ching of OTTERS Toastmasters Club (1st runner-up), Julius Hong of UBD Toastmasters Club (winner), Hazwan Kamarulzaman of Brunei Advanced Speakers’ Club (2nd runner-up) and Gerald Goh, co-organizer of the contest

Nina Kifrawi during the International Speech Contest

Yong Shih Ching during the Table Topics Contest

Pooja Shivanand during the International Speech Contest

Supatra Lee during the Table Topics Contest

Philip during the International Speech Contest

Rahul giving a warm hug to his wife before heading on stage

Still brothers after the contest

With the co-organizer contest, Sandy

Rahul being the Contest Chair (the host) during the International Speech category

 

Check out the new Audi Q7 at the Audi Showroom at Kiarong

Rejuvenated and improved- The new generation Audi Q7.

It’s been 10 years since the first generation Q7 was introduced globally, successfully launching Audi’s entry into the SUV segment.

Luxurious comfort, the largest interior in the segment and a weight saving of up to 325 kilograms (716.5 lb) – the new generation Q7 from Audi sets new standards. Its innovative assistance and infotainment systems take the large SUV to the front of the pack. Its new engines consume significantly less fuel (28%) than the previous model. The new generation Q7 has been completely redesigned both inside and out featuring a wider-stance appearance yet is narrower by 32mm and shorter by 37mm than the previous model.

The new Q7 is the lightest car in its class

The 2.0 petrol turbo variant with seven-seats has an unladen weight (without the driver) of merely 2,050 kilograms (4,519 lb) – up to 325 kilograms (716.5 lb) less than the predecessor model, depending on the equipment. With its lightweight, multi-material body and all-new chassis, it provides excellent comfort while at the same time offering the performance of a sporty Audi – and that with top-notch CO2 values.

Dynamics as standard

Powerful engines combined with a dynamic suspension and the lightweight body make the Q7 the dynamic car among large SUVs. Just a few years ago these performance data were still the prerogative of sports cars. The 2.0 TFSI with 185 kW (250 hp) and the 3.0 TFSI V6 with 245 kW (333 hp) bring the new Audi Q7 from 0 to 100 km/h (62.1 mph) in 7.1 seconds and 6.3 seconds respectively, all the while with unusually low fuel consumption. The 2.0 TFSI needs only 7.8 litres per 100 kilometres and emits only 182 grams of CO2 per kilometre (288.1 g/mi). Both 2.0 and 3.0 engines are paired with an 8-speed tiptronic transmission with a new yacht style gear shifter.

Many reasons to love the Audi Q7

The back seat can be automatically folded from a 7-seater to a 5-seater. Quite spacious as well.

Loving the new facelift of the Audi Q7 as compared to the older version

The engine area of the Audi Q7

The media taking shots of the beaut

Innovative operation and display

The new Audi Q7 also sets standards when it comes to operating concept, infotainment and connectivity. The second-generation modular infotainment platform is optionally on board; the new MMI control unit (featuring an 8.3” retractable screen) using a large central operation knob is intuitive and simple. The BOSE® sound system with 3D sound (for the 3.0) is a further added innovation. Audi’s Drive Select can change the vehicle’s driving characteristics at a touch of button; 5 and 6 modes in the 2.0 and 3.0 respectively.

Another highlight is the passenger safety system –Audi pre sense basic initiates measures such as tensioning of the front seat belts, activates the hazard lights and closing of sun-roof (if any) and windows when an imminent impact is detected.

The Audi Q7 has recently been awarded the EURO NCAP ‘5-stars’ safety rating and its American equivalent Top Safety Pick+ Award from IIHS.

A host of premium features

Auto luggage door featuring ‘kick’ motion open/closing, auto-fold up/down on 3rd row seats, ambient interior lighting, parking aid with rear-view camera, power assisted closing for doors and four-zone climate control. Double-arrow daytime running lights give emphasis to the front LED headlights and complimented by unique LED rear lights. 20” ten-spoke design wheels round off the entire package.

All-wheel-steering with additional rear axle steerability for greater driving agility and manoeuvrability will be offered on the 3.0 variant.

What I feel: I had the Audi Q7 for a quick spin and I wished I had more time experiencing it. I’m not used to the big size but I was already enjoying the ride itself. The driver area is very spacious and comfortable. I shall wait for the actual launch and you might come across some Q7 on the road. The Audi Q7 will definitely attract some potential buyers in the country. Do visit their showroom at Kiarong and take it for a test drive.

The group shot with the local media

This is very convenient especially when you put on P

The older Audi Q7 which is 10 years ago

The facelift Audi Q7 (white) with the older model

Aziz enjoying the ride

I was playing it cool too 😀 This monster does pack a punch.

 

Shane on his leap of faith at Wrestlemania 32

What I feel: I kinda enjoyed this year’s Wrestlemania for some reason. I can’t believe it last almost 5 hours and I’m a subscriber of the WWE Network through Kristal Astro. Yes, there were some disappointments along the way and I was hoping for my favourite wrestler, Seth Rollins, to pop out of nowhere but I guess he hasn’t fully recovered yet. The difference between last year and this year is the ending. Don’t expect any anti-climax stingers in the end. There’s nothing much to expect and the results seemed predictable for the main event.

I was impressed with the Women’s championship match though Charlotte still needs to sharpen her execution on some of the moves. It was still better than her previous PPV matches and time will tell that she developed into one of the consistent stars in WWE roster. The new WWE women’s belt also give more recognition on the rise of women wrestlers. So kudos to WWE.

As for my favourite match, I don’t have any honestly and perhaps the closest one is The Undertaker and Shane O’Mac because of the intensity and the spots. I have so much respect for Shane in the ring and he hasn’t been active for the past 6 years. He definitely stole the hearts of the fans in Dallas. The biggest mismatch was definitely Brock Lesnar and Dean Ambrose in a street fight match.

Overall, this was an entertaining PPV with a disappointing ending. Regardless Jason Rumpun and I still had a blast. Verdict: 8.5/10

Lita, WWE Hall of Fame inductee, unveiling the new WWE Women’s Championship Belt

Stephanie McMahon introducing Triple H before the main event. She’s still hot 😀

 

The team behind Motoring BN with Project Manager Rosli Abdullah and Editorial Coordinator Redzwan Kamarudin during the press conference last week

Motoring BN, the no.1 local motoring lifestyle magazine, is set to launch next week at the upcoming Motoring BN Autoshow 2016, which will take place from April 7 to 10 at the Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah’s open court.

Organised by Brunei’s No 1 Motoring lifestyle magazine publisher, CONFEX, the grand showcase is held to commemorate the magazine’s first year anniversary.

Do expect a new issue during the four day event.

There will be a “Dealer Showcase Days”, something for car enthusiasts if you want to make your dream car into a reality. As for the public, you are more than welcome to visit during the weekend (Public Display Days”.

During the press conference at the CONFEX lounge, Project Manager Rosli Abdullah and Editorial Coordinator Redzwan Kamarudin announced that the event would include participation from local car and bike clubs such as classic car groups and Darussalam Motorcycle Association (PEMODA).

And guess who will be helping them out? The Collective Arts 😀 So do expect vendors to participate during the four day event.

For enquiries on the Motoring BN Autoshow 2016, you may contact Rosli at 8639681 or Redzwan at 8639681 and follow Motoring BN on Facebook and instagram @motoringbn

 

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

 

Nabilah Hamid as Belle. Yes, Brunei has got talent 😀

Kevin Lo pulling off the Gaston’s character to full effect

Cheeky, cheeky Gaston

Belle Preview: I have to admit that Relentless Entertainment have upped their game after two successful musical play production of The Enchanted Forest and Poppins. This year, they stepped up their game with better stage setting and props for their musical adaptation play taken from “Beauty and the Beast” entitled Belle.

It was also the first time I saw Nabilah Hamid performed on the big stage and her performance took me by surprise. She plays the role of Belle. Great job, Nabilah. As for Gaston role, Kevin Lo pulled it off smoothly, showing the cheekiness side of him too.

Overall, I’m entertained and proud of what was being delivered. For such limited resources, Relentless Entertainment was able to pull off more than what was expected. This is definitely money worth spending and sadly, the shows are pretty limited too. There’s still shows for tonight (Saturday) 7:45pm and Sunday 3rd April at 1:30pm. Tickets are available at the door at Jerudong International School’s Arts Centre. You can also whatsapp or text at 824 3222

You can also view more pictures from Faiq Airudin’s blog.

Comments from peers:

Pranika: It was an overall good performance. I enjoyed Gaston’s performance (Kevin Lo) but not as buff as Gaston’s supposed to be.

Gary Goh: Well done, guys! I’m quite impressed especially that Zainal and Kevin can sing.

Caroline: I went with no expectations and I must say, I thoroughly enjoyed Belle the musical. Loved the voices, the dancing, the props and costumes.

Let’s not forget the amazing dancers and other role players that made the performance more colourful

Now Gaston reminds me of Robin (from Batman)

 

The speakers for Volume 7 with the organisers and volunteers of Pechakucha Brunei

The host of the night – Farhan Jaafar Ali

What a wonderful session of Volume 7 of Brunei’s Pechakucha! I still remember the first one back in 2014 at Tru Synergy’s office. Now it seems the organisers have found a better venue at The Energy Kitchen and I feel the ambience suits the theme for Pechakucha.

Last Saturday, it featured eight presenters and all them have interesting stories to share. I was amazed by my new discoveries of my mutual friends, thinking that I know so much about them but no, I don’t.

Sophia Siu revealed of her new project app on events which should be released in mid year. Good job, mate 😀 Another one was Wina Hafiza who share about her passion on custom bikes and wow, that was some girl power sharing, mate. Perhaps the most inspiring among the lot.

Teah Abdullah, the final speaker, encourages everyone to share their story through writing or blogs because it defines who you are. She’s also the Editor-in-Chief of Songket Alliance and there are tons of stories from different writers there. Check it out!!

I was intrigued by Zainidi’s small box that was as interesting as Zainal Bostaman’s peanut butter sandwich. Both Zs were quite entertaining too but I have to admit that Zainal has brushed up his delivery from previous ones. Salutes..

Rasyidah Samah is a strong advocate in helping individuals in areas of mental health, community, empowerment and youth empowerment. We do need people like her indeed. For coffee lovers, we were in for a treat and discover Desmond Tan’s taste in coffee. It made me feel that coffee is also an art.

One of the main draw for Volume 7 is a very knowledgeable historian no other than Rozan Yunos, a civil servant and I am always amazed with his deep knowledge about the Brunei. Yes, I would label him the Google of Brunei. He shared the collections of antiques that he brought and its origin. It makes me feel that how one item can tell so much history.

Thank you, Pechakucha, on another fabulous session.

Desmond Tan

Sophia Siu

Rasyidah Samah

Abdul Zainidi

Zainal Bostaman

Wina Hafiza

Rozan Yunos

Teah Abdullah

Sophia Siu with her friends

Yvonne, Sophia and Adella

Rozan and Zainidi

Sandy loves historical things

Posing for the camera

 

Representatives of Red Bull and the management of Kingston Beverage & Creamery Sdn Bhd during the launch of Red Bull Boost & Win

The Red Bull Brunei is back once more for a special promotion. This time is special. You don’t need to buy a pack or so. Just purchase a can of Red Bull and walaaaaa, you are eligible for the draw where prizes are such as a 40” LED TV, an Auto washer and a 2-Door fridge.

Apart from that, there will be weekly prizes throughout the the contest period (1st April to 31st May) before proceeding to the actual final draw. Each weekly draw will reward 25 lucky winners with prizes such as shopping vouchers, Power Kad, Prepaid Top Up cards and a cluster pack of Red Bull bottle.

So after you buy a Red Bull can (Gold/Less Sugar) at the convenient stores or outlets, pull the ring tab and attached it to the contest form (also available at retail outlets) and drop into the contest boxes which are placed in participating outlets nationwide.

The launch was officiated by Mr. Valetine Hon, General Manager of Kingston Beverage & Creamery Sdn Bhd and Mr. Kevin Robin Jon, Sales & Marketing Manger of Kingston Beverage & Creamery Sdn Bhd. The company is the Sole Distributor for Red Bull in Brunei. All present were Edwin Eng, Business Executive for Red Bull Brunei and Chu Hui Chiet, Marketing Executive for Red Bull Brunei.

Chu Hui Chiet speaking to the press on the launch

Mr. Kevin Robin Jon, Sales & Marketing Manger of Kingston Beverage & Creamery Sdn Bhd and Mr. Valetine Hon, General Manager of Kingston Beverage & Creamery Sdn Bhd officially launching the Red Bull Boost & Win

Hui Chiet speaking to a Borneo Bulletin reporter

The Gold or the Less Sugar Red Bull? My preference the latter

Apparently Nuri loves Red Bull

The contest form and this is how you stick the Red Bull tab and stand a chance to win

 

Representatives from Pan Bright Travel Service and from Royal Brunei Airlines, Malaysia Airlines and Singapore Airlines during the draw of the 8 lucky winners

A pre-selection for 8 lucky winners were held at Pan Bright Travel Service Bandar Seri Begawan branch office earlier today.

One of the 8 winners will stand a chance to win a brand new Hyundai at the Grand Draw which will be held on the 08 April 2016. The other 7 prizes are return economy class ticket from Brunei to London, Melbourne and Bali courtesy of Royal Brunei Airlines, a return ticket to London, Sydney and Bangkok courtesy of Malaysia Airlines and a return ticket to Beijing courtesy of Singapore Airlines.

Pan Bright Travel Service General Manager, Mr. Johnnie Cheong said, “We would like to wish the 8 lucky winners all the best in the Grand Draw next week. We also take this opportunity to thank all of our customers for their continuous support.

The lucky draw promotion ran from 26 September 2015 to the 26 March 2016. Representatives from Royal Brunei Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Singapore Airlines and members of the media were present to witness the pre-selection draw. Images courtesy of Pan Bright Travel Service.

Evelyn Ang, Country Manager Brunei of Royal Brunei Airlines

Siaw Ling, Head of Sales, Singapore Airlines Brunei

Siti Bibi Haszlina, Station Head Airport Services, Malaysia Airlines Brunei

 

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.