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

 

The event that took place last Friday evening at Sejahtera Hall, Royal Brunei Recreation Club

The performers and their mentors. Image courtesy of PTE Meragang Facebook Page.

What I am amazed are the talents we have in Brunei Darussalam. I can’t stress this enough. Maybe this should be even highlighted in the LegCo to see how far our talents can go. Earlier in the year, I attended a broadway play “Othello” performed by students from Pusat Tingkatan Enam (PTE) Meragang and I was quite impressed with their talents. Last Friday, I witnessed another aspect of their talent – music – and I was surely entertained from beginning to the end. My only minor issue were the noisy youths in front of us whom I wished could have respected the performers and audience alike.

The Performing Arts Club in PTE Meragang has active in showcasing their talents around for 5 years and hence it was fitting that for the club to organize the 5th Poetry and Music Recital entitled “Chances”.

PG Hjh Maimunah bte Pg Hj Osman, Principal of Meragang Sixth Form Centre, was very happy with the efforts put in by the students and teachers involved in the project. She believed that this project won’t be possible without everyone’s effort and it was definitely not an easy task. She also thanked the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports for their advice. The guest of honour was Yang Mulia Hj Abd Rahim bin Derus, Director-General of Education, Ministry of Education.

It wasn’t also a music showcase but also some poetries to the delight of the audience. Perhaps the students can also engage with @theartofwrite (IG) where they are looking for writers to share their loves for people, words, art and earth.

Kudos to the working committee, volunteers and most of all, the vocalists and the musicians. It was a well spent Friday evening. We need more avenues like this for Brunei. The event is supported by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.

Gearing up for the opening session

The musical performers from the Performing Arts Club in PTE Meragang

Many shots were taken that night. Great memories indeed.

Great presence from the choir

It was full house event last Friday. Good to see the locals supporting such event.

Dk Aina Syasya Bte Pg Amiruddin has great vocal

One of the poetry readers

One of the scenes from the night

One of the audience being interviewed by RTB

Spotlight on the singers

Heal the World 😀

The finale – November Rain. Love it to the max.

The violinists added some great touch to the musical performances

 

 

The JIS choir prelude before the main event at the JIS Arts Centre at Jerudong International School

Shana Holmes and Yasmin Riches belting out “The Writing’s on the Wall” with Rafeeqa Teo and Eden Chiam

Tope Ayodele singing “If I Were a Boy”

Music to my ears. Yes, it was another musical moment for me as I experienced the wonderful talents from Jerudong International Students in last weekend’s JIS Showcase 2016 at the Art Centre of JIS. It’s been a tradition that I catch the JIS Showcase (musical performance) every year if I happen to be in the country. It’s not surprised that the standard of the performance is on par with other regional performances.

Every single detail and thought have been invested in the JIS Showcase 2016. What I truly admire is the high professionalism taken into the performance which made the overall performance seemed flawless. I also love the transitions between songs and performances as they didn’t waste any seconds to carry the momentum from start to finish. I could tell how important JIS values music and art in their school and last weekend’s performances were a great indicator for their progress for music excellence.

It’s great to see Barnaby Sandow, principal of JIS, to continue the mission in music and art excellence. It sets the benchmark in terms of music education and I myself feel proud of where JIS is right now – not just excelling in studies but also in arts and music. Sandow shared that the Showcase 2016 is a celebration of artistic creativity. It was a pleasure to have met you as well last weekend.

There were many favourites performers that caught my attention. Willam Brien’s “Born in the USA”, “Strong” by Eden Chiam, Evan Chiam, Krish Punjabi and Nayumi Reduan, “Rude” by Jay Baek and Christian Osharode, “Beautiful” by Aziz Harun, “Say Something” Shana Holmes and William Brien and “I Dreamed a Dream” by Yasmin Riches were just some of the performances that blew me away. I also want to commend on the orchestra, the dancers, the choir and the cute Jerudong singers to make the overall performance wholesome.

JIS have raised the bar each year on their Showcase and I look forward to future ones. Well done to all of you and good job on Paul Edgeler, the producer and music director of JIS Showcase 2016. You can follow @JISbrunei on IG for updates.

Evan Chiam one of the vocalists for “Love Runs Out”

Great performance by William Brien on “Born in the USA”

Shana Holmes wooing the audience, singing “Wings”

Shana Holmes, Eden Chiam and Katherine Wood during the “Wings” performance

Azemah Abd Rahman singing a duet with Aziz Harun on “Sempurna”

Some of the highlights from Aladdin

The cute choir group

The dancers for “He’s A Pirate”

In swashbuckling action during “He’s A Pirate” performance by the orchestra

Eden Chiam and Nayumi Reduan during the performance of “Strong”. I like this one.

Some of the artistic delivery during the performance of “Strong”. Quite creative.

Aaron Klein singing “Waiting for Love”

Yasmin Riches doing the vocals for “We Found Love Dance”

Awesome performance by both Jay Baek and Christian Osharode on “Rude”

The Jerudong Singers singing “Turn the World Around”

The combined choir for “Me and My Broken Heart”

Aziz Harun stealing the hearts of the audience with his original song “Beautiful”

Caught the JIS Showcase with Gary and Pranika. Both also enjoyed the performance.

 

 

Even more efficient and dynamic: the new Porsche Cayenne

QAF Eurokars Sdn Bhd, the official importer of Porsche vehicles in Brunei, introduce the new Porsche Cayenne models to the Brunei market. 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 generation of the Cayenne will launch on the market: namely the Cayenne, Cayenne S, Cayenne Diesel, and the top-of-the-line Cayenne Turbo S. All Cayenne engine versions show improved performance figures as well as better fuel economy than comparable previous versions. A new engine is the 3.6-litre V6 biturbo of the Cayenne S that was fully developed by Porsche.

The Cayenne is a unique success story at Porsche. The company introduced the first generation in 2002. This vehicle made the idea of a sports car in the SUV segment a reality – and it set standards right from the start. Sales have exceeded all expectations: Over 276,000 first generation vehicles were produced (2002 to 2010), and around 303,000 units of the second generation, which was introduced in 2010, have already been produced so far. So the Cayenne is not only boosting profitable growth at Porsche, it is also creating a solid economic foundation for investments in future generations of sports cars.

Sharpened exterior design

In its latest version, Porsche designers have given the Cayenne an even sharper design with precise lines and purposefully placed light refracting edges. Entirely new are the design of the front body, the front wings and the bonnet. Also new are the airblades: These air fins on the right and left of the vehicle’s front end efficiently guide cooling air to the intercoolers and also make a strong visual statement.

At first glance, the new Cayenne can be clearly made out as a Porsche by its bi-xenon head-lights, which are standard in the base and S models, with “hovering” four-point LED daytime running lights that are typical of Porsche. The high performance standard of the top model, the Cayenne Turbo S, is emphasised by standard LED headlights with the Porsche Dynamic Light System (PDLS).

The rear section of the new Cayenne was also thoroughly updated: the layout of the rear lights creates a three-dimensional effect; the brake lights – like the LED daytime running lights in front – are designed in four elements. The license plate recess, boot handle and lights are now integrated more elegantly into the boot lid. Designers also re-designed the car’s horizontal lines, giving the vehicle an even fuller stance on the road. The newly designed exhaust tailpipes are now integrated in the lower rear section. An automatically activating boot lid is a standard feature.

In the interior, designers devoted much of their effort to the driver’s space – the driver now gets a new multifunction sport steering wheel with shift paddles as standard; its look and functions are based on the steering wheel of the 918 Spyder. They also made the rear seating system even more comfortable, and seat ventilation can now be ordered as an option for the rear seats.

Better efficiency

Power and torque were boosted while improving fuel economy: for Porsche these are not incompatible or contradictory goals; they were enabled by numerous individual modifications to the entire drivetrain. For instance, all new Cayenne models consume significantly less fuel, because of a coasting function, the further advanced “auto stop-start function plus” and optimised thermal management. Active cooling air flaps are now being used for the first time in the Cayenne models. They are located behind the middle air inlet and are controlled by engine management. They are opened or closed according to the specific driving situation and cooling needs; this way they adjust the air volume that is available for cooling. When they are closed they improve aerodynamics, which reduces air drag and thereby improves fuel economy.

The new 3.6-litre V6 biturbo engine of the Cayenne S, which was developed entirely at Porsche, is another example of how downsizing with reduced engine displacement and fewer cylinders does not compromise core values: the engine’s NEDC fuel consumption is between 9.5 and 9.8 l/100 km (223-229 g/km CO2), which is one litre less than with the previous V8 engine. The biturbo V6 develops a maximum power of 420 hp (309 kW) at 6,000 rpm – a gain of 20 hp/15 kW. The car’s torque of 550 Newton metres is available from 1,350 to 4,500 rpm (gain of 50 Newton metres). The previous power density of 83 hp (61 kW) per litre engine displacement was increased to 117 hp (86 kW) (gain of around 40 percent). With its standard eight-speed Tiptronic S transmission, the Cayenne S accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in just 5.5 seconds (5.4 seconds with the optional Sport Chrono package) – 0.4 seconds faster than the previous Cayenne S. The vehicle’s top speed is now 259 km/h (gain of one km/h).

The new Cayenne Turbo S – the top model of the sporty SUV model series. Its re-engineered 4.8- liter V8 biturbo engine now develops 570 hp (419 kW) and 800 Nm (590 ft lb) of torque. A chassis that is tuned for maximum driving dynamics and packs a wide range of control systems also makes the Cayenne Turbo S a genuine top athlete. It can turn a lap of the North Loop of the Nürburgring in 7:59.74 minutes. The Cayenne sets a new record for SUVs here, and it also proves that every Porsche is a genuine sports car – even in this vehicle segment.

The more spontaneous response of the biturbo engine is primarily a benefit of the integral turbochargers, which are now housed directly in the exhaust manifolds. This new approach also improves combustion. The high-performance engine offers 20 hp more power and 50 Nm (36.8 ft lb) more torque than the previous engine. The Cayenne Turbo S accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 4.1 seconds – which is 0.4 seconds faster than the previous model (0 – 60 mph in 3.8 seconds). Its top speed is now 284 km/h (176 mph).

The Cayenne Turbo S also underscores its position as a top athlete in its chassis systems. Its standard Porsche Composite Ceramic Brakes (PCCB) include 420 mm front brake discs and, for the first time, ten-piston calipers. The rear brakes have 370 mm discs and four-piston calipers. The active roll stabilization system, Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) proactively reduces side tilt when driving through curves early on. Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV Plus) increases dynamic handling and stability by making specific brake interventions at the right or left rear wheel – this noticeably improves steering into curves and steering precision. The active hang-on all-wheel drive system Porsche Traction Management (PTM) permanently drives the rear wheels while offering fully variable power distribution to the front wheels. Some advantages of the interplay between all systems: excellent driving dynamics and traction as well as a high level of agility at any speed.

Standard features of the Cayenne Turbo S reflect the top level of this model. They include 21-inch wheels in distinctive 911 Turbo design with black painted edges, LED headlights including Porsche Dynamic Light System Plus (PDLS Plus), full-leather interior with Porsche logo embossed on all head restraints as well as interior carbon accents. Interior styling in a black/creme color combination is making its debut in the Cayenne Turbo S. Creating exterior visual accents are the air inlet surround at the front of the vehicle that is painted in high-gloss black, the undersides of the door mirrors in the same color and the roof spoiler and wheel arch moldings in car color. A sport exhaust system is available as an option in combination with a switchable sound symposer, which optimally transmits the V8 sound experience into the interior.

The diesel versions of the Cayenne combine sportiness with even better fuel efficiency. For example, the three-litre V6 engine in the Cayenne Diesel produces 262 hp (193 kW) at 4,000 rpm and has a fuel consumption of 6.6 to 6.8 l/100 km (173-179 g/km CO2). Thanks to its SCR system, the car already conforms to the EU6 emissions standard. In interplay with its torque of 580 Newton metres, from 1,750 to 2,500 rpm, the car can accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in 7.3 seconds (7.2 seconds with the optional Sport Chrono package), and its top speed is 221 km/h. The 4.2-litre V8 engine of the Cayenne S Diesel produces 385 hp (283 kW) at 3,750 rpm and a torque of 850 Newton metres from 2,000 to 2,750 rpm. From a standstill, it reaches 100 km/h in 5.4 seconds (5.3 seconds with the optional Sport Chrono package). Its top speed is 252 km/h, and its NEDC fuel consumption is 8.0 l/100 km (209 g/km CO2).

Chassis tuning of the new Cayenne was optimised for even greater comfort, naturally without compromising its dynamic pace. This makes the spread between comfort and sportiness even greater than before – and it validates the Cayenne claim to being the sports car in the SUV segment. Press release from QAF Eurokars Sdn Bhd.

 

Late post. I miss Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Firstly thank you to Fitflop and Hua Ho for making my trip a reality to the city last month. It was definitely a fun experience and it has been 10 years since my last visit to Ho Chi Minh. Of course, I was worried about my trip because of my status or the-lack-of-citizenship status, holding a Certificate of Identity instead of an official passport document. Good thing that our travel document is still recognized but you will need to get an official letter from the Vietnam Embassy to verify that the COI is legit and valid as a travel document, then all is good.

Back to Fitflop, the purpose of my trip is to see the latest collection of the SS16 range from Fitflop. I had the privilege already to see last year’s collection back in Bohol, the Philippines. So this year, Ho Chi Minh City was the showcase city for the latest SS16 collection and I must say that it was a great choice indeed.

My first overseas assignment of the year. Thanks Fitflop and Hua Ho.

Yea… Brunei represent yooo…

My gears and souvenirs from Fitlfop. Thank you 😀

Emma Saunter is such a lovely person and she shared to us on what’s in store for the new collection

Thanks Melody for taking taking care of us

So what’s new with Fitflop? Aplenty. For the men’s, sorry. This will be more focused for the Women’s SS16.

SUPERJELLY™RUBBER FLIP FLOPS

Our flip flops eat other flip flopsfor breakfast. Want to know why? It’s because underneath their happy-go-lucky, all-rubber, beach-friendly, wade-in-the-water-wearable upper is our patent-pending Microwobbleboard™ midsole – an ergonomic, pressure-diffusing, layer of cush.

• on our original Microwobbleboard midsoles
• generous fit
• APMA* Seal of Acceptance, for footwear found to promote good foot health
• biomechanically engineered, comfortable sandals
• supple, moulded, waterproof jelly upper
• adjustable, enamel-covered, metal buckle
• biomechanically engineered, comfortable sandals
• seamless built-in arch contour
• slip-resistant rubber outsole
• LEOPARD, SNAKE and WEAVE print options also available, along with SUPERJELLY SLIDE and SUPERJELLY TWIST options

SUPERJELLY™ LEOPARD FLIP FLOPS

We expect roars of appreciation when you slip on our outrageous new animal print flip flops. Because these are no ordinary jellies. Ours have Microwobbleboard™ superpowers – so feet feel the love whether they’re paddling, chilling by the pool, or out shopping all day.
With built-in arch contour and our amazing Microwobbleboard midsoles
• on our original Microwobbleboard midsoles
• generous fit
• APMA* Seal of Acceptance, for footwear found to promote good foot health
• biomechanically engineered, supercomfortable flip flops
• rubber uppers
• seamless built-in arch contour
• lab-tested for slip resistance
• snake and weave print options also available, along with original SUPERJELLY, SUPERJELLY SLIDE and SUPERJELLY TWIST options

SUPERJELLY™ WEAVEFLIP FLOPS

Not only do OUR FLIP FLOPS EAT OTHER FLIP FLOPSFOR BREAKFAST but they do it looking like this. Adjustable straps, shiny jelly, weave pattern prints and our magic Microwobbleboard™ midsoles. Need beach shoes? It’s a no-brainer.

With built-in arch contour and our amazing Microwobbleboard midsoles
• on our original Microwobbleboard midsoles
• generous fit
• APMA* Seal of Acceptance, for footwear found to promote good foot health
• biomechanically engineered, supercomfortable sandals
• rubber uppers
• seamless built-in arch contour
• lab-tested for slip resistance
• leopard and snake print options also available, along with original SUPERJELLY, SUPERJELLY SLIDE and SUPERJELLY TWIST options

SUPERJELLY™SLIDE(PERF) FLIP FLOPS

Want to channel a little 70s glamour? Perforated-jelly slides flip flops are fresh, light and airy – plus you get all-day cush. Slip on these supersporty flip flops with their funky retro vibe…and watch the decades slide away.

With built-in arch contour and our amazing MicrowobbleboardTM midsoles
• on our original Microwobbleboard midsoles
• generous fit
• APMA* Seal of Acceptance, for footwear found to promote good foot health
• biomechanically engineered, supercomfortable flip flops
• rubber uppers
• seamless built-in arch contour
• lab-tested for slip resistance
SUPERJELLYtoe-thong and SUPERJELLY TWIST options also available

The Superjelly Slide

Click to enlarge

The Superjelly Print Weave

Click to enlarge

The popular Gladdie

Click to enlarge

So there you go.. Some of the collections for Fitflop to launch for the Summer Spring collection. 36 of us compromising of bloggers and copy writers from Southeast Asian region had the privilege also to interview Emma Saunter, Fitflop’s International Marketing.

On the first day, we were treated to a mini photo competition where one winner will be given a one-year collection of the new Fitflop range. We had to use Ho Chi Minh’s landmarks such as the Saigon Opera House, the Independence Palace, the Post Office and the Notre Dame Church for the Instagram competition. Last year, I won the competition but this year, the line up was pretty tough.

The Fitflop team introduced the new collection during a presentation at Propaganda Saigon (a popular restaurant/cafe). The evening itself we were treated to dinner at Villa Song where Emma Saunter unveiled other collections, inspired from Miami Luxe.

Thank you once again for the opportunity and I’m sure the locals here can’t wait for the upcoming collection. Do check out Hua Ho Manggis in the next few months or so.

One of my entries for the IG competition. Taken at the Independence Palace. Interesting history of Vietnam then.

The post office. I send a postcard but don’t think it reached its destination :/

Loads of walking with the delegates but it was fun especially crossing the streets

The night event at Villa Song and unleashing the new batch of Fitflop

The Miami Luxe collection

The Miami Luxe collection

The Miami Luxe collection

The Miami Luxe collection

The older collection

Representatives of the distributors from the region

Love the hotel we are staying in because there is a cinema downstairs at Liberty Point Hotel

Catching up dinner with my roomie Azley at Seria restaurant at Ho Chi Minh City

There are many halal restaurants at Ho Chi Minh City

 

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.

 

The local media posing with the Ultraman characters during the sneak preview last Wednesday. Thank you to the organisers for the opportunity.

One of the fight sequence

Ultramar in the house… Ooohh yeaaa… I’m not a huge fan of Ultraman during my childhood days. I was more into He-Man, M•A•S•K, Gobots, Thundercats and even My Little Pony *lol* But who doesn’t know Ultraman? It’s one of the iconic Japanese sci-fi hero and to my prior knowledge, I thought there was only one Ultraman. Apparently there are 8 of them – Ultraman, Ultraseven, Ultraman Taro, Ultraman Tiga, Ultraman Cosmos, Ultraman Mebius, Ultraman Zero, and Ultraman Ginga. All of them are in Brunei Darussalam for a special feat to perform for the public as they overcoming their villains every day until the 28th of March 2016. If you want to witness a great show (which I truly enjoyed), you can get your tickets at Times Square outlets from 11am to 9pm.

The show is billed Ultraman Live in Brunei 2016 and I’m pretty sure the information has gone viral. What can you expect from the show? One thing that I’m impressed is the choreography by the performers (Ultramans and their villains) and to give more realism, the producers from Japan included some nice special effects which reminds me of my experience in a 4D cinema. Expect some pyro and laser beams shooting left and right on the projector screen. There’s even a chance for some of the kids to mingle with the popular sci-fi characters. On top of that, they have a localised storyline to make it relevant to the audience. I salute the producers and engineers for such effort.

Just a perfect time that it’s happening during the school holidays so why don’t give yourself a shot and check out Ultraman Live in Brunei 2016. The event is taking place at Jerudong Park Amphitheater. I highly recommend parents to bring their kids to such a show. I myself enjoyed my time a few days ago during the sneak preview screening. You can check out more on their info at their Facebook Page or follow them on instagram @ultramanliveinbrunei2016

Sometimes I wonder how they look in real life

This baddie is so cool. Ultraman Belial.

You might be the lucky ones to be on stage and get up close and personal with the characters

Raise your hands to give some power

Parents and their children having a blast during the show

There are other cute characters to look at

One of the villains squaring off against Ultraman

I didn’t realise there were so many Ultraman characters

Some balloon action halfway through the show

Let’s dance the night away

@calistaleahliew the host of the Ultraman Live in Brunei 2016

 

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.

 

His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam (3rd R) speaking with Captain Sharifah Czarena Surainy Syed Hashim (L), as former Deputy Chairman of Royal Brunei Dermot Mannion (2nd L) and Deputy Chief Operating Officer Captain Khalidkhan Hj Asmakhan (2nd R) look. It was His Majesty’s visit to the newly refurbished Brunei International Airport last year. Image courtesy of Zaim Kasmat of The Brunei Times.

Mr. Dermot Mannion have served in Royal Brunei Airlines for 5 years and he has definitely shifted the play field of Royal Brunei Airlines through restructuring and rebranding. It’s sad to know that he won’t be continuing his journey in Royal Brunei Airlines. Image courtesy of breakingnewstravel.com

After five years of service as Deputy Chairman of Royal Brunei Airlines (RB), Mr. Dermot Mannion has announced he will shortly depart from Brunei, on completion of his term of office. The Board of RB has expressed gratitude to Mr. Mannion for his service and in particular, has commended the successful completion of the restructuring and rebranding of RB in recent years.

Mr. Mannion will now be succeeded in the capacity of CEO by Mr. Karam Chand who was previously Chief Commercial and Planning Officer at RB. Mr. Chand holds an MSc in Air Transport Management from Cranfield University and has over twenty years’ experience at various flag carrier airlines and Virgin Australia.

Stated Mr. Mannion: ‘I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Board and to our staff for their loyalty and support during my tenure at RB. I would also like to congratulate Karam on his appointment and I extend my sincere best wishes to him and to RB for the future.’

Mr Chand stated “I am honoured and humbled by the appointment and for the trust and faith the Board has placed in me. We have tremendous opportunities ahead of us and with the strong legacy left by Dermot we are in a good position to fly the flag higher. I am grateful to Dermot for his support and guidance over the last three and half years. We wish him well in whatever he chooses as his next challenge”. Text courtesy of Royal Brunei Airlines.

Dermot with the winners of the talent competition for the in-house employees of RB last December. A very much loved leader in the company.

Dermot congratulating Sabre (formerly known as Abacus) for their 25 years in service last September. He even sang a number for the audience.

Dermot with the chairman of Royal Brunei Airlines, YB Dato Paduka Hj Bahrin bin Abdullah, during the signing agreement for the new Airbus A320neo aircraft. The signing took place in May 2014.

What I feel: It’s truly sad to know that a capable leader such as Mr. Dermot is leaving Brunei and our national air carrier Royal Brunei Airlines. So far he is the longest service leader compared to the past few CEOs of Royal Brunei Airlines. I have had a few dialogues with him and I am amazed by his humble character. I’m pretty sure that the senior management and the associates of the company will miss his company. He has turned RB into one of the strong brands in the country and guess what? Even their online presence is strong on social media as they were being recognized last year for being in the social trend.

I remember when Royal Brunei had to restructure which involved cutting cost here and there. It was a pretty challenging period for RB then and I was thinking to myself if RB will have the resilience to climb back up. Slowly it did and thanks to Dermot and his team as well as the chairmanship of YB Dato Paduka Hj Bahrin. It’s a great reminder for those who doesn’t have a vision, do follow those who have and Dermot is one of them. Thank you for your contribution to the Brunei economy and the community. I wish you the best in your future journey.

Dermot at the launching of the rebranded Royal Skies in September 2014.

The launching of the Dreamliner B787 back in October 2013. It suddenly became a reality that the Dreamliner is physically in Brunei Darussalam.

Dermot launching the Dreamliner service to Kuala Lumpur at Vistana Hotel back in May 2013

Dermot played an important role in rebranding the image and corporate culture of Royal Brunei Airlines. One of them is the logo.

He also saw a potential in signing superstar Wu Chun as the brand ambassador for Royal Brunei Airlines. The dividends have surely paid off.

One of the core values that Royal Brunei Airlines incorporated in their rebranding process – “Happyness”

The new uniforms of the cabin crew of Royal Brunei Airlines.

 

Standard Chartered Bank Brunei officially announced the launch of the Standard Chartered Cup 2016 indoor football tournament yesterday at a press conference at their Priority Banking Centre in Gadong. The Standard Chartered Cup 2016 in a local 5 aside indoor football tournament (futsal) and the tournament is planned to kick off in early April.

Marilyn Graeme, Head of Corporate Affairs, Brand & Marketing said:

“Standard Chartered Bank has been the main sponsor for Liverpool FC since 2009 and together the partnership has greatly benefitted both parties. The SC Cup tournament will give teams the opportunity of a once-in-a-lifetime experience to win a trip to Anfield to watch a home game in executive box seats as well as receive a coaching session with an LFC Legend at the LFC Academy.

The SC Cup aims not only to engage the large football loving community here as well as Liverpool FC fans in Brunei, we also look forward to contributing towards a charitable cause through 100 percent donation of the registration fees that will be collected. We would like to thank our generous partners, Royal Brunei as well as the Ministry of Culture, Youth & Sports and the National Football Association for their kind support.”

Last year, Standard Chartered hosted SC Trophy which saw winning team, Matahari FC, winning the local tournament to represent Brunei in the regional stage against Malaysia and Thailand. Press release from SCB Brunei.

NFABD Futsal standing committee chairman Rosdin Hj Abd Aziz, SCB Brunei Head of Corporate Affairs Marilyn Graeme and NFABD Fustal standing committee deputy chairman Bujang Hj Japar during the press conference at the SCB’s Priority Banking Centre in Gadong yesterday

Marilyn delivering some exciting news for football fans

The local media during the press conference

Matahari FC team members – winners of the Standard Chartered Trophy 2015 local tournament in February 2015 – received their kits from CEO of SCB. Rino Donosepoetro. They represented Brunei in the regional tournament but failed to win the tournament. The winner then won the trip to Anfield. This time round the winners of the Standard Chartered Cup 2016 indoor football tournament in Brunei will guarantee a passage straight to Anfield. Awesome news!!! Image courtesy of SCB Facebook Page.

SC Cup 2016 Local tournament

The local tournament will see 24 teams participating. It will kick off on 4 April with the finals taking place on 9 April. Teams can register for a place by visiting Standard Chartered’s Brunei’s website at www.sc.com/bn. Participants must be Brunei citizens or permanent residents, be over 18 years of age and not be professional or semi-professional players. Each registered team cannot have more than two (2) players who are also participating in the 2015/2016 national futsal leagues.

The grand prize

All seven (7) team members of the winning team from the Tournament will receive flights (return economy class) to and from Brunei Darussalam to the United Kingdom, transfers during the itinerary, accommodation for the duration of the trip, tickets to a Liverpool FC match at Anfield, training session at the Liverpool FC Academy (itinerary subject to change depending on final confirmation of flights and activities and availability). Participants should be able to travel to the United Kingdom between 4 May to 9 May 2016 in order to receive the grand prize.

The closing date for registrations is 25 March. To find out more about the Standard Chartered Cup, visit www.sc.com/bn or follow the bank’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/StandardCharteredBN. Press release from SCB Brunei.

What I think:  This is an awesome opportunity whether you are not a Liverpool supporter or not. Just to be sponsored all the way to the UK and experience a Premier League club are chances of a lifetime. Thanks to Standard Chartered Bank and Royal Brunei Airlines with the support of the MCYS and NFABD, this is made possible for the residents of Brunei Darussalam. The other great news is that the winners of the futsal team don’t have to play other winning countries to get that passage to Anfield. Just as long as you win the Standard Chartered Cup 2016 indoor football tournament, seven of you will earn the right to fly to the UK. Should the winning team couldn’t fly, then the runners-up will be given the opportunity.

 

BIBD held a prize presentation ceremony today for its monthly “Top Up Tia” campaign winners recently.

The prize ceremony was held at the BIBD Rimba Branch. On hand to give away the prizes was Jeffri Ahmad Said, Head of Transaction & Support Services from BIBD’s Corporate Banking Group.

All the respective winners were in an ecstatic mood as they all were presented with their respective prizes ranging from the latest Apple gadgets such as iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus or iPad Pro. The monthly promotional campaign will be running until the 30th of April 2016.

The winners of the BIBD Top Up Tia campaign

The BIBD Top Up Tia campaign encourages its customers to use either the BIBD Mobile or BIBD Online channels to perform ‘top-ups’ on their DES electricity, DST’s Easi or GO!broadband and Progresif Cellular’s mobile and broadband. The service provides the perfect solution of having speed and convenience for the top-up of these utilities mentioned. Users of the service do not need to make any extra effort to purchase physical top up cards at vendors as they can just log on to BIBD Mobile or BIBD Online and top up all these utilities directly. These conveniences become extra useful in times of need, during off business hours or shortages of physical top-up cards in, especially the denominations you want.

For more information on any BIBD services, products and promotions, please follow the BIBD Instagram account at @BIBDBRUNEI; Facebook page at www.facebook.com/bibdbrunei; get in touch with BIBD Contact Centre at 2238181 or visit the nearest BIBD Branch. Also, don’t forget to download the popular BIBD Mobile App to get the latest BIBD offers and promotions under “What’s New” feature.

 

The winners of Baiduri and Hua Ho’s ‘The Big Shopping Win’ promotion were awarded their prizes in a ceremony held at the department store held at Hua Ho Kiulap on Sunday.

Mah Wai Keun was delighted as she opened her envelope and realised that she had won the Mitsubishi Lancer 1.6 Auto grand prize. Headillah Zainuddin and his happy family took home the second prize of a Mitsubishi Attrage 1.2 Auto while Md Norizam Hj Md Zain won a $1,000 shopping voucher from Hua Ho.

Director of Hua Ho, Lau Soon Lin and Manager of Card Brand Relationship & Business Banking Support, Baiduri Michelle Lo together with Manager of Business Banking, Baiduri Davern Lim presented the keys to the grand winners.

Mah Wai Keun (left), the winner of the Mitsubishi Lancer 1.6 Auto grand prize with Michelle Lo, Manager of Card Brand Relationship & Business Banking Support and Lau Soon Lin, Director of Hua Ho

The second prize winner of the Mitsubishi Attrage 1.2 Auto

Md Norizam Hj Md Zain won a $1,000 shopping voucher from Hua Ho

During the final draw

The names of the 10 finalists were drawn last Friday, and the winners were determined through a number of rounds using envelopes – containing information that indicate whether they were able to pass to the next round or not – which were given randomly.

During the final round, the three finalists were asked to pick from a set of envelopes containing information on the order in which they get to pick the final set of envelopes, which contained the grand prizes of the day.

The other seven finalists received consolation prizes in the form of $300 and $500 Hua Ho shopping vouchers, presented by Branch Manager of Hua Ho Mulaut Alex Lim and Manager of Hua Ho Kiulap respectively.

 

Click image to book your tickets

It’s happening soon. The 7th edition of the PechaKucha series from Brunei Darussalam. I’m excited because of the line up of speakers especially Hj Rozan Yunos and my good friend Sophia Siu. I have attended a few sessions and they have been awesome because I learnt more about individuals and their ideas where some I could relate to.

Similar to a TEDx concept on sharing your thoughts, the only difference is that the presentation of ideas and thoughts are delivered through public speaking with 20 slides where it changes every 20 seconds.

So far the presentations have been successful and wonderful to learn at the same time. I just booked my tickets for the event and I highly recommend you to catch at least one PechaKucha and this edition is not the one to be missed. You can visit their website to book your attendance and do refer to the poster for more details.

Hj Rozan Yunos, a role model for me, is one of the listed speakers for PechaKucha next weekend. I can’t wait.

Finally she is one of the speakers for PechaKucha. Good luck, Sophia aka @lilmopiko

Abdul Zainidi, another local talent, who made his name internationally. Image from his Facebook.

A comedian, an actor, a public speaker, ah the list goes on.. I admire his journey to pursue his dreams. There’s only one Zainal Bostaman. Good luck next week.

The 6th edition of PechaKucha last December at Energy Kitchen. It will be the same venue again.

I was inspired by Josephine’s journey as an entrepreneur. I had the fire feeling inside when I saw her presentation at PechaKucha last December. Now reflecting back, I should have taken advantage of that fire in me. Click image to listen to Josephine’s story.

Amir Noor shared his passion on long board in the 6th edition of PechaKucha and how it has been gaining popularity in Brunei.