Kenny Ng, General Manager for Emerging Markets Mercedes-Benz (Singapore), Haji Awang Mohammad Hanafi bin Pehin Orang Kaya Digadong Seri Diraja Dato Laila Utama Haji Awang Abdul Rahman, Chartered Quantity Surveyors from Hanafi Konsaltan, Teo Choon Kok, Managing Director of Metrobina & Partners Sdn Bhd, YM Pengiran Anak Hj Ja’afar ibni Al-Marhum Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak Hj Mohamed Alam, Executive Chairman of Jati Transport Sdn Bhd, Andrew Chiam, Executive Director of Jati Transport Sdn Bhd, Thomas Heilmaier, Acting German Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam and Vishnu Sakdiyakorn, Architect for Booty Edwards & Partners after the contract signing agreement between Jati Transport Sdn Bhd and Metrobina & Partners Sdn Bhd yesterday

The contract signing between Jati Transport Sdn Bhd and Metrobina & Partners Sdn Bhd

By 2017, Jati Transport will have another showroom to cater to the growing demand for the Mercedes-Benz (passenger) in Brunei Darussalam. Yesterday marked an interesting milestone as the management of Jati Transport, the authorised distributor for Daimler AG in Brunei Darussalam held a foundation laying ceremony to kick off the construction at the Lot 78C, Tapak Perindustrian Beribi (it’s the opposite of the main road of the current Jati Transport showroom).

The foundation laying ceremony was led by YM Pengiran Anak Hj Ja’afar ibni Al-Marhum Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak Hj Mohamed Alam, Executive Chairman of Jati Transport Sdn Bhd. Also taking part of the ceremony were Thomas Heilmaier, Acting German Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam, Kenny Ng, General Manager for Emerging Markets Mercedes-Benz (Singapore), Andrew Chiam, Executive Director of Jati Transport Sdn Bhd, Teo Choon Kok, Managing Director of Metrobina & Partners Sdn Bhd and Vishnu Sakdiyakorn, Architect for Booty Edwards & Partners.

After the ground laying ceremony, the contract signing took place between Jati Transport and Metrobina & Partners at Jati Transport Beribi office.

It was stated that the cost of the new showroom is BND 5 million and it will be a combination of showroom and a service centre. Not to worry as it will comply to Mercedes-Benz standard. The size of the total floor area wis 28,000 square feet which means the showroom will be able to showcase 11 vehicles for display, a new car delivery area, a customer lounge, a merchandise shop, 13 service bays and plentiful of parking for guests.

I’m excited to see the final product of the new showroom for Mercedes-Benz. Good luck in the progress of the construction.

That is one huge contract. Yes, it’s in a form of a book instead of the usual A4 sized papers.

The foundation laying ceremony at the new site in Beribi

This is how it looks like so far

Now we will have to wait until 2017 before the new showroom completes

Pengiran Anak Hj Ja’afar kicked off the ceremony

Andrew Chiam did the honours too

Thomas Heilmaier continued the foundation laying process

It was a privilege to have Kenny Ng to be part of the ceremony

Ho Ley Hoon, Sales Manager of Jati Transport, also took part in the ceremony

Stephen Reid, Service Manager of Jati Transport, laid some cement during the ceremony

Vishnu (right) handing the spade to Haji Awang Mohammad Hanafi as both took part in the ceremony

I’ve never come across a gold coloured spade but there’s always a first

 

Congratulations Bazi and Farah. Click image to enlarge.

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During the Berbedak ceremony

During the Berbedak ceremony

During the Berbedak ceremony

During the Bersanding event

During the Bersanding event. Click image to enlarge.

Late post. The images of the wedding between Haji Mohammed Nazlee bin Pehin Orang Kaya Lela Pahlawan Mejar Jeneral (B) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Mohd Jaafar and Noor Cahaya. The event took place two weeks ago at three venues – Masjid Al Ameerah Al Hajah Mariam, Indera Samudra Hall at The Empire Hotel & Country Club and the groom’s residence.

Nazlee was born on 25th August 1983 while Cahaya was born on 19th August 1990 in Kelantan, Malaysia.

It was great to be part of the wedding team and I praised the SF team for making the wedding livelier as well as working as a solid team. Even the foreign photographers loved our energy during the wedding events. All the best to both of you, Nazlee and Cahaya and it was an honour to be part of the SF entourage. A big thank you also to Pehin Jaafar and Datin Salbiah on your hospitality and it always feel like our second home. You can check out more pictures on IG with the hashtag #nazleecahaya

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His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, HRH Prince Hj Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, and HRH Prince ‘Abdul Malik, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Laila Diraja Dato Seri Setia Hj Hazair Hj Abdullah, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports and Datin Paduka Hjh Adina. Standing behind are Nurliyana Fatin Ariffin, Khairul Azmi Salleh, Datin Hjh Siti Hajar Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Setia Dato Paduka Hj Mohd Yusof, and Goh Kiat Chun (Wu Chun) at the 10th National Youth Day celebration. Image courtesy of Ridhwan Kamarulzaman of The Brunei Times.

Don’t forget your heritage. Preserve it and give it a new breath of life. His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam advised the Brunei youth that this is our responsibility to do so during the 10th National Youth Day celebration. The youth are our agents of society and it’s important for them to have an identity. An identity on its original form (not copied or imitated from others).

The monarch was also full of praises for youth, saying he had seen a growing number of young professionals and entrepreneurs.

Youth are starting to get involved in less popular fields such as padi cultivation and hard work, such as driving or operating heavy vehicles and scaffolding, the monarch said.

The monarch awarded three youths and one NGO. Goh Kiat Chun also known as Wu Chun, Datin Hjh Siti Hajar Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Setia Dato Paduka Hj Mohd Yusof, president of Pertiwi Association and Nurliyana Fatin Ariffin, a member of the Young Entrepreneurs Association of Brunei (YEAB). The NGO being awarded is SCOT (Society for Community Outreach) and Training.

It was a packed house yesterday at the 10th National Youth Day celebration held at the Indoor Stadium.

His Majesty the Sultan delivering the titah yesterday

At the booth of Snapfeed

His Majesty being briefed by Ting See Chung, Managing Director of Snapfeed

With the Ak Mohammad Khairi, founder of PHMD Publishing (3rd from left) with Hjh Hannah binti Ibrahim, Acting CEO of BEDB and other senior management of BEDB

The Royalties at Songket Wedding booth

His Majesty signing on a memento for Songket Wedding

His Majesty the Sultan with Denise Chai, the owner of Paddington House of Pancakes

Group photo with the Royalties

Hiro Tien shared his journey on social deals

Group photo with SPHI Foods management

Group photo with Ambuyart Animations

Group photo with Armtrix Enterprise and Heroes BN

His Majesty the Sultan receiving a memento from Aaron Goh, founder of Armtrix Enterprise

His Majesty the Sultan presented the award to Wu Chun yesterday. Image courtesy of Ridhwan Kamarulzaman of The Brunei Times.

The Exciting Wedding Fair and Photogenic Bride Contest Are Coming Back with a Bang for 2015!

Ah, a wedding. To most people it means love and romance and a beautiful bride; to newly-weds it means a whole lot of work and worry to find the best make-up artist, the best photographer, the best caterer, the best venue decorator…

But it doesn’t have to be that hard.

The exciting wedding fair is back. Organized by Solution By Designz, this fantastic event will be held at The Mall Shopping Complex, Gadong, from the 28th October to 1st November 2015. Our theme this year: ‘Wedding by the Bay’, and what can be better to accentuate the magic of a wedding than tiffany blue decorations with the sensuous appeal of pearl and turquoise green?

Want only the very best for your wedding? Why look any further? At our fair we will be bringing to you the best of the best in bridal studios, photographers, make-up professionals, flower arrangers, venue decorators, caterers, bakeries and everything in between. You can walk into our fair having no clue what you want for your wedding, and you’ll come out again with the perfect wedding plan already in your and everyone else’s heads.

We know this year’s wedding fair is going to be the most exciting we have ever seen, but we want you to help us make it even more amazing. Booths are open for rental for any company which caters for newly-weds. Bridal studios, dress designers, hairstylists, bakeries…As long as you are wedding related services then you are all welcome to hire a booth with us to make some happy couples’ dreams come true.

To rent a booth or for more information please go to our Facebook Page at Solution By Designz, or feel free to contact/whatsapp us at +673 811 8866.

Remember when you were a little girl and you used to put on your mother’s gowns pretending to look like a bride? Who says you can’t have that dream come true now?

We are on the search for the most photogenic bride of the year. Everybody has their own uniqueness that only can be picked up with a camera. It doesn’t matter whether you’re married, engaged, single…as long as you look your best in a photo-shoot, just snap that camera today.

Send in the best photo of yourself to us at solutionbydesignz@gmail.com. Include some basic information such as your name, age, date of birth, IC number, occupation and your Facebook name.
Kind of scary to send a photo of you to a contest? Let us tell you what you could win.

Winner for The Most Photogenic Bride will be granted a Portrait-Photography by Devin Kho Photography and styling session by EaHui Makeup Artistry worth BND688.

So hurry and send in your entries today because the submission closes on this Sunday, 6th September 2015. Ten contestants will be shortlisted and notified after the closing date.

For more information, visit our Facebook Page at Solution By Designz, or feel free to contact/whatsapp us at +673 811 8866. Please LIKE our page to stay tune for more activities and giveaways!
See you there! <3

It’s fun to juggle between wedding celebrations.. First up were my friends’ wedding (Azeez and Nisaa) followed by the sister’s wedding. Sorry for the late post but here are the pictures I took for Azeez and Nisaa’s Bersanding and Berbedak ceremony. I didn’t take much pictures as I was busy on Periscope and Snapchat. I highly recommend you to download those apps and add me @ranoadidas and it has been useful for my viewers who could catch the events live as well.

In attendance were His Royal Highness Pengiran Digadong Sahibul Mal Pengiran Muda Haji Jefri Bolkiah, His Royal Highness Pengiran Muda ‘Abdul Mateen, for Haji Abdul Azeez and Najidatun Nisaa’s Bersanding event. They were accompanied by Pehin Orang Kaya Lela Pahlawan Mejar Jeneral (B) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Md Jaafar and Datin Hajah Salbiah, parents of the groom last Saturday

Also in attendance were Her Royal Highness Pengiran Anak Puteri ‘Azemah Ni’matul Bolkiah and Her Royal Highness Pengiran Anak Puteri Fadzilah Lubabul Bulqiah with Puan Hjh Mariam

Also in attendance were Her Highness Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Norhayati (2nd from right) , Her Royal Highness Pengiran Anak Puteri Hajah Masna (3rd from left), Her Royal Highness Pengiran Anak Puteri Hajah Nor’ain (3rd from right), Her Royal Highness Pengiran Anak Puteri Hajah Amal umi Kalthum Al-Islam (2nd from left), Her Royal Highness Pengiran Anak Puteri Hajah Amal Rakiah (1st from right) and Her Royal Highness Pengiran Anak Puteri Hajah Amal Nasibah (1st from left)

Invited foreign guests at the Bersanding event

With the relatives from the bride

With the females from the SF group 😀

Serious mode expression from SF family

Now the serious face

With Nisaa’s former colleagues during her Royal Brunei days

With Nisaa’s colleagues at HSBC

It’s feeding time

Nisaa getting ready for the event

With Mimi.. Nisaa’s good friend

Puan Hjh Mazuin at the Berbedak ceremony of the newly wed

Azeez and Nisaa during the Berbedak last week

The guest in attendance

Pose the camera ladies 😀

The sweet parents of the groom. Always taking care of guests and even us. Appreciate it 😀

The groom and bride with the “Pengangun”

Aaah, matches my attire

Putting up the head gear for Nisaa. Very tedious and quite heavy as well.

His Royal Highness Prince Abdul ‘Mateen ibni Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah (2nd from left) with the YAM Pg Anak Abdul Rashid. YAM Pg Anak Ghaffar, YAM Pg Anak Abdul Mui’z accompanying in the photoshop of the newly wed – Haji Abdul Azeez Pehin Orang Kaya Lela Pahlawan Major General (r) Dato Paduka Seri Hj Mohd Jaafar and Najidatun Nisaa Abdullah Suresh @ Bonita last Thursday

Informing His Royal Highness that the Nikah event was about to commence

Congratulations once again to my buddies – Abdul Azeez Pehin Dato Jaafar and Najidatun Nisaa Abdullah Suresh on their solemnisation last Thursday evening. I’m truly happy for both of you and it’s an amazing to know that both of you are officially married. Sorry, I didn’t take many pictures since I was busy Snapchatting and Periscoping 😀

I shall see you both again this Wednesday for the Berbedak ceremony. So ladies and gentlemen, if you want to see more of the “behind-the-scenes” of the Powder ceremony, catch me on Snapchat and Periscope at @ranoadidas and for related photos, do check out #nowANforever2015 on your instagram.

Enjoy the pictures below and more to come hopefully this week. A big thanks also to your family on the great hospitality and it always feels like home whenever I’m there 😀

Nisaa seated while waiting for the Nikah procedure

Ooops.. I spoiled this photo *lol*

Azeez the groom being ushered

Nazlee Jaafar was popular back in 2008 when he was the ring bearer for his brother Idris and Zari. Will he steal the storm once again despite being unavailable? :p

The room where the Nikah took place

The ladies

Nisaa smiling for the camera

As I mentioned Nazlee is not available :p

Photo with the ladies

To the left..

To the right…

Did you know I was the match-maker? I still remember our first trio movie.. Yes, I was the lightbulb then 😀

Arsyad, a future heartbreaker? I hope he turns into a Liverpool supporter

My Werewolf buddies though Yuniza (far right) doesn’t believe me anymore :p

Finally after 10 years, they are married.. My recommended hashtag was #finally1568 but #nowANforever2015 won

The newly wed being showered with love

It’s lantern time

The newly wed letting go of a sky lantern

One of the gifts (hantaran) and the gangsa is from @simplysayang

Some of the gifts

Nisaa being groomed by Andre and I’m impressed with his work

Mizan preparing the candle for the Nikah

Thanks guys for catching my updates of the Nikah on Snapchat (pictures and video feeds) and Periscope (live streaming) and my friend Syaz from Belgium benefited from my live stream especially behind the scenes. So download both the apps

The official solemnisation will be tonight. So for those who wants to catch updates, you can follow my instagram feed or my Snapchat stories and also behind the scenes on my Periscope. Download all these social media platforms and follow me live on @ranoadidas or you can also type in the hashtag #nowANforever2015

The winners of the band category, A-1, with the sponsors and judge last week

Bridgette Ang, winning the solo category

Wunderbar…. It’s an expression, meaning wonderful and the word is originated from Germany. This was the word that was introduced at UBD toastmasters meeting last Monday and last night I used it as well for Brunei Speakers Club meeting. Now today, I using Wunderbar to express how the performances were from the recent competition organised by the Trinity London College.

The event took place at Expression Music (Kiulap) and the competition was also sponsored by Royal Brunei Airlines where the winners will be flying to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, this September for the Regional Semi-finals of the Asean “Be Our Rock & Pop Soul” Music Competition.

I had the honour to witness 5 solo performers and only two will be chosen to represent Brunei. In the solo category, WCOPA 2014 medalist Bridgette Ang emerged as a winner, belting out an awesome rendition of Whitney Houston’s Greatest Love of All and the runner up solo performance went to Lim Ao who stole the show with his guitar performance on Iron Maiden’s Run to the Hills. They both received $500 and $250 cash prize and a trophy respectively.

I love both the bands though only two bands performed which means that regardless of the placing, both teams will also fly to Vietnam. So it’s only down to bragging rights to who was the better band. In the end, A-1, with some lady power, singing to our heart delights – “Crazy in love” by Beyoncê and they earned a first prize trophy and $1,000 cash prize. Second place went to band Waht? with their rendition of Bring me back to life by Evanensence. They went home with $500 and a trophy. Both will also fly to Ho Chi Minh City for the competition.

The prizes were presented by Azhani Abu Daniel, Head of Corporate Communications, Royal Brunei Airlines, and Lily Chiam, Music Director of Expression Music. The judges included Abdoh Damit, a Brunei jazz drummer and educator, James Boyle, a pianist and lecturer in Kuala Lumpur and U-Jin Lim, Regional Academic Consultant from Trinity College London.

The judges were full of praises for the performers and advised them to show more showmanship during their performance as this will help them to woo the audience. Only through showmanship that every single person will show their character which can be the deciding factor among the regional judges.

For your info, Trinity College London’s ground breaking Rock and Pop Music Syllabus has paved the way for young musicians to be able to perform popular music genres in local examinations where eligible contestant from six countries – Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei and host country Vietnam – will compete in the regionals.

The contest’s four judges are Senior Vice-President of Trinity College, London, Asia Tyler Smith; CEO of record label BMBX Entertainment Kelly Chew; artist manager of Thai singer Tata Young – Myke Brown and Thanh Bui, a judge of Vietnam Idol 2015.

The winner of the music competition will receive prizes worth up to US$25,000 and other prizes from Trinity College and BMBX Entertainment. The final round will take place on September 7 at The Opera House in Ho Chi Minh.

I was totally impressed with the young performers last week. I hope that they will gain more exposure and experience to better themselves and up the game. Thank you, Lily, for the invitation. I truly enjoyed the occasion. Good luck to all the performers and it was such a Wunderbar experience.

The runner – Waht?

Lim Ao coming second in the solo category

Evan Chiam of Waht?

Lim Ao wooing the audience with his solo effort

A-1 were “Crazy in love” and earned the top prize

The audience last week

Eden Chiam with One Moment in Time

Lily Chiam thanking the sponsors and the judges and praised all those involved

Behind the scene

Stand a chance to win a Hyundai Accent Hatchback. How? Simple.. Just subscribe to a DST Prima Samsung Contract Plans. There are other prizes to be won as well – Samsung 65” Curve UHD TV or the Samsung 55” UHD TV.

The promotion is until the 31st August and you can choose either a Samsung Galaxy S6 or the S6 Edge. Do visit the three places – Samsung Experience Store (Gadong), Incomm at The Mall Branch or at Seria Branch.

Fourth Audi Cup, third title. FC Bayern München is a power throughout preseason tournament at the home Allianz Arena. In the final, the German record league champions beat Real Madrid 1:0 after Robert Lewandowski netted a late goal. In the third place playoff, English representative Tottenham Hotspur beat Italian traditional club AC Milan by 2:0.

Clubs from the top four European leagues in Germany, Spain, England and Italy went head-to-head for the first time in Audi Cup history. The high-caliber field fulfilled expectations: after four goal-laden and partly high quality fixtures, the winner’s trophy went as it did in 2009 and 2013 to FC Bayern München. “Thanks to FC Bayern München, Real Madrid, AC Milan and Tottenham Hotspur for a fantastic tournament. Congratulations to the deserved winner,” says Chairman of the Board of Management, AUDI AG Rupert Stadler. “The real winners are the fans, who were able to enjoy top-level European football on two days. The 70,000 seats in the Allianz Arena were sold-out on both match days.”

FC Bayern winning the Audi Cup 2015

After Bayern Trainer Pep Guardiola had initially rested several first team regulars in the 3:0 semi-final victory against Milan, he changed his line-up for the final against Real Madrid. This had an impact. Bayern dominated possession in the first half and created several good chances. Thomas Müller and Mario Götze had the best opportunities to open the scoring. Real Madrid started without its two goal scorers in the 2:0 semi-final victory against Milan, James Rodríguez and Gareth Bale. In the early stages of the second half (61st minute), substitute Robert Lewandowski missed the best chance of the game in front of an open goal. Then, just before the final whistle (88th minute) he directed a pinpoint cross from new signing Douglas Costa into the net to seal a well-deserved 1:0 win. In the third place playoff, Tottenham beat Milan 2:0 with goals from Nacer Chadli and Thomas Carroll.

The Audi Player Index was another tournament winner. The brand new evaluation and ranking procedure records almost every activity of each player, for example sprints, shots at goal, crosses, tackles and ball possession, and in this way objectively determines the respective ‘Man of the Match’ after every match. In the third place playoff, Tottenham’s defender Kieran Trippier received the trophy. In the final, the Audi Player Index identified Bayern’s David Alaba.

For FC Bayern München, preparations for the 2015/2016 season are now concluded. The official fixtures start already this coming weekend with the first round of the DFB trophy. Last year’s finalist faces Oberliga club FC Nöttingen on August 9. The day before, Tottenham Hotspur plays Manchester United away from home on the first day of the Premier League season. Real Madrid (at Sporting Gijon) and AC Milan (at AC Florence) start their respective league fixtures two weeks later.

Review of Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation featuring Del Goh and Nee Khern

 

There are many things that I would love to share here on my blog. The Brunei-Singapore relationship for the past 54 years (Wow) or my first visit to greet His Majesty the Sultan and the members of the Royal Family. Well, just have to find the time to focus on those areas and just type away. I guess it’s easy for me to slack off the keyboard since I’m my own boss. My discipline level can easily waned and it will be tough to get back the groove. I’m climbing back up and I just can’t wait for my iMac to be fixed. Apparently my HDD has a bad sector and it became a hardware problem.

I recently caught Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation and I quite enjoyed it. It’s on par with MI: Ghost Protocol and I would highly recommend you to catch it. I shall have a full review of it soon on my blog and of course, on my sound cloud (The Popcorn Panel). I’ve been loving the summer movies so far and next up will be a reboot of the Fantastic Four 😀

Next month will be a busy month indeed. Two big weddings that will steal the show for me and I will be back and forth to help out both my sister’s wedding and also my good buddies Nisaa Suresh and Azeez Jaafar. I even had to forgo my Denmark trip which will be sometime in August.

Anyway, have a great weekend and I’m happy that my family is back so the house won’t feel that quiet 😀

I’ve been catching a bit of the Mum’s Bakery Basketball Competition and I can’t help but admire the mattresses used as a cushion to prevent the players from banging to the wall. The mattress have been there for many years.

Well done to our Brunei athlete of getting bronze medal in the 200m run in the Special Olympics at Los Angeles

I introduced this game to my friends and they were hooked. The Werewolf game is awesome!!

The Heng Tai boys dressing up for the occasion last weekend 😀

My visit to the Tourism Malaysian Open House yesterday. Thanks for the hospitality.

It’s good to be back at the court but my level of fitness needs more work

Have you tried the Tumpi at Tati’s cafe at Jalan Babu Raja? Yummy when crispy

With Ak Danny of JPMC at DST Open House yesterday. Thanks Norliha Din for featuring us in The Brunei Times.

I’m going to the Toy Fair at Hua Ho Manggis. Image courtesy of Stephen Chiam

 

Review of Mad Max: Road Fury. Oh What a Day. What a Lovely Day 😀

Review of Pitch Perfect 2 with co-host @delgoh

 

Congratulations to my friends, Major Pengiran Mohammad Shamsul Reza bin Pengiran Dato Paduka Hj Tengah and Tara Abdullah Teo @ Tracey Teo Lee Ying on their wedding function last weekend. My friendship with Reza began during our student life in St. Andrew’s School. We were big fans of figurines such as M•A•S•K and He-Man to name a few. We kinda lost track after we headed off to different countries for future studies and I totally lost contact with him. So after two decades of knowing you, you are now a married man 😀 All the best in your new chapter with Tara and may Allah bless your new journey.

 

I’m currently in Kuching with buddies from Brunei toastmasters (Brunei Speakers’ Club, OTTERS and UBD Toastmasters) and we are all attending the 5th Annual District Convention. I shall be here until the weekend and I hope to learn something valuable from the trip apart from bonding with my friends. It’s good to be back in Kuching.

Rediscover the true taste of home..bruneihalal’s latest home range is perfect for gifts on your special occasion. They have got a wide range of selections for you and its available for pre-order now! For orders and further inquiries, contact bruneihalal at +6732384533 or drop an email at information@brunei-halal.com

Royal Brunei Airline’s first batch of female cabin crew; Puan Hjh Zainoon DP Hj Elias, Nadirah Irene Abdullah Tan, Roslyn Teo, Hjh Latifah Hj Tudin, Rosnani Hj Hamid, Hjh Jemilah Hj Md Ja’afar, Dk Susilawati DP Pg Damit and Hjh Aisah Hj Abd Rahman, were all smiles earlier this morning as they recreate their group photo from 1975, when they came back home to Brunei after finishing their training, ready for RB’s first ever commercial flight. Congratulations RB for reaching the 40th year milestone. Image courtesy of RB.

A new gym in town located at Lumut (Unit 11, Spg 72, Jln Kg Lumut) called JC Muscle Building and Fitness gym. The gym opens from 8.30am to 8:30pm and you can follow them on Facebook “JCMB & Fitness – Gym” and also on instagram @jcmbfitness. Image courtesy of Hafiizah Maideen of The Brunei Times.

A new notice that has been given to food and beverage vendors and businesses. Wonder what the reaction will be from the businesses and the public.

The best movie for me this year, hands down. Though it’s a not a perfect ten, this movie excels in many areas and do listen to my podcast review for now. You can click on the image to listen. Verdict: 9/10

DPMM FC lost their second match of the season and their import player McLead was sent off as Albirex Niigata benefited from the foul and sending off and they scored from the penalty for the winning goal. Albirex is back on the summit of the S•League. Albirex Niigata 2 DPMM FC 1.

 

His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam (right) with His Royal Highness Prince Hj ‘Abdul ‘Azim, His Royal Highness ‘Abdul Mateen and His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Wakeel during the Majlis Istiadat Akad Nikah Diraja or the solemnisation ceremony at Masjid Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien. Image courtesy of Fazizul Haqimie.

His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik

His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik read his marriage vows during the Majlis Istiadat Akad Nikah Diraja or the solemnisation ceremony at Masjid Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien last Thursday.

A 17-gun salute from the royal cannons echoed in the capital, marking the prince’s successful solemnisation of marriage vows.

According to Islamic law, the royal couple HRH Prince ‘Abdul Malik and Dk Raabi’atul ‘Adawiyyah Pg Hj Bolkiah are now legally and fully recognised as husband and wife.

Present to witness the solemnisation ceremony was the groom’s father, His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam.

The ceremony is a royal tradition where the royal groom reads his marriage vows in accordance with Islamic law and with the presence of male witnesses consisting family members from both the bride and the groom.

Also at the ceremony were HRH Crown Prince Hj Al-Muhtadee Billah, HRH Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, HRH Prince Hj Sufri Bolkiah, HRH Prince Hj Jefri Bolkiah, HRH Prince Hj ‘Abdul ‘Azim, HRH ‘Abdul Mateen and HRH Prince ‘Abdul Wakeel.
The ceremony began with the customary royal regalia including Kasur Namat, Dian Empat and a Gangsa(brass receptacle) on which the solemnisation of royal marriage vows form was placed on.

Kasur Namat is a two-piece item that complements each other and is placed in the middle of the Dian Empat or four Ceremonial Candles usually carried to mark royal ceremonies including the royal wedding.

The Kasur is a cushion usually made from yellow cloth covering and the Namat is a mat decorated with beautiful Air Muleh designs (flora and fauna motif representing the essence of livelihood) embroidered along the edges of the yellow silk cover placed over the Kasur.
Four senior government religious officials including Imam of Jame’ ‘Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Pehin Khatib Hj Suhaili Hj Metali Al-Hafiz and Imam of Masjid Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Begawan Pehin Khatib Dato Paduka Hj Hamidon Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Hj Abd Hamid then took their places of honour as witnesses for the royal ceremony.

His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik acknowledging his understanding after Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Seri Utama Dato Paduka Seri Setia Hj Salim Hj Besar read the solemnisation sermon

His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik signing the solemnisation form

The Doa Selamat

Invited guests during the Majlis Istiadat Akad Nikah Diraja

Pg Hj Bolkiah, the father of the bride

Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Seri Utama Dato Paduka Seri Setia Hj Salim Hj Besar served as the Chief Qadi of the event, overseeing the solemnisation of the royal marriage vows.

The Chief Qadi plays an integral role in the ceremony as he is a judge ruling in accordance with Islamic religious law and have jurisdiction over all legal matters involving Muslims.

Greeting His Majesty and the royal entourage upon arrival at the mosque was YAM Pengiran Lela Cheteria Sahibun Najabah Pengiran Anak Haji Abdul Aziz Pengiran Jaya Negara Pengiran Haji Abu Bakar, the chief of Adat Istiadat, and other senior government officials.
Accompanying the groom, HRH Prince ‘Abdul Malik, as he entered the mosque were Awang-Awang carrying 40 Sinipit (spear), a Hulubalang Diraja carrying Pemuras (gun) and Karga (case to carry the bullets) as well as Hulubalang Asgar carrying Kalasak (shield) and Kampilan (long blade).

Other royal regalia carried during the Majlis Istiadat Akad Nikah Diraja were the Pedang and Perisai,Tumbak Benderangan, Kabok and Panastan.

There were 16 Pedang and Perisai, or sword with golden or silver bands at the hilt carried against the right shoulder by Awang-Awang and round gold shield carried on the left hand.

Tumbak Benderangan is a royal ceremonial spear with golden and silver bands carried by Awang-Awang wearing ceremonial attires, held against the right shoulder. Sixteen of such regalia were carried.

Kabok and Panastan are vessels for storing water and the silver base are called the Panastan. There are 16 Kabok Panastan in the royal regalia and are usually carried by 16 Pengirans. However, only eight were carried.

Pehin Dato Paduka Hj Salim read the solemnisation sermon to the groom and explained the vows that he would be undertaking in this royal union of lifelong companionship and care.

The groom acknowledged his understanding and then read his vows in a clear and loud voice, flawlessly for all present yesterday to bear witness to. The recital of marriage vows continued with the groom reciting the Lafaz Ta’alik and the signing of the solemnisation form witnessed by the monarch. The ceremony was then blessed with a doa selamat read by State Mufti YB Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Datu Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Hj Awang Abdul Aziz Juned. Text by Waqiuddin Rajak and Billah Hasan of The Brunei Times and images taken by Fazizul Haqimie.