His Royal Highness Prince Hj Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office lifted the StarHub League Cup trophy

Yesterday His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Deputy Sultan consented to receive the StarHub League Cup won by DPMM FC recently in Singapore. It was the second time that DPMM FC won the League Cup and the previous trophy was back in 2009.

The trophy was presented by DPMM FC club manager Pg Waslimin PSJ Pg Hj Abd Momin at the Jerudong Mini Stadium. The Deputy Sultan was greeted by by Pg Waslimin, team manager Ali Momin and DPMM FC coach Vjeran Simunic, DPMM FC players and officials.

The road to victory was not that easy for DPMM FC. Playing in foreign soil, advantage was more on the home based teams in Singapore. Furthermore, DPMM FC players had to go through fasting during the two week tournament. They beat Tanjong Pagar (goal by Subhi), lost to SAF FC in the next game but redeemed themselves by beating tough opponents Home United through penalties in the quarter-finals. Oh yeah, thanks to Tales dos Santos for scoring in the final minute and forced the game into extra-time.

In the semi-finals, DPMM FC avenged their earlier defeat by SAF FC and scored a 2-0 victory. Again Tales dos Santos scored and so did Adi Said who’s beginning to gel well in the team. DPMM FC then faced Geylang United FC in the finals where Shahrazen scored following a mini-goal drought and Azwan Salleh capped off the night with a wonder goal for a 2-0 victory.

Ali Momin the team manager expressed his thanks to the Football Association of Singapore for rescheduling their time to accomodate to the players who are fasting (Thumbs up). On behalf of DPMM FC, he also would like to thank the continuous support from his fans.

DPMM FC will resume their S•League duties when they take on Harimau Muda next Sunday 26th August 2012 at the Hassanal National Stadium. Now that would be an entertaining match indeed.

The Crown Prince was greeted by DPMM FC players

DPMM FC coach Vjeran Simunic (left) talked of DPMM FC’s success in the tournament

The pose inspired by Usain Bolt

Simunic’s new facial look – “Do I look randy?”

Pusat Ehsan will hold its 7th Charity Bazaar at the Taman Jubilee or Jubilee Park for the first time in a three-day event starting August 31. For the first time, the event will be held at Jubilee Park because of its ample space for visitors.

Chairperson of the event Pauline Chew said the centre hopes to raise at least $150,000. There will be 150 registered volunteers that will assist during the three-day event from 8am to 10pm.

One of the highlights during the charity bazaar will be the “My Ability Counts” campaign, which will showcase the skills and abilities of Pusat Ehsan’s students who have worked in areas including housekeeping and administration.

For more info, do click here for more of the write-up from The Brunei Times.

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17 burgers were tasted and scored. Find out which topped the ranks. Click image to find out.

It’s time of the year – to review the burgers in town and give our ratings on each of the burgers we bought. We ended buying 17 burgers last Monday to review which is the best burger in town. Well, to be fair, this is only based on one burger session and we didn’t try out the rest of the burger stalls and they are tons around Brunei.

The Burger Phenomena started mushrooming a few years ago with the likes of Kapow, Hommed Baga and a few more. So we thought what a fitting way to do a burger taste out session during one of the Sungkai outings.

The burgers we all bought and not sponsored so the reviews aren’t diplomatic and we based the scorings with the criteria given to give the best representation scores for the burgers.

So you want to find out more?? Click here for our rankings of the burgers. We didn’t have an in-depth review of each burger due to time constraints, just to let you know :))

A big thanks to UBD FM, LFHW crew and Brunika for participating in the burger tasting out session. It was fun indeed and thanks to UBD FM for tabulating the scores too.

Not many happy Arsenal fans here

RVP.. RVP.. RVP… The chants of Robbie Van Persie will be heard all around Old Trafford. I was shocked to read the headlines at Soccernet as RVP agreed the terms from Manchester United, one of Arsenal’s rivals, in the Premier League.

So which is the biggest shocking transfer to you? Well, let me recall you a few of the shocking transfers in the Premier Leauge and there are in no particular order.

Carlos Tevez – Manchester United to Manchester City 2009 for 25 million pounds
Fernando Torres – Liverpool to Chelsea 2011 for 50 million pounds
Samir Nasri – Arsenal to Manchester City 2011 for 25 million pounds
Juan Sebastian Veron – Manchester United to Chelsea 2003 for 15 million pound
Sol Campbell – Tottenham Hotspurs to Arsenal 2011 free transfer

I’m pretty excited by the prospect of RVP being transferred to Manchester United. They have already acquired the services of Shinji Kagawa from Borussia Dortmund and the Red Devils are not stopping their spending just yet. On the other transfer news, Park Ji-Sung has moved to QPR while Fabio is on loan to QPR.

Liverpool transfer update. They brought in Fabio Borini, a former Chelsea player, and his previous club was AS Roma. Another good buy for Liverpool was Joe Allen from Swansea. It was sad to see Dirk Kuty moved to Fenerbahce. He was such a hardworking player. Maxi Rodrigues was also been released to Newell’s Old Boys while pin up boy Alberto Aquilani has been transferred to Forientina. It remains to be seen how Liverpool will fare this season. I still question the depth of their squad as compared to the likes of Manchester, Chelsea and Manchester City.

Chelsea for the challenge? Gone are Romelu Lukaku (West Brom on loan), Drogba (Shanghai Shenhua) and Salomon Kalou (Lille). However, they are the biggest spender this season as they had high profile names such as Eden Hazard and Oscar. Are they strong enough to challenge for the Premier League? They have proven in Europe they are the best from winning the Champions League but it has been a while that they have lifted the Premier League trophy. All eyes on Chelsea too.

Manchester City to defend title. I remember lots of Manchester United fans said Man City are title pretenders and look what happened. The final 7 seconds of the final match of last season cost Manchester United the bragging rights. Now they are back with more fire power though they haven’t spent as much as their rivals. The only acquisition they got was Jack Rodwell from Everton. Then again, just look at the depth of Manchester City.

I believe the title challenge will be between Manchester United and Manchester City once again. As for Chelsea and Arsenal, they might need to get the ball rolling as they have lost two big players respectively – Didier Drogba and Robbie Van Persie.

Liverpool…. hmmmm… I can’t say much just yet. I’m still not convinced by the squad and the attacking fire power. Andy Carroll hasn’t really settled well in Liverpool colours. Suarez can be the saviour if he behaves well though he will be constantly under pressure from rival fans. It’s too much to ask from one man to save Liverpool’s season. Let’s hope other players shine too and I hope Borini and Joe Allen can lift off the pressure a bit from Suarez who committed to stay in Liverpool.

I can’t wait for the Premier League season and Selamat Hari Raya also to you guys 😀

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Here’s the good news to all “Jovian Mandagie” Brunei Supporters. For those who are keen to have pieces from the last batch collection of Jovianrtw, please come to BAJOO boutique – oppposite Mamih Cafe at Mata-Mata Complex, next to Goldymine and Sweet and Savoury. Contact number : 2 455 189. Orders can be made starting from 12noon – 11pm today ONLY. THIS IS THE ONLY DAY/PERIOD FOR ALL BRUNEIANS TO MAKE THEIR ORDERS. Catalogues and price list can be found there! *prices are not the same as RM . Happy shopping ladies!

You can visit the FB page of Javion Mandagie but I highly recommend you to drop by Bajoo Boutique today and they will be opened until 11pm tonight for orders. Expected delivery date for items will be on 18th August 2012.

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The sizes and measurements available

By the way, a big shoutout to Leonard who’s celebrating his birthday today 😀 This picture was taken during the launch of Bajoo Boutique

Jacqueline of Bajoo Boutique


Bajoo Boutique at Mata2 Complex

I recently read in The Brunei Times that Lance-Corporal (LCpl) Muhammad Fahrurrazi Salim went missing last Sunda from the boat, convoying few other boats to support for soldiers during a river-crossing exercise. He was last seen wearing a life jacket and he was last seen at 7:55am and he was found missing from the boat five minutes later.

After a 42 hour intensive search, his body was found in Batu Apoi river, Temburong. 20 year old LCpl Fahrurrazi had been posted to Brunei in November 2011 and he was due to complete his national service at the end of the year. For more of the write-up, you can click here. Source: The Brunei Times.

Sports Editor of The Brunei Times Juli Suharni Jaafar (picture) has passed away. Her body was sent to RIPAS Hospital for a post-mortem.

The late Juli, 39, joined The Brunei Times in December 2006. She was an editor par excellence whose services will be missed. Prior to taking up her latest appointment, Juli worked on the Sports Desk of The New Straits Times in Kuala Lumpur.

She was a genial and gracious person who made friends easily and was a mentor to her junior staff at the workplace. She will be missed by her friends and colleagues.

 
A recital of Surah Yaasin and tahlil ceremony was held on The Brunei Times’ premises last night, led by officials from the Information Dept of the Prime Minister’s Office. The Brunei Times Group Editor-in-Chief Haji Bujang Masu’ut acknowledged the late Juli’s valuable contributions to the newspaper and expressed his condolences to her family. – Al-Fatihah. Source: The Brunei Times.

Group photo wih the guest of honour, the organisers, judges and winners of of ANIMASI – iMMerse Scriptwriting and Storyboarding Challenge

A prize presentation ceremony for the ANIMASI- iMMerse Scriptwriting and Storyboarding Challenge was held at the Seri Kerna Hall, AITI building in Kg Anggerek Desa yesterday afternoon.

This challenge is a joint effort by AITI and iCentre to encourage and develop the convergence of creativity and technology in the digital media industry.

Present as guest of honour to witness the event was Awang Abd Mutalib bin Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Setia Dato Paduka Hj Mohd Yusof, Deputy Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Communications. Other invitees included officials from the Ministry of Communications, Brunei Economic Development Board, and other representatives from the government and private sectors.

The objective of this Scriptwriting and Storyboarding Challenge is to discover and support emerging talents to create a script and storyboard based on the adaptation of ‘Bruneian Folklore’ which includes legends, myths and Bruneian elements such as places of interest, cultural values and history.

This Challenge is a part of iCentre’s iMMerse Challenge as well as AITI’s AITI Next Innovation and Multimedia Award for Sustainable ICT Industry (ANIMASI) Challenge. In his opening remarks, the Chief Executive of AITI, Haji Yahkup Bin Haji Menudin, stated that this Challenge is a part of AITI’s ANIMASI Challenge to encourage the production of “Brunei-Made” digital media in the country. He further added that this competition is a continuation effort from the ANIMASI Pro-Digital Animation Challenge, where in July 2012, the Pro-Digital Animation Challenge awarded various winners from the local ICT and digital media industries to produce 3-5 minutes 3D animation clips. AITI is hoping to tap the talent to see local potentials for merging the winners of both Challenges for a co-production project in the near future.

This joint collaboration underlined the strong focus by various government agencies in developing and nurturing the creative industry in Brunei by paving more channels for local talents to develop and showcase their skills in the recent embark of engaging Brunei’s creative industry particularly in the field of digital media.

Haji Yahkup Bin Haji Menudin, Chief Executive of AITI said the competition hopes to spur more interest in the digital media. He was pleased with the entries that had creativity and technical skills.

Nur Judy Binti Abdullah got a consolation and she also bagged the Best Storyboard Award

Dk Rafi’ahtun Nabilah Binti Pg Haji Abdul Rahman earned the Merit Award

According to the judges report, the judging criteria are based on alignment with Bruneian folklore; usage of language; originality in presentation and content; scene creativity (including description, flow and continuity); educational and entertainment values.

The judges are Hajah Sariani binti Haji Ishak (Senior language officer, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka), Haji Sufri bin Haji Omar (TV Drama Unit, Radio Televisyen Brunei), Ena Herni binti Wasli (Lecturer, Malay Literature program, Universiti Brunei Darussalam) and Muhammad Denny Azriman bin Haji Madni (Founder, Ambuyart Animations).

Merit Award worth $700 cash along with a trophy and a certificate went to Dk Rafi’ahtun Nabilah Binti Pg Haji Abdul Rahman. Meanwhile, the consolation prize worth $500 with a trophy and a certificate was awarded to Nur Judy Binti Abdullah who also bagged the Best Storyboard Award.

One of the judges receiving a memento from the guest of honour

Denny Azriman of Ambuyart Animations was one of the judges too

Inventory management can be some of the most tedious things most companies need to look after; the cycle just repeats itself ad nauseum. Epson, as it turns out, has a portable label printing solutions that isn’t just a one-trick pony.

At first glance, the Epson LabelWorks LW400 looks like an oversized calculator. The buttons on the face of the LW400 is made of rubber, which allows it to retain its shape and quality even after years of usage. The power and print button adorn the display screen at the top and a big green-coloured cut button is on the side of the LW-400 for ease-of-use.

Now available at Concepts Computer

Plain Jane label printers typically label text onto stickers and that’d be the end of that. Not so with the LW-400. Its built in memory stores a wide range of customisation options for labels that you’d probably need a whole day to go through. With over 14 font types, 10 different styles, 457 symbols and 89 frames, there is no end to the amount of things you can customise on your labels; you can even save your own labels for later use!

Powered by six AA batteries, the LW-400 also comes with an AC adaptor. LW-400 can be used to print on various media, but it also serves a purpose to label different things. You can print labels for documents, boxes, stationeries and even cables. As an added bonus, you can also program the LW-400 to print barcodes. How’s that for robust?

Epson LabelWorks LW400

CHIP CONCLUDE: Who knew a boring little thing like a label printer could be quite as exciting as this. All it does is still just print labels, but we’ve had quite a bit of fun exploring its functions and features that we almost forgot what it is. Epson has definitely made something interesting here with the LW-400, and with all the media at your disposal, we’re sure you won’t get bored of labeling anymore either.

The collection of Nasi Lemak will be this Friday from 2:30pm

The same deal like last year. The ever popular Nasi Briyani Amal from Orchid Garden Hotel is selling their coupons but I’m not sure if the coupons are all sold out. The event is organised by Orchid Garden Hotel and supported by Ranoadidas and Kristal FM. For more info, you can contact 233 5544 ext 5.

The past two weeks belonged to our Brunei olympian Maziah Mahusin who took the country by storm for a special reason – the first Brunei female olympian. Being selected to represent Brunei in the Olympics have drawn many interest from Brunei and the moment Maziah Mahusin appeared on TV during the Opening Ceremony and also her 400metre run, the social network just went on a frenzy using the hashtag #MaziahMahusin.

The last time I’ve experienced a similar frenzy was when Brunei U-21 won the HBT 2012. So far these are highlights for Brunei Darussalam in the arean of sports – HBT 2012 and the Olympics.

Yesterday Maziah Mahusin and Ak Hafiy Tajuddin touched down Brunei after being away for three weeks in London for the Games. I actually missed the welcoming home party for the athletes. I hope to catch both athletes for an interview and share their experiences with the readers of RA.

Below are pictures of Maziah during her trip to London and thanks for the pictures, Maziah. I truly appreciate your time.

Maziah had numerous of interviews and her presence brought international interests

She was also interviewed by Channel News Asia

Another interview again….

…..and another one…

She had a photo opportunity with an inspirational athlete from South Africa, Oscar Pistorius

Maziah said this was the best experience of her life when she ran the 400m during the heats

She will be featured in a video with regards to the Olympics

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Alan Inspiration Salon is back in Brunei and it’s located at Menglait. They provide a one-stop service for men and women hair design, facial and tattoo for woman, hair training center, traditional Body massage for female and spa. So that’s quite something to have all these facilities under one roof.

The genius behind Inspiration Alan Salon is no other than Alan himself. He has been a hair champion of Malaysia and Singapore and he has trained in London, Europe, USA, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Thailand. Along the way he has won numerous awards and accolades which makes him one of the sought hairstylists in the region.

Now they have Hari Raya promotion for rebonding/digital perming for only $88 for any length and also a 50% on hair treatment collagen. They are open every day and for appointments, you can call 891 3211 or 242 7533.

They also have a VIP Room at their new outlet. Every month, Alan himself and another top hairstylist Michelle will fly in for a few days and you will be able to be attended by them too.

Alan the Artist Director of Inspiration Alan Saon with his credentials

The ongoing promotion at Alan Inspiration salon

The interior of Alan Inspiration salon

The interior of  Alan Inspiration salon

Here’s the map

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Mercedes-Benz C250 AM Sports package at an unbeatable price + service package

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The official poster of the event

I never knew there’s such club or membership for IET which stands for Institution of Engineering and Technology Brunei Darussalam and there are around 100 over members in Brunei alone. They will be organising the third International Conference of Engineering and Technology Brunei Darussalam on 17th and 18th September which will be held at Rizqun International Hotel.

The presse conference was held last week, chaired by Dr. William Voon, the Chairman of the IET Brunei and also present were Freddie Tong, Secretary of the IETBIC 2012 event and Hj Jailani Hj Buntar, Head of Publicity and Publication Committee of IETBIC 2012.

The conference is opened to members of the public and they will be a cost involved. There will be international keynote speakers such as Dr. David A Clifton from the Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford and Professor Kaoru Hirota of the Tokyo Institute of Technology.

I’m not sure if the topics are of interest to you but the topics will cover human resources; environmental conservation; transport; energy efficiency; ICT; food security; health and welfare. All in all, there will be seven invited speakers who will present around 28 technical papers which covers the the overview research and development in smart technology.

Hj Jailani Hj Buntar, Head of Publicity and Publication Committee of IETBIC 2012, Dr. William Voon, the Chairman of the IET Brunei and Freddie Tong, Secretary of the IETBIC 2012 event

The costs of the conference are as follow:

IET Younger Members BND 100 for local, USD 80 for international
IET Members BND 200 for local, USD 160 for international
Non IET Members BND 300 for local, USD 240 for international

The fees rae to be paid by 1st September 2012 and the registration form can be downloaded from the main website. The fee is inclusive of proceedings, admission to all technical sessions, lunches, refreshments and conference dinner.

And for those interested to be a member of IET, here are as follow.

Fellow (FIET) £150.00
Member with designatory letters (TMIET or MIET) £129.00
Associate £129.00
Students and apprentices £20.00
Students and apprentices (for duration of course) £50.00

The Ozone Run happening in September 2012

Another run is happening. We already aware of BIBD’s Expedition Run which is slated for October but soon will be from JASTRE, the Department of Environment, Park and Recreation, who are organising the Ozone Run. The idea of this run is to create an awareness campaign for Brunei’s support the global cause.

According to The Brunei Times, The run is part of its campaign to promote Brunei’s commitment to the Montreal Protocol which aims to phase out the consumption of Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS). At the same time, it is also to celebrate the 25th Anniversary and World Ozone Day.

National Ozone officer Wan Firdaus Hj Hamidon hopes more participants for the upcoming event and this is the right time for Bruneians to demonstrate their support for this cause. The run will be documented and then showcased on Brunei’s involvement worldwide. Awesome!!!

For your info, Reductions in stratospheric ozone levels can lead to higher levels of UVB (ultraviolet light) reaching the Earth’s surface which overtime can lead to skin cancer and a low immune system to humans. Such cause can give awareness to us on how important that we take good care of our environment. Let’s not take our environment for granted.

National Ozone Officer Wan Firdaus Hj Hamidon (R) looking through participants’ registration forms for JASTRE’s Ozone Run event which is slated for September 16, 2012. Taken from The Brunei Times.

If you want to register for the run, JASTRE will be opening a registration booth for the Ozone Run tentatively on 15 to 17 August 2012 at The Mall. The Ozone Run will have three main categories; 3km, 6km, and 12km where registration fees are $10, $15 and $20 respectively. The run will be on the 16th September 2012.

The route will vary for each category where they will start at the Ministry of Development and stretch as far as Sekolah Tinggi Perempuan Raja Isteri (STPRI), Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium and International School of Brunei.

You can download the application form here or you can get the form at JASTRE at the Ministry of Development building. Source: Amin Noor of The Brunei Times.

The two Bruneian students had the privilege to be part of the Total Summer School

The Total Summer School (TSS) recently concluded in France. It was participated by 124 international students (52 female and 74 male) coming from 27 countries, with 32 different nationalities, and with a variety of academic backgrounds.

Brunei Darussalam was represented for the second consecutive year, this time with two students selected by Total E&P Borneo B.V. (TEPB).

Muhammad Nur Syafi’ie bin Haji Md Idris was a second year student currently pursuing his Bachelor of Science (Applied Physics) at Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD). On the other hand, Institut Teknologi Brunei (ITB) was represented by Muhammad Syu’aib bin Othman, who was a third year student pursuing his Bachelor in Engineering (Mechanical Engineering).

This year marks the 7th edition of the Total Summer School program. It reflects the Total Group’s continuous commitment towards education.

Last year, Total E&P Borneo B.V. (TEPB) sent one student to the Total Summer School. Today, he is working as a Field Engineer based at the Total Onshore Processing Plant in Lumut, Belait District. The Total Summer School is one of Total’s Corporate Social Responsibility program in the education sector. Another example is the recent signing of five Bruneian scholars to pursue the Total Education Scholarship Scheme (TESS) in France starting this September 2012.

What did you learn from TSS 2012?

“Initially, I understood that Total in Brunei was only involved in Exploration & Production activities. Apparently, the Total Summer School program informed us that Total Group is also involved in downstream and petrochemical activities employing over 96,000 employees worldwide.” (Syafi’ie)
“Before TSS, I was not that aware of Total’s activities in Brunei. Today, I have a better understanding about the oil and gas industry in general (and Total in particular), our nation’s main source of income.” (Syu’aib)

What did you learn about Total projects worldwide?

“I learned that Total is actually more than just an oil and gas company. It is an energy company. Example, Total is one of the leaders in solar technology with its new acquisition of Sun Power. In fact, it was interesting to know that Total has the highest output efficiency technology for solar cells with 23% efficiency rate.” (Syafi’ie)
“I was surprised to know that Total had committed a lot towards environmental initiatives. For example, I did not know Total is investing in the carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology and for some exploration campaigns, they even preserve coral reefs so that they are not affected by their operations.” (Syu’aib)
“Total brands itself as an energy company. So, they are not just into oil and gas. Example, the Total Access to Energy is a program where they reach out to the remote population with low-income to provide access to basic energy. One example is that Total sells portable solar torch lights, where the residents can charge them in the morning and use them at night at a discounted and very cheap rate.” (Syu’aib)

Share your most memorable experience in TSS 2012?

“One of the best activities was ‘Discover Paris Together’, which was like the Amazing Race competition. In teams of 6-7 pax, we roamed around the city of Paris searching for clues and using the public transportation to get everywhere.” (Syafi’ie)
“I had the initial impression that it can be awkward to meet students from diverse background and having to stick together listening to lectures. On the contrary, I find that the Total Summer School did an awesome job to line up various interactive activities that help us to bond together and understand more about Total and French culture.” (Syu’aib)
“Don’t be shy when you meet other international students. After all, you only have very limited time to learn from each other. Working in groups with students from all over the world (that you have just met) was an interesting experience. As we come from diverse backgrounds, we get to share different real life and current examples from different continents.” (Syafi’ie)
“Make the most out of the program. And make as much new friends possible. International contacts may proof to be useful in the future, especially as a student, you can keep in touch to share different knowledge.” (Syu’aib)

Last Saturday DPMM FC defied the odds by winning the S•League Starhub League Cup after defeating Geylang Untied 2-0. It’s a great result for DPMM FC and another milestone for DPMM FC. Now their focus is on the S•League for a top 5 finish.

Yea, yea, yea… I could have flew to Singapore to catch the final match between DPMM FC and Geylang United in the finals of the StarHub League Cup Final at Jalan Besar Stadium. I missed most of the first half of the match and even Shahrazen’s opening goal. However, don’t be fooled by the result that DPMM FC dominated the match because Geylang United did have their fair share of dominance especially in the second half.

Wardun in goal and the bar helped DPMM FC in many occasions. Azwan’s awesome goal from a freekick settled the nerves late in the game to give a two goal cushion. Judging from the replay on the TV, Sairol was fortunate enough that his challenge on Mun Seung Man was not punished which could have been a penalty for Geylang.

For your info, Geylang is a much different side now due to the introduction of new import players. The only problem they have is in the finishing department. I’m quite impressed with Geylang’s display in the second half.

The 2-0 victory for DPMM FC lifted them to higher grounds and yesterday, they brought back the trophy to the delight of the fans who waited at the airport upon their arrival. Now with S•League matches to resume in two weeks’ time, DPMM FC coach’s focus will be on the league for a top 5 finish.

Shahrazen who had a drought spell scored the opening goal and he said the goal really boosted his confidence and made him more involved in the game. He said the 2012 victory was better than 2009 because of the level of difficulty especially playing with Geylang.

A great welcoming party for the winners of the StarHub League Cup

Captain Rosmin and Sairol holding the cup

At the airport yesterday

Is this pose inspired by Usain Bolt?

Well done lads on the victory. Another reason to shout out for Brunei’s success.

DPMM FC coach Vjeran Simunic was totally overwhelmed by the result. “I promised my boss six months ago that I will bring back one trophy. My boys deserved the victory and the tournament itself feels like a “Champions League” S•League.”

“This victory was better than 2009’s because we all worked hard. We faced Geylang United, a bogey team, in the finals and we deserved to win because of our previous performances in the S•League. We have a good scoring and defensive record.”

“We deserve this trophy and this is the biggest comback for DPMM FC. We did this after three years of absence and we play against clubs that have many import players. No club (in the world) has acheieved this after years of absence. We have fantastic local talents and we can compete with the likes of Indonesia and Malaysia.

“I promised that I will lose my moustache if we win the Cup. It’s the first time in my life that I will shave off my moustache.

Simunic is gonna shave off his moustache tomorrow after the League Cup success

These guys brought some music to welcome the players home

Wardun (right) with his biggest fan, holding the winner’s medal

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Unveiling the latest compact car from Peugeot and more units coming soon

I had a peek of the car last week – Peugeot 107. I can foresee that this model will be a huge hit in Brunei because of its price and economical features. I believe the price tag is in the region of BND 16,000 and that’s considered an affordable value.

The Peugeot 107 is a collaboration of Japanese and French car makers – Toyota, Citroen and Peugeot. Hence, you don’t need to worry about the parts as they are pretty accessible locally and regionally. The sales person also mentioned that there will be a 3-year warranty for new purchasers of the Peugeot 107 which is a pretty good offer from TCY Motors Sdn Bhd.

The interior of the Peugeot 107

Call TCY Motors at 2425521/5522 or 2426868/6969

Two-tronic gearbox fitted with paddles behind the leather-trimmed steering wheels is a new feature for the 107 line which makes the car more maneuverable and agile.

The Peugeot 107 also lowered its levels of CO2 emissions and running the car is cheaper. The new 107 runs at 4.5litres per 100km compared to the 4.3litres figure the previous one gives.

Compact, modern, daring and easy to handle, this vehicle is designed for the town as it enjoys zipping away in traffic with safety in mind. With a redesigned front end and improved features, it will be easy to fall in love with.

Any other question or enquiry can be forwarded to TCY Motor’s Peugeot Showroom at, Bangunan Kiarong Sentral, Kg Kiarong by calling 2425521/5522 or 2426868/6969.

Last week, we did a surprise gathering for our good friend Yap Boon Hui who recently celebrated his birthday. So since he always had it simple, we decided to give it something of a surprise and it was totally a fun evening. Thank you, dude, for your contribution to the community and how you have continuously supported us unconditionally and your strong commitment to your cause have inspired myself and others. Keep showing up with your vibrant energy!!!

A group shot of YBH and his buddies

Adela Han wanted to get involved in the games too

Crowd went nuts after the signal on the balloon game

It was until the last man standing

The idea of this game is to suck the pingpong ball in mid-air

On the same night, it was also a milestone for the four of us as our friendship began exactly three years ago and how things have changed ever since. Thanks ladies for your love, support and care.

Good deals just before Hari Raya. Grab that chance!!

DPMM FC vs Geylang United in League Cup Final. Catch on Astro 801 later at 8:30pm

Will the glory days be back?? DPMM FC are back in the finals of the S•League finals and the last time they won the Cup was back in 2009. That was DPMM FC’s best result on foreign soil.

Tonight they take on Geylang in the finals. Don’t be fooled that Geylang are no pushovers despite being on the bottom of the S*League table and earlier on, DPMM FC beat Geylang in the group stage 3-1 a few weeks ago. So will it be another victory for DPMM FC?

Good luck to DPMM FC tonight and you can catch them live on TV tonight on channel 801 (I hope).

So are you gamed??

I’ve witnessed many charity drives and initiatives through marathon/run/cycling events but I have to salute Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam for coming up with such an awesome initiative through their Corporate Social Responsibility programme and that is “Charity Expedition for ALAF” or CE-ALAF which aims at helping underprivileged students in their educational progress.

ALAF stands for Advocating Life-Long Learning for an Aspiring Future and under this program, BIBD has created this systematic approach of sponsorship where the public can help to support one of the most crucial element in our lives – education. I believe education is very important as it can open many doors regardless of your financial background. In a long run, this can benefit the recipients as they are able to be independent and stand on their two feet. This initiative gets a two thumbs up from me.

This year, BIBD is organising the CE-ALAF which consists of running, cycling and a charity bazaar. The date of the event is slated for 14th October 2012 and the venue will be at the Hassanal Bolkiah Stadium.

You can check out the details of the run from the diagram below and BIBD has create two categories for Open and Brunei. I like the idea that the winners for the Bruneian category will be rewarded with marathon packages to selected destinations such as Melbourne, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu. Now that’s such a great incentive for us locals to take up jogging and also promoting a healthier lifestyle.

Amazing prices for Open and Brunei category

The other great thing is that you can register yourself online and the first 400 online registrants will be entitled to free limited edition merchandise and also an option to purchase an exclusive sweatband. You can visit the website http://www.bibdcharityexpedition.com and follow the instructions.

For those who wants the physical forms, you can visit BIBD Bandar, Kiulap, Manggis, Temburong, Tutong and Kuala Belait but the forms are limited to 2,000 copies only. Scanned and copied forms will not be entertained. The final registration will be on the 15th September 2012.

Janice Yong, Business Development and Marketing Manger of AdXpert Marketing, Hazizah Osman, Deputy General Manager of Brunei Press Sdn Bhd, Hjh Nurul Akmar bte Hj Mohd Jaafar, Deputy Head of Consumer Banking and Head of CSR of BIBD, Md Nur Muizz’ Azmi Hj Hasnani, Creative Director of DSignku Enterprise, Chen Cheong Keng, Senior Account Executive of Active Network and Mr. Javed Ahmad, Managing Director of BIBD

Ahmad Nazmie bin Hj Omar and Mohd Zainol Amin bin Hj Mohd Jaafar presenting the demo for registering online

Yesterday was the official announcement of CE-ALAF from BIBD and there was also a signing ceremony between BIBD and the official partners of the event. The four companies involved are Active Network (Asia) from Singapore, DSignKu Enterprise, Brunei Press Sdn Bhd and AdXpert Marketing.

Active Network’s role is providing an online platform for the public to register themselves online and they are also responsible for updating any new information on the website bibdcharityexpedition.com. DSignKu Enterprise is the official creative partner and the designs and concepts of the campaign comes from Md Nur Muizz’ Azmi Hj Hasnani the Creative Director. Brunei Press Sdn Berhad will be helping to advertise and create more publicity of the said event starting today till the actual event. AdXpert Marketing are the event management of the campaign and they will help to coordinate the logistics and make sure that the event runs smoothly as scheduled. Last but not least, GetFit CrossFit will be supporting the event by conducting run/fitness clinics leading up to the event.

Hjh Nurul Akmar bte Hj Modh Jaafar, Deputy Head of Consumer Banking Division and Head of CSR, BIBD, hasn’t confirmed who will be the eligibel recipients of the education sponsorship but they are working closely with the ministries to identity those in need. She urged the public to take part in the upcoming marathon and cycle event and you will be helping for a good cause in making sure underprivileged students get the right access to education in Brunei Darussalam.

The late Dayang Sharifah Hjh Maimunah Syed Mohammad passed away and she has touched many people around her

Her passing has been heart felt by hundreds. I never really knew her in person but the late Dayang Sharifah Hjh Maimunah Syed Mohammad had a meaningful impact to the Brunei community during her younger days. Sharifah Hajah Maimunah, 72, passed awat at Suri Seri Begawan Hospital in the early hours of Subuh last Wednesday, leaving behind her husband, eight children and 28 grandchildren and great grandchildren.

For your info, she was the founder of Seri Kandi Company and her role was in the food industry where she pursued her passion – cooking. She conducted numerous cooking lessons and her signature dishes were Rendang Syarifah Maimunah and Ayam Golek dishes at Seri Kandi Kitchen in KBRC.

She also attended numerous international food expos to promote local food. She published two cookbooks – Masakan Selera Srikandi 1 (1995) and Selera Srikandi 2 (2001). She had conducted cooking demonstrations on Radio Television Brunei and judged cooking competitions hosted by women’s associations nationwide.

Now Seri Kandi Company is run by her son, Shaikh Hj Khalid, who has turned the company into a huge success.

This was taken during ASEAN Food Fair in Japan and she was there to represent Brunei back in 1996

Messages of condolences and testimonials flooded the social network from those who knew her or of her. From these, we could see how much impact she has brought to the local community and touching other people’s lives.

Below are some of the comments extracted from Facebook and instagram.
 
Haslina Taib: I remembered my late father would be calling in my mom when he appeared on TV to watch her cooking new style and recipes. The community united and believed in their local stories. I do not knowher but the recalled events made my parents and my taste buds happy. She’s the mother that inspires the giving of great simple pleasures in life. She had lived to the fullest. She filled our lives. Al-Fatihah.
Md Shamdin: An icon must be remembered and honoured. Al-Fatihah.
Shah Shahrul Mazlan: Semoga pengorbanan dan titik peluhnya dikenang. Al-Fatihah.
Aazz Dii: Semoga rohnya di cucuri rahmat. She sincerely gave me her recipe book in person with her signature. I felt blessed by this gesture. Alhamdulillah. Semoga beliau tergolong ke dalam ahli syurga berkat di bulan Ramadhan. Amin.
Shaikh Khalid: Heartfelt gratitude to everyone for the outpouring condolence messages, prayers and presence at my late mother’s funeral. May Allah Subhanawatallah reward you for your good deeds and place her amongst the pious syurga dwellers!! Amin Ya Rabbil alamin! She was a great mother and a great woman.
Sabrina Mahmud: Indeed she was an icon to simply everyone. Ya Allah, Engkau masukkanlah dia kedalam syurga Mu bersama iman. Al-Fatihah to Allahyarhamah Nini Sharifah Maimunah.
Adzri Ja’afar: She was a true icon! Loved watching her when she did her TV shows all those years. She will be truly missed. Al-Fatihah.

I was given a quick run through on the make-up accessories brought in by Cecilia of IA Salon

Brunei Halal staff and associated volunteers will be holding a Charity Fundraiser on Saturday, 11th August from 2 to 5:30pm at the back of Lim Kah Sik Building, Simpang 461 in Kampung Jerudong (Behind HSBC Jerudong).

The fundraiser will include a garage sale, car wash and food sale. Proceeds from the sales will go directly to selected charities and individuals. The public is invited to bring along family and friends for this charitable event.

To do our part in helping the environment, please bring along recycling bags as plastic bags will not be available.

Click image to enter website

Click image to enter website

I was given a quick run through on the make-up accessories brought in by Cecilia of IA Salon

I always wanted to know the importance of make-up or how much difference it can make one appear. I know of a friend where their peers won’t recogniser her because she didn’t apply any make-up. I never thought that would a make-up would make a difference.

Last week Cecilia of IA Salon presented a brief explanation and demo on the make-up brands she brought it for the benefit of their customers. She believes in the quality of the products that M•A•C and Make up For Ever deliver and it’s also an advantage to use a high quality brush to get the best effect.

So if you want to get some make-up done, IA Salon (located at The Mall, next to Guardian) can do wonders and this is ideal if you want to do some photoshoot session or preparing for an occasion. Cecilia also conducts classes for make-up for those interested.

The brush from Make Up For Ever and it’s so delicate

Tons of brushes to choose from

You can blend this colour and use it as lipstick too

You can make uses of this palettes and create a mixture of colours to tailor to your needs

Another good product from Make Up For Ever

These are water-proof and cream based. Lasting for 18 hours.

Cecilia did a quick 5 minute demo

See the difference from the right and left eye?

One of Cecilia’s portfolio for her make-up

YB Pehin Dato Hj Mohammad Yasmin, The Minister of Energy inspiring those attended the session last month

You need to start somewhere. You need to be aware too if such opportunity arises. The Minister of Energy at the Prime Minister’s Office urged the umemployed graduates to commit rather than treat the recruitment as a transitional period last month during the open dialogue session which received an overwhelming response from the public.

Brunei as we know is driven by the “Oil and Gas” sector and the opportunities are there if you make the effort and put your heart to it. It was a very demanding industry said the Minister and business is a reality for the oil and gas players.

It seeems that a lot of companies are facing similar issues where commitment has been questionable. The same goes to the local SMEs in Brunei where job hopping is quite common. Perhaps it’s all about educating the public and also shifting their mindsets of individuals.

It was good to see the Minister visiting the students from one table to another and asking any questions put forth by the graduates. He also encouraged the graduates to even set up their own businesses and be entrepreneurial.

The previous dialogue session was successful where 50 of them have secured jobs as apprentices and full-time employees. Let’s hope for a better return in the recent dialogue session.

The Minister asking students of their interest and see how they contribute to the Oil & Gas sector

Total E&P Borneo BV and Total E&P Deep Offshore Borneo BV invite qualified, energetic and passionate graduates interested to gain knowledge and experience and get exposure in the oil and gas industry to apply for position in the following department under its Intership programme.

1. Corporate Communications
2. Information Systems and Telecom
3. HSE
4. Operations [Engineering]

You can submit your resume and a non-returnable passport to the Head of Human Resources and Corporate Communications to tepb.recruitment@total.com and closing date is 13 August 2012 and this is only open to Brunei Citizens and Brunei PRs. Oh yeah, don’t be mistaken that this is a recruitment programme but more of a intership programme.

I never knew my friend Cecilia Lee is very passionate of her work. She really dedicated her two months in New York for one thing – an international workshop on make-up. Now she has more knowledge and new techniques for make-up.

The workshop classes she attended cover aspects such as lamour make up, lash,lip and brow excellence,perfect beauty and understanding airbrush make up. You can visit IA Salon at The Mall if you are interested to learn make up.

Below are pictures of Cecilia during her make-up workshops in New York.

The exhibition that Cecilia attended in New York

I’m amazed by the things that kids can benefit from Fun Bee Park. It’s like a day care centre but with a bonus of educational stuff such as books and games. What I’m impressed are the books they brought in from overseas and this can create interest in kids to be more curious and wanting to learn more.

For more information on Fun Bee Park, call 2467729 or send a text to 7178232. Fun Bee Park is located at A6 & A7, Ground Floor, Sempurna Complex, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam (near Happy Star, Batu Bersurat).

Kids can choose the books from Fun Bee Park

The books are quite educational and kids will definitely love them

I love the facts that the books have pop-ups to bring create more dimensions and interests to young readers

Check out this book!!

And this too!!

Fun Bee Park is a great place for kids to learn new things

Fun Bee Park is located at Batu Bersurat.

Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival

Ramadan is closing to the end and Hari Raya AIdilfitri is coming. Hari Raya Aidilfitri will be quite meaningless without new cloths, new shoes, new bags amd basically anything that is new! In addition with all the malls, bazaars and boutiques having sales, it will be worse time if you are on a tight budget or looking for some clothes last minute when the places are filled with people. So here are some tips that could help you out.

Huge shopping complex are also offering discounts and bargains for Hari Raya and of course with the air-conditioning is very much appealing, but one thing that the shopping complex lack is the opportunity to haggle the prices to the most minimum which is something one can do at the bazaar and roadside stalls.

I miss shopping at the Pavilion KL

WATCH Pavilion KL, Malaysia’s premier duty free shopping mall as it offers a huge variety of shopping brands & trends during the 1Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival.

WATCH the SALE as it unfolds before you. With discounts up to 70% on selected items, great bargains mall wide, a variety of tourist privileges, rewards from MasterCard & a BBKLCC Shopping Contest, there are lots of reasons to countdown to the SALE.

WATCH the luxury offers for watches, duty free items & own them with great 0% installment payment plan at participating stores. It’s luxury made AFFORDABLE at Pavilion KL.

Plenty of reasons to shop at Suria KLCC

Shop at KLCC
Spend RM 500* & above in a max of 2 accumulated receipts to win exciting prizes from one of our mystery boxes. The redemption booth is located at Ground Level, Ramlee Mall. 

A MasterCard Bonus (Fridays to Sundays) and all you can do is spend RM 3000* & above in a max of 2 accumulated receipts to receive an exclusive Tenmoku Pottery Butterfly candle holder. (For the first 35 MasterCard shoppers only).

For CitiBank privileges
• Spend RM 300* & above in a single receipt to receive a NZ Natural Cash Voucher
• Spend RM 3000* & above in accumulated receipts to receive a Barry Smith Duffel Bag
• Spend RM 5000* & above in accumulated receipts to receive a L’Occitane Hamper set
The redemption booth is located at Ground Level, Ampang Mall.

Bukit Bintang – KLCC
• Spend RM 300* & above in a single receipt to receive an ‘I love to shop at BB-KLCC’ shopping bag. (Only applicable to foreign visitors).
• FREE Shopping bag when you spend RM300 in a single receipt.
Limited to tourists only. T&C apply.

Click image to enter website

Click image to enter website

Pazzion has recently launched the “Pre-Hari Raya” Sale with discounts up to 40% on over 80 selected designs. And for their Privileged VIP Members, they are entitled to up to 50% on these selected collections. The promotion came in time especially for Malay customers to enjoy great savings on their new Raya shoes wear.

The Sale will end on 21 Aug 12 so hurry over to their outlet at Unit 1.27A, 1st Floor of The Mall, Gadong to enjoy the offer. They have also extended their opening hours to 10pm during the month of Ramadhan for customers’ convenience.

If you couldn’t find what you like during your last visit, drop by again as they are launching more designs to cater to different customers’ tastes.

Kids’ shoes

click image to visit their website

Alan Inspiration Salon is back in Brunei and it’s located at Menglait. They provide a one-stop service for men and women hair design, facial and tattoo for woman, hair training center, traditional Body massage for female and spa. So that’s quite something to have all these facilities under one roof.

The genius behind Inspiration Alan Salon is no other than Alan himself. He has been a hair champion of Malaysia and Singapore and he has trained in London, Europe, USA, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Thailand. Along the way he has won numerous awards and accolades which makes him one of the sought hairstylists in the region.

Now they have Hari Raya promotion for rebonding/digital perming for only $88 for any length and also a 50% on hair treatment collagen. They are open every day and for appointments, you can call 891 3211 or 242 7533.

They also have a VIP Room at their new outlet. Every month, Alan himself and another top hairstylist Michelle will fly in for a few days and you will be able to be attended by them too.

Alan the Artist Director of Inspiration Alan Saon with his credentials

The ongoing promotion at Alan Inspiration salon

The interior of Alan Inspiration salon

The interior of  Alan Inspiration salon

Here’s the map

A great result for DPMM FC in the StarHub League Cup

They have done it again… Reaching the finals of the Singapore League Cup which is now known as StarHub League Cup. A few days ago, Tales Dos Santos scored a late equaliser against Home United FC and force the game to penalty shoot-out as the full time finished 1-1. Wardun became the hero pulling two saves and Shahrazen scored the winning goal in the quarter-final match on the StarHub League Cup.

Tonight they beat another top 5 opponent in the S•League which is Singapore Armed Forces FC and it was a comfortable scoreline of 2-0. Santos is in fine scoring form scoring the opener, his third goal in four games, and DPMM FC sealed their fate to the finals with a debut goal for Adi Said in DPMM FC’s colours.

It was a sweet revenge for DPMM FC as the Wasp had earlier lost to SAF FC in the early stages of the competition with the same scoreline. Now they will wait to see who they will face in the finals between Geylang United FC and Tampines Rovers which will be played tomorrow evening.

Regardless who they face in the finals, let’s hope for DPMM FC to bring back the trophy for the fans. The finals will be played on the 11th August.

Adi Said, who was voted player of the tournament in Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy, finally scored his first goal in DPMM FC’s colours

Happening later at The Core

Now all eyes on Jamaican Usain Bolt on track and field. He has won gold and also broke the Olympic record in the 100m. Now he will be ready for his 200m. Photo by Mark Blinch/REUTERS.

This runner has given much inspiration to athletes and fans worldwide. He retained his 100m crown last Sunday though he had a slow start coming off the blocks. His closest rivals Jamaica’s Yohan Blake finished second with 9.75 seconds while America’s Justin Gatlin settled for 3rd with a 9.79 seconds and it was pretty amazing to see all top 3 finishers did it under 10 seconds. Usain is indeed a lightning bolt…

Gold medallist Michael Phelps. Is he the greatest olympic athelete of all time?? He won his 22nd olympic medal and 18th of them are gold in the span of 9 years. Image by Al Bello/Getty Images.

He declared he won’t be competing in the Rio De JAaneiro in 2016. Anyway, he doesn’t need to. He has proven in the pool how great of an athlete he is and Michael Phelps will be remembered in many olympics to come. His best achievement was perhaps in Beijing 2008 where he captured 8 golds in all competitions he entered. This year, he earned four golds and two silvers. Awesome!!!

Chong Wei lost the finals to Lin Dan who won his 2nd consecutive gold in badminton’s singles last Sunday.

All of us were behind Chong Wei’s quest for gold but it wasn’t to be. It’s another four year wait!!

So close yet so far.. Twice Chong Wei reached the finals of the men’s singles but he couldn’t topple his great rival Lin Dan of China. Of course, I was supporting Lee Chong Wei as I wanted him to win gold for his country. Lin Dan played superbly despite losing the first set. I was watching the finals with my buddies’ place and most of us were at the edge of our seats. Chong Wei hinted that he will aim for 2016 should he still be fit for the games. He will be 33 then. Well done to both Lin Dan and Chong Wei for delivering such an entertaining finale.

What a match between Canada and USA in the semi-finals of the Women’s football match. Canada’s goalkeeper looked at the ball as they conceded a last minute goal from USA. Canada felt robbed of the match. Image by David Moir/REUTERS.

I wasn’t interested in watching men’s football as much as the women. Surprisingly their matches are pretty entertaining too and the games were quite opened as well. I watched the semi-finals match last night and I really thought Canada would have pulled an upset over the Americans and it would be a great achievement too for Canada to reach the finals. Morgan of USA scored a crunching blow to Canada’s hope of a silver or gold. The game ended 4-3 in favour of the Americans.

It’s about time!!! Andy Murray of Great Britain always fail to win a Grand slam title despite reaching the finals. It was different this time round when he beat Roger Federer in straight sets to win gold for Great Britain. Awesome!!!

Yes, yes.. I’m a Roger fan and I was hoping him to win his first Olympic gold too. I was quite surprised that Andy Murray totally dominated the finals and he also earned silver medal in the mixed doubles. Serena Williams did a double on gold as she won in the women’s singles and doubles while the Bryans won the gold in men’s doubles. Image by Dominic Ebenbichler/REUTERS.

I saw him on TV and he is such an inspirational athlete. “Blade Runner” Oscar Pistorius competed in the 400m and it was one of the highlights of the Olympics. Image by Lucy Nicholson/REUTERS.

He became the first double-amputee to reach the semi-finals of the 400m but failed to reach the finals as he finished 23 out of 24 places. He will be competing in the 4 x 400 relay this Thursday in the heats. Let’s hope the best for him and you guys should watch him on TV.

Best time to be in London?? An eatery by the Royal Festival Hall in central london suffered loss of business especially during the Olympics. Image by Sang Tan/Associated Press.

Now ain’t that weird?? The Games supposed to bring in $$$ to the economy but it wasn’t to be the case in London. The east end was reported to be quite busy but it wasn’t for the west end which is Lond’s main shopping and entertaining district. Some said it was the worst two weeks ever for their business. The fingers were pointing at Boris Johnson the London Mayer for encouraging everybody not to come as it might affect the congestion in London. The message definitely got through but too well that it backfired in terms of spurring more income.