‘SocialBuzz’ – I remembered the old days when his startup company was located at Batu Bersurat and now he’s one of the most enterprising entrepreneur who strive to do better and better every year. It’s great to know how Hiro has progressed with his company SocialBuzz Advertising and he has won many accolades along the way.

He recently participated in CommunicAsia in Singapore and earlier this year, his company nabbed the Grand Award at ThinkBig Ignite Business Plan 2012-13 competition with a prize money of B$20,000 (and yes, he beat in that competition haha). Now he’s gunning for another milestone and this is his Gigland project which won the AITI grant earlier this year. At this stage, it’s at its prototype stage.

So what is Gigland? Recalling the function of TheGigland.com, it is a geo-location global marketplace for micro tasks (vocational skills & raw talents) where skills can be converted into dollars. Simply meaning, Bruneians can soon actually start selling little talents/skill online and market it to anyone in the world by leveraging on their unique geo-location – which can be really awesome!

Yang Berhormat Pehin Dato Singamanteri Col. (Rtf.) Dato Seri Paduka Awang Haji Mohammad Yasmin bin Haji Umar Yasmin, The Minister of Energy at Prime Minister’s Office spent quite some time exploring the technology behind ‘The Gigland’ & ‘SocialDeal Brunei’ with founder Hiro Tien at the Ignite Award Ceremony.

(Middle) Former Permanent Secretary of Ministry Of Communications Yang Mulia Dato Paduka Awang Haji Alaihuddin bin Pehin Orang Kaya Di-gadong Seri Lela Dato Seri Utama Haji Awang Mohammad Taha & (Left) Chief Executive of AITI, Hj Yahkup Hj Menudin presenting the Agreement Contract for ‘The Gigland’ to Hiro earlier this year.

Two weeks ago, SocialBuzz was shortlisted into the Top90 Quarterfinalists of GIST-Tech I Global Competition, an initiative led by the US Department of State & CRDF Global, a non-profit organization that apparently promotes scientific & technical collaboration in 54 countries across the whole of Middle East, Turkey, Asia and Africa.

They now need Bruneian’s public vote to help get them into the Semi-Finals whom will be pitching for the Grand Award in Kuala Lumpur this October. Their 2-minute video uploaded serves as the product pitch to gain public voting. Watch the video here and vote 😀

Click image to view video of Gigland and you can vote too.

I have voted… Do vote for our Bruneian ICT talent and hope he makes it to KL this November

SocialBuzz appears to be the first ever Bruneian ICT Company to get shortlisted into the global competition. The Top 90 quarterfinalists were selected from reportedly ‘hundreds’ of applications from 54 countries, according to the GIST Committee. The top 30 teams will vie for the Grand Award in Kuala Lumpur from 10-12th October 2013.

Part of the judging process includes online public voting (especially from participant’s respective countries). For Brunei is competing with some highly populated countries ranging from Egypt, Lebanon, UAE, Indonesia, Jordan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Jordan, Nigeria and many others – the competition seem to be pretty intense!

If you like the idea so far, feel free to vote for the Brunei-made technology ‘The Gigland’ and help conceptualize the technology, which could potentially benefit a lot of people not only from Brunei but beyond! Plus you get to help put Brunei on the map at the same time.

You can find their product & video entry at bit.ly/SocialBuzz90 – last day to vote is Thursday, 22nd August, I just voted too! 😀

 

The organiser Yellow Pages for the Find It Fast Contest this weekend at Consumer Fair at BRIDEX

Competition is back for Find It Fast (FIF) Contest organized by The Yellow Pages (Brunei). This is a speed contest where players attempt to locate an advertisement in the phone book at the shortest/fastest possible time. This time the competition will be played with a Yellow Pages app (download on IOS and Android for free) on your smartphones.

Their last competition was back in 2011 and now YP is bringing back the competition “FIF” starting 23rd Friday 3pm to 8pm, 24th Saturday 5pm to 8pm and 25th Sunday 11am to 3pm at the 12th Consumer Fair at BRIDEX. There are no fees involved and open to all residents of Brunei.

Refer to poster below to see what prizes are at stake for FIF competition. Anyway, if you haven’t downloaded the YP app, you should. It’s a very useful tool to allow us users to get access to necessar information such as business contact, subscribers listing and addresses.

Do check out their website for updates on the live score for the event.

The prizes for the competition. Join and it’s free. Nothing to lose.

 

The Ministry of Education was the guest of honor for LCB’s graduation day

Two hundred and eighty-nine students received their certificates yesterday at the Laksamana College of Business (LCB Graduation ceremony held at the Rizqun International Hotel. The Minister of Education, Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Hj Awg Abu Bakar bin Hj Apong, officiated the event.

A graduate of the University Foundation Course, 18-year-old Aainaa Nasibah binti Hj Mohamad is also currently taking her first year degree at LCB. Initially, she did her first year of Form Six at the Sayyidina Ali Secondary School in Kuala Belait before transferring to LCB for her foundation course. Preparations for her exams in early June were not that stressful as it was just a foundation course, but for the degree, she said that she has to get more into it to get good results and a scholarship. If given the chance to continue her Masters, Aainaa Nasibah intends to pursue her studies further before thinking about a career.

Eighteen-year-old Mohd Marwan bin Hj Mohamad, also a university foundation course graduate, is also continuing his studies to degree level, as he is currently on his first semester and will proceed to his second semester this September.

“LCB is actually a fun learning school,” he said. “I like the lecturers and professors – they are very friendly and approachable, and all the courses offered are really good for students. It’s definitely a good college for those with interests in the field of business studies.”

Another graduate, Siti Ratna Sridewi Suziaanawatee binti Hj Sahari, was one of the part-time students at the college taking up KCB Advanced Diploma in Business Management.

A cabin crew with Royal Brunei, Siti Ratna said that the college had been really supportive of her as a part-time student for the past two years.

She hopes to pursue her studies to the HND level should she get the permission to do so, adding that it all depends on the company to provide her with the flexibility to pursue her studies. So far, the RB management have been supportive, such as alternating her flight duty roster to accommodate her studies.

Ahmad Arief bin Hj Rosli, who graduated from EDEXCEL BTEC Level 5 HND in Computing, wishes to find him a job in IT.

The 22-year-old has to put aside his study plans as his parents will soon be retiring. As a responsible son, he wishes to help out his parents while at the same time try to do some savings. If the opportunity arises and enough money is saved, he plans to continue his studies to a higher level. Text and images courtesy of Lyna Mohamad and Bahyiah Bakir of Borneo Bulletin.

 

RB’s Travelmania coming soon!!

 

Soon Loo featured in today’s Borneo Bulletin. Click image to see article

An inch closer… He’s almost there or perhaps he’s already there. But let’s not take it for granted. Two nights ago, he needed 4,000 votes online.. Now he has needs a few hundred more to reach the milestone to make to the final cut of being the Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World (TOYP) and at the moment Soon Loo is in a pool of 20 Outstanding Young Persons of the World who have been selected by international panel of judges.

I’m even surprised that he knows one of my friends from Singapore. Well, technically she is/was a student of Soon Loo and what a small world we are in. This shows how much impact Soon Loo has over the community and he has been very active in inspiring the young generation.

So with the votes closing on by 8am 20th Tuesday, I pledged you readers to vote for him and support our own Bruneian figure to be on among the elites of Outstanding Young Persons of the World. So if you want and haven’t vote for him yet, click on this http://www.liveyourmark.com/soonloo/ 😀

On behalf of Soon Loo, he deeply appreciate your kind gesture and support and he can’t thank the community enough for the contribution. Good luck, buddy!!

Soon Loo being featured in The Brunei Times. Click image to see article.

The most popular guy of the moment!! He’s even in today’s editorial page.

 

20% off all seats, all flights. Click image to find out more.

 

The British Universities Brunei Association (BUBA) will be hosting its 2nd annual UK Education fair on the 21st August 2013. Twenty five Universities and Colleges from across the UK will be participating in the fair at the Member’s Grill and Lounge, The Empire Hotel and Country Club. The fair is aimed at students who are considering studying in the UK in September 2014 but also presents a final opportunity for any students still looking for a place for September 2013 entry to speak with university representatives.

BUBA held its first UK Education fair in Bandar Seri Begawan in August 2011 and met a huge number of students who went on to enrol in degree programmes across Great Britain in September 2012. The fair will be held between 2pm – 7pm. Further details and names of participating institutions can be found here: http://www.buba.ac.uk/he-fair

 

The instant prize is back!! Now you can win Samsung S4 or an Apple iPad Mini or an iPhone 5. Well, you will stand a chance to do so if you buy a cluster of Red Bull drinks or one alter pack of Sunsnack at the Consumer Fair starting tomorrow until Sunday at BRIDEX. You will be given a scratch ticket to determine if you win a prize.

Present during the press conference were Mr. Malcolm Lim, Managing Director of Kingston Beverage and Creamery Sdn Bhd, Valentine Hon, General Manager of Kingston Beverage and Creamery Sdn Bhd and Martin Anthony, Sales Marketing Manager of Kingston Beverage and Creamery Sdn Bhd.

The Managing Director said that this is another way to show appreciation and gratitude to their customers.. The Red Bull & Sunsnack scratch draw is open to all identity card holders from aged 16 above. Each of the value for the cluster or pack is $5 only. The promotion will end until the final stock. There are at least 15 units to be given away as prizes. Good luck!!

He also highlighted of the newly introduced event which is the Red Bull Dodgeball competition which will take place at the Consumer Fair at BRIDEX. I shall talk more about that later on.

Mr. Malcolm Lim, Managing Director of Kingston Beverage and Creamery Sdn Bhd (center) with Martin Anthony and Valentine Hon at yesterday’s press conference

Win these fantastic prizes instantly only during the Consumer Fair

The scratch ticket once you buy any Red Bull cluster or Sunsnack pack

Click image to enter website

 

That’s pretty cool that you can buy a C180 and also enjoy a 3-year service package from Jati Transport Sdn Bhd, the exclusive distributor for Mercedes-Benz in Brunei Darussalam. Of course, terms and conditions apply so you can visit their showroom at Beribi or at Gadong showroom.

There are only limited number of units left for the C 180 CGI. In addition, when you book a new Mercedes-Benz passenger car, Vito or Viano now before the 31st December 2013, you can stand a chance to win a brand new A 250 sport.

Call 244 1763 and 244 1777 for details or just pay a visit to their showroom.

 

Download Baiduri Deals

Have you downloaded Baiduri Deals on your smartphone?

Baiduri Bank officially unveiled the much anticipated “Baiduri Deals” a few days ago. Teaming up with a Bruneian App developer, Baiduri Bank developed this app with its objectives of improving customer’s experience as an added-value and convenience to their lifestyle and allowing merchants to offer all year round offers,monthly deals, last minute deals and super deals. It is also the first bank in Brunei to introduce a specific marketing app.

Baiduri Deals is available on both App store and Google play and is free for download and I downloaded it a few weeks ago.

In conjunction with the launching, there will be promotions to be won by customers who download this app. The bank’s social media channels will be shouting out these activities so customers are encouraged to stay tuned or just check out my blog or instagram for updates :p

One of the app’s key features is the electronic coupons (e-Coupons) which offer great deals to customers. Just like coupons in its traditional sense, app users can redeem e-Coupons through Baiduri Deals App at participating merchant outlets. The e-Coupons will be available to both Baiduri and non-Baiduri customers.

So the first merchant that had a special promotion through Baiduri Deals was Gong Cha, the recent premium bubble tea outlet that open in Brunei. I managed to get one for myself before the deals ran out (applicable to the first 100 customers who has downloaded the app) and I got myself a Gong Cha redeemable voucher up to $3.50. Awesome!!!

How the Baiduri Deals looks like. You don’t have to be a Baiduri customer but you will get more privileges if you become one. Everyone can download this app to enjoy the benefits

Gong Cha became the first one to participate in the promotion

I was queueing up for my Gong Cha fix

Once you redeem, you will get this notification on your smartphone

Simon and Rayner got their fix too

Jocelyn is also a Gong Cha fan

Redeeming the coupons is simple and easy. All customers need to do is to present their smartphones showing the e-Coupon to the cashier when making payments to avail of the discounts.

Baiduri Deals is part of the bank’s digital marketing strategy in having better connection with the customers. “Our plan is to introduce Baiduri Deals progressively into the market so that we are able to gauge customer as well as merchant response to the concept of e-Coupons. But there are a lot more deals and e-Coupons in the pipelines,” said Mr Ti Eng Hui, Deputy General Manager for Retail Banking  and Branch Network of Baiduri Bank.

Baiduri Deals has a feature called “Benefits” where merchants who offer all-year-round discounts are conveniently listed so that Baiduri Cardholders can easily refer. These merchants can be searched alphabetically, by location or by the following categories, lifestyle, Food & Beverage, Beauty, Tech & Gadgets.

The Baiduri Deals cover all product and services under Baiduri Bank Group. It also includes several features that are aimed to keep customers informed about the latest bank promotions and news, foreign exchange rates which are updated daily as well as branch and ATM locations.

Pierre Imhof, CEO of Baiduri Bank says that the bank is constantly thinking up of new and innovative ways to create convenience and added value to meet the needs and demands of different customer segments.

 

After another successful tournament last year, the world’s largest amateur golf tournament with over 1.3 million golfers taking part globally since its inception is back again for another round. The fourth edition of the Audi quattro Cup Brunei will be held this year at the RBA Golf Club on the 31st of August and 1st of September.

As with the first and second tournament the organiser TCY Motors will present donations to local charities, namely Pusat Ehsan Al-Ameerah Al-Hajjah Maryam, JAPEM and Brunei Breast Cancer Support Group. All the golfer fees will be donated 100% to charity and TCY Motors have also increased their prizes for lucky draws for golfer.

The Audi quattro Cup Brunei has so far donated $60,000 in total to local charities and NGOs since its inaugural tournament in 2010 as part of its corporate social responsibility.

As with every tournament the winning team will represent Brunei at the World Final: this year to be held at the prestigious Trump National Golf Club in Los Angeles, USA. Touted as an exclusive premium golfing experience, the Audi quattro Cup World Final reflects the brand profile of being progressive, sophisticated and sporty.

The Audi quattro Cup Golf Tournament Series was established in 1991. 51 tournaments with over 6.000 participating amateur golfers were held and organized by German Audi dealers. In 1992 Germany had a total of 70 tournaments and seven European countries participated with 62 additional tournaments.

In 2012 Audi dealers from 52 different countries worldwide including Brunei organised a total of 808 tournaments and over 95,000 amateur golfers participated. Over 1.3 million golfers have participated in the Audi quattro Cup tournaments during the last 22 years.

Entry forms are now available from the Audi Kiarong and Lambak showrooms during operation hours; please call 2442333 for further details.

Brunei’s Chin Kok Kong and Chua Pheng Keong at the 2012 Audi quattro Cup World Final in South Africa

The Latiff brothers won a trip to Sardiana Italy back in 2010

The winners of Brunei’s edition will be sent to Trump National Golf Club in Los Angeles, USA

 

Snap•Send•Wait for ASEAN Year Consumer Fair

Snap. Send. Wait. Win! It couldn’t be easier to stand the chance to win a prize in the ASEAN Year Consumer Fair that will take place on 21 – 25 August at the BRIDEX Hall in Jerudong.

While you browse the many great exclusive offers and enjoy the activities at the Fair, just take pictures of your surroundings. Then email however many of your photographs (in colour or monochrome) that you think can win you prizes to facebook@sunlitadvertising.com. Your photographs will then be uploaded to the Sunlit Brunei Facebook page where they will be judged by the number of likes they receive from the public. The more likes, the higher your chances of winning so tell your social media friends what you’re up to!

The prizes for the top three photographs are as follows:

1st prize: B$300.00 plus an ASEAN Year Consumer Fair souvenir
2nd prize: B$200.00 plus an ASEAN Year Consumer Fair souvenir
3rd prize: B$150.00 plus an ASEAN Year Consumer Fair souvenir

There are no age limits for this competition. The photographs must reflect the ASEAN Year Consumer Fair, be original in concept and idea, and must be previously unpublished or entered into similar competitions. Photographs can be submitted until 10.00 pm, 24th August 2013 and the winners will be called on the 25th August 2013 before 5.00pm. br />
Further details may be found in Sunlit Brunei Facebook page and Consumer fair website at www.sunlitadvertising.com/bruneiconsumerfair.br />
With 400 booths of local, ASEAN and other international exhibitors offering a wide range of products and services, alongside a diverse list of side activities, the ASEAN Year Consumer Fair will offer plenty of interesting and exciting opportunities to take some memorable photographs. So head over to BRIDEX Hall from 21 to 25 August, and snap away at the array of interesting sights there to ensure you’re in with a strong chance to win prizes.br />

 

Reebok CrossFit 673 participating in this edition of Consumer Fair

Reebok CrossFit 673 instructor Michael Mogard, recently crowned “The fittest man in Asia”, will be running a range of CrossFit activities during the forthcoming ASEAN Year Consumer Fair (21 -25 August at the BRIDEX Hall in Jerudong) for the public – beginners, experts and newbies alike.

For those who don’t already know, Reebok CrossFit 673 is a community of people unified in one goal, complete and elite fitness. Each day, they push themselves to reach a higher fitness level and have fun doing it through a programme of constantly varied functional movements executed at high intensity to develop maximal body strength. These workouts can be scaled and adjusted to meet the needs of most individuals.

Mr. Mogard will be making various demonstrations of CrossFit workouts during the ASEAN Year Consumer Fair on Wednesday, August 21 at 6:00 pm and Thursday August 22nd at 6 pm. There will also be a Community workout where members of the community are welcomed to participate. The exercises will be appropriate for everyone as kids and adults are welcome to come together on Saturday, August 24that 10 am.

Please register for this event by emailing ironmikesfitness@gmail.com with “Community Workout” in the subject line. Mr. Mogard will also hold a seminar with the interesting theme “Why we get fat?” While the answer to this may seem obvious to many, in actuality, it is not as simple as old saying of “calories in versus calories out” would suggest This seminar is open to the public but must be registered for by emailing ironmikesfitness(a)gmail.com with “Why we get fat?” in the subject line.

This seminar will be held at 6pm on Saturday. There will be several competitions where participants can show off their skills and abilities. The CrossFit Total Competition will feature athletes competing to lift the most weight with 3 attempts in the shoulder press, back squat, and deadlift. The CrossFit competition take place Friday night from 7pm-9pm.

This is a great shot of Mike

He was recently crowned the fittest man in Asia for a regional crossfit competition in Korea last June. Image taken of their Facebook page.

Reebok CrossFit 673 and Sunlit Advertising joined hands to make CF a successful one

You can register for the CrossFit Total competition by emailing ironmikesfitness@gmail.com with “CrossFit Total” in the subject line. Registration fee is $10 and there will be small prizes awarded. Deadline is August 18th

The CrossFit Sprint Competition will take place on Sunday beginning at 1 pm. The competition will consist of 3 short workouts or “sprints” testing multiple domains of fitness. The workouts will be announced on their facebook page at facebook.com/reebokcrossfit673 on Sunday, August 11 th.

To register, email ironmikesfitness@gmail.com with “CrossFit Sprint” in the subject line. Throughout the entire consumer fair, people may come by our booth to try and “beat the trainer” in a short and simple workout. Michael will complete a workout and if you can score within the allotted point total you will win a free month membership to Reebok CrossFit 673. Also, other various physical challenges will be happening with small prizes awarded.

So, to find out what CrossFit training can do for you by consulting an expert in the field, and to stand the chance of winning some great prizes, head on down to the ASEAN Year Consumer Fair at BRIDEX Hall from 21 to 25 August.

Mike, one of these days, I really want to have a look at your working out area. I heard a lot of good things. Sorry, I haven’t made time to visit your place. I will definitely see you at Bridex 😀

Have you entered the Fantasy Premier League just yet? I joined this league last year and it has been fun playing with my friends in the Liga Hashtag League (private league) and it’s a fantasy league where you get to choose your best 11 EPL players with only 100 million pounds to spend. Well, technically 15 players including subs.

I think the Fantasy Premier League is the most popular fantasy league in Brunei with thousands participating in this league. So if you happen to be in other fantasy leagues, don’t be shy to join the Fantasy Premier League and I love the fact that you view other created leagues and compare your stats.

Good luck and have fun. It’s great to have the EPL back too. Great wins for Man Utd, Chelsea and Liverpool. The only upset I felt was Arsenal who were jeered at their home ground.

My team for the first week. I’m gonna reshuffle for the next one 😀

My ranking in Brunei so far. My main target is to be in the Top 30 by end of the season 😀