Allan Ang, Chris Woo (champion) and Bobby in the International Speech category at the Brunei Speakers’ Club speech competition last Tuesday

Bob Lim, Allan Ang (champion) and Bobby in the Table Topics category

I have neglected my time spent at Toastmasters session hosted by Brunei Speakers’ Club (BSC) which happens every Tuesday. I used to be a member two years ago but I didn’t end up doing any speeches :O I would say that it comes close to a year now that I missed their sessions as a guest and it was great to see new blood, helping the momentum of the BSC to keep it active every now and then.

Last Tuesday, I attended the Toastmasters session because there was a speech competition by BSC for their members. This is held annually where the winners and the runner-ups will represent the club to compete against other local toastmaster clubs before the grand winner will represent Brunei in regional competition.

I totally missed all the International Speech and Table Topic speeches as I had my evening jog prior to that. The event was hosted by toastmaster Fen Ng whom I am so proud of. I remember my friends and I were suggesting her to join the Brunei Speakers’ Club two years ago and now she has achieved so much in the short span of time and she looks more confident than before. For your info, clubs like BSC is an environment that helps and guides one to be confident in public speaking and also building that inner muscles of that confidence trait in you. I do highly recommend students to simply to turn up and be a guest on Tuesday evenings at the Seameo Votech, Gadong (7:30pm to 9:30pm) and get a taste of how the sessions are being conducted.

Anyway, below are the winners of International Speeches and Table Topics from BSC.

International Speech 

Chris Woo – Champion

Bobby – 1st Runner up

Allan Ang – 2nd Runner up

Table Topics

Allan Ang – Champion

Bob Lim – 1st Runner up

Bobby – 2nd Runner up

The next competition will be on Sunday, 23rd March 2014 at 11am. The venue will be at Seameo Votech, Gadong, and you will get to see the best of the best in different toastmasters clubs in Brunei Darussalam. So you are more than welcome to attend the event and witness how the participants will deliver their speeches to woo the audience.

Chris Woo, the champion of the International Speech category, just recently join Brunei Speakers’ Club three months ago and it has already completed six speeches to be eligible for the competition. That’s really awesome!! I’m pretty sure UBD students will be familiar with him as he is currently a lecturer, teaching professional communication, in UBD. Ironically, he gives public speaking consultancy and why he joined BSC is to test his professionalism. Despite his familiarity with public speaking, the competition was still nerve wrecking for him. This is also the first victory in any competition he has joined in his entire life and to him, this is an important milestone in terms of achievements.

Chris Woo receiving the award from BSC President Stuart Lee

Allan Ang receiving the award from BSC President Stuart Lee

Bob Lim receiving the award from BSC President Stuart Lee

The contestants being interviewed by toastmaster Fen Ng

Fen Ng announcing the winners and hosted the competition as well

Great turn out to support the contestants

 

HSBC New Year Special Deals

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BIBD – Let’s Go Mobile!

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Chan Key Hong, Executive Director of Maju Motors, holding one of the keys that unlocks the grand prize – Volkswagen Jetta this morning

The five short listed candidates this morning and these are the candidates who participated in the lucky draw for buying home match tickets to catch DPMM FC last season. I shall reveal the winner in my next post unless you have seen it at my @ranoadidas IG

He was the first to go but did he win?

Chan Key Hong also invited DPMM FC management and players for an autograph signing. More pictures tomorrow.

 

Celebrating Pancake Day every weekend at Paddington House of Pancakes

Few days ago, it was International Pancake Day which fell on the 4th of March. We had a treat, hosted by Paddington House of Pancakes (@pancakesbrunei) last Tuesday and wow, we really had a good feast, just on pancakes.

Now you can enjoy “All You Can Eat” pancake buffet for only $15.50 during weekends (Saturday, Sunday) from 2pm to 6pm for the month of March 2014. That’s a pretty good deal I must say and I recommend you to take advantage of this special promotion.

There are different flavours of pancake to choose from such as chico chip, blueberry, original, banana & raisins to name a few.

You can even make your own pancake and show off your design on social media, post it on their Facebook page and you stand a chance to win PHOP dining vouchers worth BND 20. Good luck!!

My buddies trying out the pancakes toppings for lunch few days ago

Some of the toppings from the pancake buffet

Add more sweet stuff for your toppings

Choco chip pancakes 😀

You can make a good presentation from the toppings

Having a pancake rush!!

Pancakes are made fresh from the pan

I was into the balloons too

Do contribute some pictures on their Facebook page

 

HRH happy with progress

His Royal Highness Hj Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Chairman of DPMM FC club being updated of DPMM FC’s progress by Steve Kean, Head Coach of DPMM FC yesterday at the Jerudong Mini Stadium

Group photo with DPMM FC chairman, management and DPMM FC players in their away jerseys. Click image to enlarge.

DPMM FC in training mode in preparation for their away match on the 13th April against Home United

Who will win the Jetta?

The grand prize for DPMM FC supporters last season

Spectators of DPMM Football Club’s home games during last season’s S.League will be happy to know that 38 names have been pre-drawn by DPMM FC and the grand draw will be held in the morning of Friday March 7, 2014, at the newly revamped Volkswagen showroom in Telanai.

The Volkswagen model was never revealed before but the final decision has been made and it will be one of Volkswagen’s most desirable sedan, the Jetta 1.4TSI.

Apart from the grand draw, fans of DPMM FC will also be treated to a meet and greet session with the players. Posters of the team will be given away to the first 150 fans on the day of the event and once the players are in the showroom, they will get the chance to acquire their autographs and meet them personally.

The 38 finalists have been called to confirm their attendance. Those who won’t be able to make it on the day will not be entitled to the draw.

The Jetta 1.4TSI is a comfortable car as it has a long wheelbase and German engineered suspensions. The 122-horsepower engine is mated with a smooth shifting 6-speed DSG transmission, allowing the car to get from 0-100km/h in just a few seconds.

Maju Motors Sdn Bhd, the sole dealership for Volkswagen in the Sultanate is the official car sponsor for the DPMM FC Jetta grand draw. You can follow their instagram too for updates @vollkswagenbrunei

You can get yourself posters of DPMM FC for the first 150 fans

Get up close and personal with DPMM FC players at Maju Motors today (9am to 11am)

 

BIBD donates Water Jets to NDMC

In their further strides to support and compliment relief efforts in place by the government of His Majesty along with other various agencies to mitigate issues emanating from water hazards, BIBD yesterday agreed to hand over a total of 20 water jet cleaners to the Brunei-Muara District Office, who is receiving on behalf of National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC).

The donation of these water jet cleaners comes from discussions between the NDMC and BIBD to assist in, and bolster recovery and cleaning activities from the current and future occurrences of flood incidents. The water cleaners comes as added contribution to the many efforts prepared, as BIBD reinforces its intentions to maintain itself as a stalwart partner to the NDMC.

Handing over the water jets on behalf of BIBD was Hjh Nurul Akmar Hj Md Jaafar, Deputy Head of Consumer Banking and Head of BIBD’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, which was well received by the Brunei-Muara District Officer, Hj Jamain Hj Momin. Also present was BIBD’s Head of Shariah, Hjh Hanifah Hj Jenan.

Hjh Nurul Akmar Hj Md Jaafar, Deputy Head of Consumer Banking and Head of BIBD’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative handing over 20 water jet cleaners to Hj Jamain Hj Momin, Brunei-Muara District Officer, receiving on behalf of National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC)

Hjh Nurul Akmar, on behalf of BIBD, commented at her pleasure at the ability of BIBD to act swiftly to provide assistance that, not only benefits the community, but also benefits the community in a long run. She continued that “We are also pleased that we can live up to our tagline of being ‘Bruneian at Heart’, always being part of a caring society, and ready to provide support to those in need.”

BIBD has always been on the forefront at being able to provide support to our community, especially in times of need. The act of donating of these water jet cleaners also aligns with BIBD’s annual Sirah Amal donations drive whereby resources are pulled from within the BIBD community-conscious staff, along with BIBD partners in support of the initiative, to provide relief to under- privileged families.

BIBD has also became a pioneer with its flagship CSR activity, BIBD’s ALAF (Advocating Life-long Learning for an Aspiring Future) fund developed in close partnership with the Ministry of Education, which provides school and tuition fees, stationery, transportation and food requirements along with mentoring and counseling necessities amongst others, until the end of their respective educational requirement needs.

 

Showcase Concert 2014

A show that I can’t wait to see. Happening this Saturday (7:45pm) and Sunday (2pm) and you can get their tickets at JIS Uniform & Stationery Shop. Call 241 1000 ext 5240. The Showcase Concert 2014 will take place at the JIS Arts Centre

 

Showcase your talent 😀

Do you want to participate in the video competition? Submission ends on 31st March 2014. This is event is brought to you by the committee of the Film Festival Video competition 2014. Good luck, peeps!

 

Singapore Food Festival

The Singapore Food Festival is back at the Airport Restaurant & Coffee Shop, Brunei International Airport, bringing all authentic Singaporean favourite dishes and delicacies to our shores. This is the sixth time for the festival, which runs until March 16th, was officially launched by the Deputy Minister of Education Dato Seri Setia Awang Hj Yussof Hj Ismail with Singapore High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam His Excellency Jaya Ratnam, and RBC General Manager Hj Omar Ali bin Hj Mohd Daud in attendance.

With dishes ranging from Singapore food of Chili crabs, Murtabak Masjid Sultan as well as Sup Kambing (lamb) Beach Road and of course, the signature Singaporean Chicken Rice, it’s a Singaporean gastronomic experience all under one roof, with specially flown-in chef from Royal Plaza on Scotts Singapore, Chef Lee Chin Choong, teaming up with Singaporean Chef Ahmad Tajuddin from RBC, to give a 100 per cent authentic Singapore taste.

Diners also have a chance to win great prizes including return tickets to Singapore sponsored by Singapore Airlines and a two-night stay at Grand Hyatt Singapore in the festival’s Special Draw.Baiduri Bank Infinite and Platinum cardholders are entitled to 25 per cent discount, while the Gold, Classic and Debit cardholders receive 15 per cent discount.

Meanwhile, RBC Dining Privilege Card members will get a 10 per cent discount. The Daily promotion Buffet Lunch, served from 12pm to 2pm, is $19.90 per adult and $10 per child. The Buffet Dinner from 7pm to 10pm is priced at $29.90 per adult and $15 per child. The Singapore Food Festival will be until 16th March 2014.

Reservations can be made by calling 233 1853 or 233 9207.

Deputy Minister of Education Dato Seri Setia Awang Hj Yussof Hj Ismail launching the Singapore Food Festival. Accompanying him were Singapore High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam His Excellency Jaya Ratnam, and RBC General Manager Hj Omar Ali bin Hj Mohd Daud

Celebrating Women this weekend

It’s the time of the year that we recognise women all around. Every year, on March the 8th, it is the celebration of International Women’s Day and Brunei has been running a few activities every now and then for the past few years. One of the companies that will be celebrating International Women’s Day is Butik Bajoo, a boutique that will bring out the flavour of the celebration by offering “specials” in-store this weekend.

I’m pretty sure you know of the popular Malaysian designer Jovian Mandagie. Back in 2012, he began a collaboration with Bajoo to showcase his ready-to-wear line. When you have an iconic designer that suits the local taste, you have a winner and it was no surprise that the responses were overwhelming then.

Now there is a new collection for the ladies and guess what? You can enjoy a massive 30% discount on Jovian fashion dresses on 8th and 9th of March.

Check out Jovian’s design, going at 30% discount this weekend only

Check out Jovian’s design, going at 30% discount this weekend only

This year, Bajoo also have a new collaboration with Bayou Batik, a label from Malaysia. Bayou Batik specialises in exquisitely designed and hand-made batik clothing. Using the finest quality fabrics, Bayou Batik’s range encompasses both modern and traditional styles. Based in Kuala Lumpur, they aimed to fill a void in the diminishing art of batik design and printing by modernizing traditional batik designs. By joining forces with Bajoo, together they set out to bring back this unique cultural quality that we share in the region. Bayou Batik at Bajoo is also celebrating International Women’s Day in offering 20% off their in-store items on 8th and 9th of March.

Check out Bayou Batik’s design, going at 20% discount discount this weekend only

CCheck out Bayou Batik’s design, going at 20% discount discount this weekend only

Now that’s said and done, Bajoo will be offering 50% discount (on 8th and 9th of March) on the other items in the store. So another great way to celebrate International Women’s Day. As Carrie Bradshaw once said, “Every year the Women of New York leave the past behind and look forward to the future… this is known as Fashion Week”. In Brunei, Bajoo likes to call this ‘Raya week‘. As this year’s Raya week draws near, the tailors at Bajoo’ are getting ready for the ‘mad rush’. So to avoid disappointment, make an appointment with Bajoo’ and have your slot booked in.

Be sure to look up @Bajoo on instagram or you can view on their website www.butikbajoo.com

If you are location for the location, refer to the map below. Business hours is 10am to 8pm daily.

Check out Bajoo’s collection, going at 50% discount this weekend only

Check out Bajoo’s collection, going at 50% discount this weekend only

Check out Bajoo’s collection, going at 50% discount this weekend only

Check out Bajoo’s collection, going at 50% discount this weekend only

The map of Bajoo. Located near Supa Save Mata-mata