BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Over 350 students from 10 secondary schools and colleges gave their all at the Laneige Broadway Musical 2013 held yesterday at Hua Ho Manggis Hall Ballroom, Borneo Bulletin reported.
The gueSt of honour was the chairlady of the Yayasan Kanser Kanak-Kanak (YASKA), Dr Norehan Hj Johari. Also present were Cheong Huat Joo, Senior Special Duties Officer (Secondary), Department of Schools; and Brunei English Language Teachers Association (BELTA) President, Datin Hjh Khadijah Hj Akhbar.
PAP Masna Secondary School was the big winner as the school took first place and won the $500 prize and a trophy while sweeping three other awards – Best Vocal, Best Costume and Best Choreography.
The main character, Pocahontas, played by 12-year-old Nuratiqah Nabila Thane won her the Best Actress award. Nabila took home $100 and a trophy. She was last year’s RTB Bintang Kecil first runner-up and is also a presenter for RTB 2 “Minggu Ceria” programme. She became the centre of attraction the minute she sang and was cheered by the audience, family members and her fellow schoolmates.
The first runner-up of the competition was Sayyidina Hasan Secondary School winning $300 and a trophy. The school also won an additional $200 after winning Best Stage Presentation and Best Actor awards.
Best Actor, Aiman Hafizul Irfan of Year 11, was thrilled and said that he has the passion for music since childhood and plays many music instruments. He added that his decision to venture into acting and singing and ultimately the competition was right.
The second runner-up of the competition Was PAP Hjh Rashidah Lumut. The school received $200 and atrophy. The Best Creative Adaptation award was won by Sharif Ali Secondary School.
Prior to the prize presentation, Marketing Executive Laneige, Pat Li presented a mock cheque of $4,000 each to YASKA and BELTA. The prizes were presented by Cheong Huat Joo and Laneige Director Lim Hong Seng.
Prior to the start of the competition, Pat gave a welcoming speech followed by a brief address by the guest of honour.
The guest of honour noted that it was heartwarming to see youths participating and doing their bit for the community and the less fortunate.
She further pointed out that YASKA was established in November 2011 with the aim to raise public awareness of cancer in children and its effects on the children and their families.
It also serves to educate people involved in the care of these children and to improve the quality of life of these children through programmes and activities as well as assistance to families such as purchasing wheelchairs, special mattresses, diapers and milk powder.
Pat, on the other hand, highlighted that the children are the ones who motivate the organisers to continue carrying out the charity competition over the years.
She pointed out that everyone involved in this charity competition was on a voluntary basis including Department of Schools, committee members from BELTA, teachers, coaches, ex-participants of the competition and teachers.
“We all share the mutual belief: All kids are gifts to us. When they grow up, they are our future in sustaining and managing the country. It is our passion to nurture our youths’ development with positive thinking, by being supportive, giving and loving.”
Among yesterday’s performances were famous musicals – Razzle Dazzle’ from Chicago, Footloose, ‘Getting To Know You’ from The King and I, ‘Score Tonight’ from Grease 2, ‘Mr Cellophane’ from Chicago, ‘I Won’t Say I Am In Love’ from Hercules, ‘I Want It All’ from High School Musical 3 and ‘Colors of the Wind’ from Pocahontas.
The event was a great opportunity for students to communicate, perform and develop artistically in the English Language. It was made possible through the continuous support of the Department of Schools, Ministry of Education.
Other supporters included HSBC, Royal Brunei Catering Sdn Bhd, Syarikat Shalim (B) Sdn Bhd, Ranoadidas, Red Dot Studio, CFBT, JPMC Fitness Centre, BELTA and Great Eastern Life Assurance Co Ltd.
The panel ofjudges were Albert Polita, Phyllis Thin, Siti Badriyah Hj Md Yusof, Genevieve Lai and Nurhisyam Al Muiz bin Abdul Rahman Ampil.