Brunei National Day Run in Tutong

The Brunei National Day Run was done in all Districts of Brunei-muara, Tutong, Belait and Temburong. I did the one in Tutong.

There was a 3km fun run, 5km run for under 18, 10km for 18 years and above.

I did the 10km run. My training followed guideline from the book entitled 4 hour body. which is basically a high intensity run of 2.4km, for 3-4 times a week. Added with the POSE technique. I did well for about 5km… then I had to run (i actually walked) up a freaking hill (DAMN that Hill to HAYELL!!!). I’m targetting my peak state in 2007 when I could run 10km/hour, or 6minutes/km.. Sounds fast to some, but pros do it almost half the time or twice that speed. I’ll get there once i reach my peak state first.
Considering the Hill was my weakness, I’m tempted to train running up that hill.. or any other hill for that matter..
Here’s my endomondo map with my lap times

There are more pics on my facebook

I compiled a video that I took and upload it on youtube.

Waterfront Launching Ceremony

For those that didn’t see the waterfront launching ceremony, water parade and fireworks. Here’s some of my pics

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15 aspire to join Everest team | Brunei NEWS, Brunei HEADLINES from Brunei fm

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Waaaah… To climb Mount Everset.. I already Climbed Gunung Kinabalu… Iski kan cuba, but I know there are more qualified (fit) people then me who should go. I think it would take more dedication than I currently can afford to prepare such a feat. But if anyone’s interested go on and try. Spreading the news is all I can do right now. This article was posted in august 2010.

15 aspire to join Everest team | Brunei NEWS, Brunei HEADLINES from Brunei fm.

Brunei To Cease Fuel Subsidy for Energy Day

I heard about this from someone during lunch, they said they read it in the news. I was not so sure, cuz I must have missed the news so I didn’t read about it myself. But on Saturday, 22nd May 2010, I was buying fuel for my car and saw the sign on the side of the fuel pumps. The prices of fuel in Brunei will have no subsidy on monday 24th of May 2010.

So basically, the prices on monday for premium and super is twice the usual amount, and regular and diesel is thrice the price!

I bet the people who knows about this

Education ;Age Limit is Good or Bad?

I was surprised to read in the local newspaper about age limit enforced in schools. Basically it says that children cannot go into schools until they reached a certain age. Additionally students of a cannot move up the class unless they are the correct age(mostly those who entered early), even if they passed their exams.

http://news.brunei.fm/2010/01/04/age-limit-for-classes-with-new-school-year/

I was curious why the sudden enforcement, as well as its purpose. The only way I see it, the ministry is just following the set rules. May be its because there is a belief that students of a certain age can only learn at a certain level and therefore it would be pointless for them to learn at a more advance level. as they would be at risk at failing at that level and therefore wasting government resources.

The decision to enforce the age limits will standardize the age of students at school levels, and allow all students to be learning and competing at the same level. or does it? Do all people at the same age, mentally mature similarly?

When I was in school, there were a small number of students who were at the most 2 years younger then me, and they performed as well as the other students. They interacted with “older” students in a similar manner.

Biological Age and Mental age may be correlated. As foolish youth leads to the wise elder. But I do not think everyone’s rate of development is the same. Sure, studies have been done on students of a certain biological age should be able to learn certain things, but the ages are often an average of the study. Not the ages themselves. There are also studies that suggest that date of birth and school performance may not be completely correlated, and that any differences would disappear in a few years.

http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~db=all~content=a746748165

“estimates suggest there is no effect of age at school entry on educational performance” Source:http://ideas.repec.org/p/iza/izadps/dp1507.html

“If the gain score shrinkage among older children maintains as students progress through middle and highschool, it is expected that the younger children will eventually perform similarly or even higher thanthe older groups.” source: http://www.eurojournals.com/ejss_10_1_05.pdf

What I found to be the most unfortunate consequence is that with this enforced rule, Bruneians will never see young geniuses not unlike those in other countries of teens getting a degree. That would have been nice for brunei. Something to be proud of

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/12/06/Teen-gets-college-degree-in-just-2-years/UPI-62321228621929/

A good option would be to make the age limit rule to remain a guideline, that can be revised, or allowing students who do not fulfill the age requirements to move on as long as they pass their tests and exams.