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Children are our future. Yesterday HRH Princess Sarah, the Royal Patron for BGIC, officiated the opening of the ISB BGIC VIII at the International Convention Centre and the theme for this year's BGIC is "The Rights of Children" and this is such a timely campaign to raise this issue. Keynote speaker Kate McAlpine, the Director of Roho Ltd, is an activist who helps to defend the rights of the children especially in Tanzania.

HRH Princess Sarah pointed out that our local culture and family values play an important role for children and their upbringing. She emphasised that education is a must with a basic health care and a safe environment. HRH is very much aware that not all is smooth sailing for some cases around the world. The issue of child abuse is not just a national issue in their respective countries but an international concern as well.

Kate mentioned that it's important for us to invest our time with children because they are the future of tomorrow. The small little things that we do can have a phenomenal impact on children. She addressed the alarming situation and her role is make sure that the rights of children are recognised and protected.

The ISB BGIC VIII was attended by 300 students, compromising of local and international schools. The event will conclude today and I'm sure the students had some fun during the forum. I shall be posting more coverage on the actual forum soon. As for the now, the pictures below are taken from the opening ceremony of the BGIC VIII.

HRH Princess Sarah conversing with Grosjean of TOTAL Brunei

The Keynote speaker Kate McAlpine for ISB BGIC VIII

Tareq Muhmood of HSBC Brunei delivering his speech

Sam, the Secretary-General of the ISB BGIC VIII

The multi cultural performances

The multi cultural performances

The multi cultural performances

The students involved in the ISB BGIC VIII

The sponsors talking to the students involved

The students mingling with the guests

Students from SAS are also participating

Taken before the beginning of the forum

Rano says today feels like a brand new day and sometimes I keep reminding myself that it should be a brand new day and that's how we move forward and not get dragged by the past or the yesterdays. Firstly, my apologies for not bloggin' yesterday.. I did my content for the blog half way but my heart was somewhere else - fulfilling the needs of others.

The past three days I've been busy with the "self-awareness" course also known as CV. I'm already a graduate and it doesn't mean you know it all. I'm still at the beginning of the learning process and everyday I have all these thoughts in my head just like Clovis who likes to keep asking questions regardless of his abundant knowledge about life. Anyway, that's one reason why I haven't focus on my updates on my blog and I wasn't able to attend any of the coverage invitations during the weekends (Songket Wedding showcase, F1 Bahrain live telecast at Jati Transport showroom, Wu Chun's appearance at Fitness Zone, Twinkle-Twinkle launch, bits of BGIC) and I even neglected my Twitter too.

I realised the choices I made are what I choose to be and not because I was conditioned in any other way. But that doesn't mean I neglect my other obligations and to every problem, a solution is always there.

This week I will be heading off to KK with the "Superfriends" and that should be super fun and I can't wait to take some time off from work and other obligations. But you can expect that my blog will be updated for sure :) I don't even know how the name "Superfriends" ended up as the clique.. Before that whole "Superfriends" thingy, RA6 (clique) was the baby boomer. Then the group just grew while some slowly faded away. I was on hiatus for a year or two LOL but I'm glad I'm still a part of them.

So this week it's gonna be fun, fun, fun.... I'm loving forward for the trip and meeting up with the gang.. Ok, I think I've blabbered too much and I'm beginning to get off track.. Before I end, I want to dedicate my day to my mates whom I met last August - SS, WC and MK. You guys are simply amazing people and it was really fun to work with you guys last weekend.