E SU IS `S EN M W O Mar–Apr 2016 A GREAT WORK-LIFE BALANCE
Stephanie Koh shares how she manages to attain it
Go Nuts with Peanut Butter
THE L INTERNATIONA
n isRsINuGe WomPOeW E EM
WOMEN
Hip and Healthy with
Anna Aziz
PLUS+ EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW:
Are you losing health by losing weight? Cook up healthy meals with
these 8 simple tips and tricks!
EDITION
on Juggling career, family and running a popular Instagram Account
USD $3.99 GBP £3.49 BND $5.00 BRUNEI
Azhani Daniel
THE CREATIVE GENIUS BEHIND THE COLLECTIVE EVENTS
Mar–Apr 2016
+Content +Health 6 What matters? Losing weight or losing health?
30
10 8 Tips & Tricks on Cooking Healthier Food 16 Go Nuts With PB
+Fitness 19 She Run
36 Interview with Anna Aziz 42 Azhani Daniel
42
48 Stephanie Koh
+Event
20 Beach Bunch: 21 KM & 41 KM Trail Challenge 26 Earth Hour Heroes Run
+Life Inspired 30 Shinny Chia
36 2 PLUS Mar–Apr 2016
+Lifestyle
48
52 International Women’s Day — What’s it All About? 54 Nurturing Like a Lady, Taking The Lead Like a Man — The Power Of Being A Woman
13 APRIL - 21 MAY 2016 ART GALLERY, CHANCELLOR HALL UNIVERSITI BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
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Dear readers,
W
e are extremely excited to bring you our Women’s Issue this month. As most of us know, the 8th of March marks the celebration of International Women’s Day and we pay tribute to this day by divulging the history behind it and what it stands for in this day and age. This issue also includes insight on what it’s like to be a woman in today’s day and age and how empowering and special women truly are. They assume so many jobs and roles seamlessly and really can do it all. Read about the many benefits that come about by having women in the workplace and be thankful for those in your workplace. In our Health Section, we dispel the myths about good old peanut butter and provide ideas on how to devour this healthy, delicious snack. Also included are tips to help you start cooking and eating healthier food for yourself as opposed to reaching for that greasy takeout food. Furthermore, attention is directed to the obesity epidemic and we reveal the risk factors, methods of prevention and provide information on how to lose weight healthily. Plus+ had the pleasure of sitting down with four amazing and inspiring women who are truly befitting of our theme this month. Stephanie Koh shares her opinion on how women do not have to choose between their career or their families and offers advice +Publisher Nexploit Services +Editor-At-Large Plus Team
on how to do this as well as offering insight as to how she attains a great work-life balance. Joyful Anna Aziz, the woman behind Hip and Healthy reveals her passion and determination in the green movement in the lovely interview we had with her. We find out how her mind works and more about her business and her upcoming project that’s sure to get you very excited! An incredible woman who excels at a myriad of roles in her life, both professionally and personally, Azhani Daniel is known on social media as emmagoodegg and she shares her views on what can be improved for women, not only in our country, but worldwide and gives us some insight into her busy and accomplished life. Last but not least, featured on our cover this month is the funny and quirky creative genius behind the collective events, Shinny Chia. Our in-depth interview uncovers her drive, passion and fearlessness in doing what she loves as well as her humility and genuine support for other entrepreneurs. A positive ray of light indeed, and we are excited to see what she comes up with next. Don’t forget you can follow us for the latest updates @PlusBrunei on Facebook and Instagram, where we post behind the scenes pics and sneak peeks of upcoming features. Many thanks and happy reading, The Plus Team
+Marketing and Digital Content Nursadiqin Misir
+Talent Editor Elizabeth Sim
+Graphic Designer Anna Thien Oleh Melnyk John M. Rey
+Proof Reader Monica Lim
+Photographer Mujahid Johar
Ministry of Health (Brunei Darussalam) Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (Brunei Darussalam) Health Promotion Centre (Brunei Darussalam) Fitness Zone Royal Brunei Airlines Progresif Cellular Sdn Bhd
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+Featuring Shinny Chia Azhani Daniel Stephanie Koh Anna Aziz +Contributors Mujahid Johar Shelley Busque Syazwana Souyono
All rights reserved. Neither this publication nor any part of it may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form of by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the permission of Nexploit Services. Where option is expressed it is that of the author and does not necessarily reflect the editorial views of the publisher or Plus. All information in Plus is checked and verified to the best of the publisher’s ability, however the publisher cannot be held responsible for any mistake or omission enclosed in the publication.
4 PLUS Mar–Apr 2016
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+Health
WHAT MATTERS?
LOSING WEIGHT OR LOSING HEALTH? A
mongst many different problems, weight is one of the things that everyone struggles with at least once in their life. Whether someone wants to gain weight or lose it, there is always that torn situation. Today we’ll be talking about one of the most controversial topics — obesity. And the only cure for it is? That’s right, losing weight. But let’s get serious; do we really prioritize our health when it comes to losing weight? All we think about is losing that extra bit but how many of us do it the right way?
Obesity is one of the most dangerous metabolic and nutritional challenges of the 21 st century. Over the past 25 years, it has been steadily on the rise and it is now estimated that there are over 300 million people suffering from it worldwide. It is a medical
6 PLUS Mar–Apr 2016
condition where the accumulation of excess body fat may result in a number of debilitating and life-threatening health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, type-2 diabetes and even several types of cancer. Obesity affects both children and adults alike, with children suffering from it at an early age having a higher chance of carrying it into adulthood. Nowadays, over 35% of adults worldwide are obese and even though it’s a preventable disease, the numbers are only rising. Genetics, overeating, lack of exercise, drug intake and psychological factors have all been attributed to its rise. Food has become significantly more affordable over the past few decades and although it is difficult to measure the total calorie intake of an entire population, a small
caloric imbalance over a period of time could be sufficient enough to lead to obesity. Eating processed food, fast food rich in fat content, drinking alcohol and smoking have all been identified as sources of weight gain with some people being genetically prone to gaining weight quicker than others. Stress, low self-esteem, and depression have also been seen to correlate with overeating in both children and adults. Physical inactivity, however, is recognized as the leading cause of obesity rather than food consumption since many studies have shown similar energy intake among obese children and their lean counterparts. Children with lower participation rates in sports
Health+
PLUS 7
Mar–Apr 2016
+Health and physical education are associated with increased prevalence of
obesity since they have a higher energy gain than expenditure. People who spend most of their time watching TV or browsing the Internet are more likely to gain weight since the extra kilojoules are stored as fat instead. As is the case with many diseases, the best solution to the obesity epidemic is to take steps towards preventing it. Families should encourage their children to follow a healthy diet and be physically active. Both children and obese adults should follow a healthy eating plan to keep their calorie intake in balance. A specific portion size that is enough to take care of hunger should be maintained and
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comfort eating should be avoided. Slowing down at mealtimes can also help you avoid overeating by giving your stomach to decide when it’s had enough food. When it comes to the actual eating, choose minimally processed foods such as whole grains, vegetables, fruits and generally food that is low in fat content but rich in healthy proteins, such as fish and poultry. When it comes to cooking, use vegetable oils such as olive oil which have been shown to reduce cardiovascular risk factors by reducing bad cholesterol. Sweet beverages, fruit juice, alcohol, refined grains, potatoes and red or processed meat should be avoided. Try reducing fast food intake since they have high-fat content and are usually portioned to be larger than what your body requires. Besides eating healthy, physical activity such as jogging and biking should be encouraged. People should also participate in sports that involve a lot of running and physical effort. At least 60 minutes of regular and intense activity each day is suggested to be developmentally appropriate. Reduce screen time. Limit the use of TVs and computers because they limit the time for physical activity. Many health experts recommend less than 3 hours of screen time daily that’s not related to work or study. Also, keep track of your weight, BMI, and waist circumference. Sleep has also been attributed to helping reduce weight gain. A healthy adult should get about 8 hours of sleep every night. Children are recommended about 10–14 depending on their age.
+Health
tips & tricks
ON COOKING HEALTHIER FOOD
10 PLUS Mar–Apr 2016
Health+ ating habits have a huge effect on our everyday life and our moods. What you have for a meal can affect your entire day without you even knowing it. People always grab the most convenient meal they can but convenience doesn’t always mean healthy. No matter what adverts say, the best way to ensure you eat healthy food is by having a self-prepared meal every day. Cooking might seem time-consuming, and you might find yourself lost in the kitchen, but here are a few tips and tricks that will surely make a difference.
PLANNING AHEAD It is often difficult for us to recall what we have in our pantry or what to make with the items available on our shelves. More often than not, the items we have on hand are odds and ends that don’t form a cohesive meal or more likely, are way past their use by date! Planning ahead can help you cook faster as well as maintaining a more optimized expenditure on food items. Firstly, start out with a small notepad on which you can write down the meals you know can cook easily, and then listing down the ingredients needed. The next time you go food shopping, you can buy portions for a certain time period, so that you have a clear idea of what is inside your pantry and when you need to shop for food again. You can also maintain a weekly planner, where you have written down the meals you will cook throughout the week and cross them out as you go, saving yourself plenty of time on wondering about what to cook.
BURN THAT OIL The kind of oil you cook your food with affects your level of cholesterol and type of fat inside your body. Unsaturated fat like vegetable oils and olive oils are much more preferred for your health, unlike saturated fat like butter and bacon oil.
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Health+
Unsaturated fat increases the amount of HDLs and lowers the amount of LDLs in your blood which is good for your heart and your body! So replace those sticks of butter with bottles of vegetable and olive oils. This will lower the cholesterol count in the meals you cook, keeping them light and healthy.
PROTEIN CHECK Maintaining a balanced diet is important when you think of having healthy food and so is keeping a portion of protein in your everyday meals. Our body needs a regular dose of protein to maintain the building of enzymes and hormones in our body. While going down the healthy route, it would be wise to ensure excess fat is trimmed off from the protein when considering beef, mutton or poultry for cooking dishes. Fish and eggs are a great alternative source of protein and they cook much faster than the proteins mentioned above. They also require less time to prepare.
ADDING GREENS AND FRUITS We often forget that our body is in dire need of fiber and nutrients we get from vegetables and fruits. They ensure proper functioning of several parts of our body, including our digestive system. These are quite popular in Asian cuisines and they take a really short amount of time to be prepped and cooked, like stir-fries, steamed meals, and salads. Increasing the number of greens and fruits in your cooking is effortless and good for your health.
SEASONING Sauces and spices can be used generously to heighten the taste of your dish. But it is also important to take into account the amount of sodium you use as it elevates the heart rate and nerve impulses. Always use only as much as needed and not overdo with salt.
Do yourself and your body a huge favor, make the change!
EASE UP ON PORTIONS Nutritionists advise having meals in small portions every few hours rather than having three big meals in one go. The same amount of food prepared can be stored away and can be consumed every now and then. This gives our body time to process the nutrients, which makes you less hungry and more active.
COOKING METHODS The way you cook your food can also change how healthy your meals are. Baking in the oven reduces the amount of oil you would normally need when cooking in a pot. Using pressure-cookers help in fast cooking, saving time in dishes that would normally take hours. Using paper bags and foils because heating something for a long time makes it lose its nutrients whereas cooking them in a closed space prevents that from happening. And there is always steaming, which keeps the nutrients of the meals intact as nothing is being drained away in excess water. You can change techniques every now and then according to your needs.
DAIRY STOCK Rather than using double cream and full cream milk, you can use a healthier alternative like skimmed milk and low-fat fresh cream and yogurt as the base of your cooking. While the others are low in fat, yogurt helps in digestion and lowers cholesterol in your body.
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Mar–Apr 2016
+Health
GO NUTS WITH PB
W
ho can resist the creamy and indulgent experience of licking a spoonful of peanut butter from the jar? Well, now you can use health as an excuse to do so! While most people instinctively shy away from peanut butter with the ingrained idea that something that tastes so good couldn’t possibly be healthy for your body, it is a fact that peanut butter packs quite the amount of calories (two tablespoons contain about 200 calories, yikes). However, the other nutrients contained in these tiny legumes make it worth adding to your weekly meal prep.
PB FOR WEIGHT LOSS? Even though it is packed with about 180–210 calories per serving, peanut butter can actually help make you lose weight as the amount of fibre and protein found in it keeps you feeling fuller for longer. The indulgent nature of the snack can also help sate any cravings you might have, making it easier to stick to
16 PLUS Mar–Apr 2016
your healthy eating plans and fitness goals.
DON’T WORRY, IT’S THE GOOD GUYS Peanut butter does contain high amounts of fat but an article from Harvard Medical School explained that not all fat should be avoided and as with anything in life; moderation is key. Two tablespoons of peanut butter were quoted to have 3.3 grams of saturated fat and 12.3 grams of unsaturated fat, an admirable ratio similar to the likes of another healthy food star; olive oil. Saturated fat has been notorious in the media as a cause of coronary heart disease and other cardiovascular issues but when taken in the appropriate amounts, saturated fat can help increase the amount
of good HDL to improve circulation. Not only that, it is also necessary to include saturated fat in one’s diet to promote the production of crucial hormones such as testosterone and vitamins like vitamin D. Unsaturated fat such as monosaturated and polyunsaturated fats are the real heroes here as they help lower cholesterol and blood pressure as well as have anti-inflammatory features.
RESEARCH BACKS IT UP Multiple scientific papers have reported the positive epidemiological effects of including peanut butter in an individual’s diet plan. The Journal of the American Medical Association found that the incidence of type 2 diabetes was lower in female participants
Health+
who consumed nuts at least 5 times a week. While another paper from the British Journal of Nutrition highlighted the high amounts of antioxidants found in nuts/peanut butter which recorded low mortality rates from cardiovascular diseases with increased consumption. Nuts also have a significant power against gallstone diseases and lowering the risk of weight gain and obesity in the long run.
amount of artificial sugar, salt and additives listed on the jar. Try to go for natural or organic brands, which typically contain about 2 grams of sugar — about half of what most commercial brands contain. Whether you prefer your peanut butter to be completely smooth or would rather have a bit more crunch in your life, it’s up to you.
SHOP SMART
SNACK IDEAS
Interested in joining the nutty bandwagon? There are tons of peanut butter brands in the market so when going through the aisles, try to pay attention to the
In case you get bored of just spooning it out of the jar (but why would you?), there are plenty of healthy snack ideas and recipes to try out there. For those who can’t be bothered to get fancy in
the kitchen, you can just smear some good old PB on fruits such as green apples and banana slices. Not only does this require ridiculously minimal effort, it’s so travel-friendly that you can bring it to school or work without much fuss. Another easy snack is, of course, the legendary sandwich — slather on that peanut butter and maybe some unsweetened jam/ jelly and you can relive your childhood, or you can even make an elevated version of the classic using two whole grain crackers instead. If you don’t mind putting in some elbow grease, then how about this smoothie packed with calcium and protein, well deserved creamy goodness after a good workout.
PLUS 17
Mar–Apr 2016
+Health PEANUT BUTTER AND BANANA SMOOTHIE RECIPE Ingredients: -- 3/4 cup (175 ml) plain or vanilla yoghurt -- 2 tablespoons peanut butter -- 1 banana -- 1/8 cup (30 ml) milk -- 3/4 cup ice Method: Blend the milk, yoghurt and banana together, add the peanut butter then blend again. Add ice a little at a time and blend, the more ice you use the thicker the consistency of the smoothie.
To make the smoothie as healthy as possible, opt for plain or Greek yoghurt that has less sugar and more protein. Instead of using fullfat milk, why not switch to semiskimmed or skimmed and don’t forget to check the peanut butter label! Less sugar, sodium and all natural is the way to go.
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Fitness+
“She Runs was introduced to the public last year on the 17th of May 2015 and embraced the entire nation with warmth and grace. More than $55k was received from the event and all proceeds were donated to Yayasan Kanser Kanak-Kanak (YASKA). This year, we have extended our warm support to Special Olympics Brunei Darussalam (SOBD), wishing to help more children who are in need.
aims to provide support to children diagnosed with cancer, and their families while undergoing treatment. It aims to increase the awareness of children’s cancer in Brunei.
YASKA is a non-governmental organization that
Our team’s advocacy is to give back to the
SOBD is a non-governmental organization that aims to provide year-round sports training and athletic competitions in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and individuals with intellectual disabilities in Brunei.
society and the community in Brunei. This event aims to gather not only the active professional women but also the youth to help inspire others and bring awareness to charity work. Join us at this event this coming May 15th, 2016 and experience a life turning event filled with excitement, joy and inspiration. Let us all join together hand in hand and do our part, making a DIFFERENCE IN EMPOWERING WOMEN and IGNITING COURAGE!”
“There is nothing quite like empowered women with a purpose, who rise to the occasion. Run forward until you reach your purpose! It’s time for you to RISE and SHINE! Believe in yourself and negotiate ONLY for yourself. Own your own success in whatever you do.” WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD FOR YOU TO BE A PART OF OUR ADVOCACY! Wu Chun, Managing Director Fitness Zone, Brunei
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Mar–Apr 2016
+Event
20 PLUS Mar–Apr 2016
21 KM & 41 KM Trail Challenge
Event+
PLUS 21
Mar–Apr 2016
+Event
Champion of the 21k trail challenge in the Female category went to Yvette Kortekaas
22 PLUS Mar–Apr 2016
Event+
Champion of the 21k trail challenge in the Male category went to Shaminan Haji Mohammad
PLUS 23
Mar–Apr 2016
+Event
Champion of the 42km trail challenge in the Female category went to Tahira Najmunisaa of Malaysia
24 PLUS Mar–Apr 2016
Event+
Champion of the 42km trail challenge in the Male category went to Sefli Ahar of Brunei
PLUS 25
Mar–Apr 2016
+Event
#EHHR
EARTH HUR HEROES RUN
HEROES BN ORGANIZED EARTH HOUR RUN FOR THE 3RD TIME THIS YEAR ON THE 19TH MARCH 2016. THE EVENT ORGANIZER ENCOURAGES THE PARTICIPANTS TO TRAVEL BY CAR-POOLING AND TO BRING ALONG RECYCLABLE TO BE RECYCLED. A SMALL STEP, A GOOD START, FOR A GREATER PURPOSE.
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Event+ Climate change has already begun to transform life and existence on Earth. Around the globe, sea levels are rising, seasons are shifting, temperatures are climbing, etc. Hence, our planet must still supply us — and ALL living things — with water, food, air and safe places to live. If we don't act now, climate change will rapidly alter the lands and waters that we all depend upon for survival! Leaving our (future) children and grandchildren and the coming generations with a very different, sad world!
The environment is a place where we all meet; where all have a mutual interest; it is the one thing all of us share. So let us all keep in mind, Brunei, known to be The Land of Unexpected Treasures, we must take good care of and treasure! Little acts for saving and “resuscitating” the planet, when summed up can be make great progress! For the Heroes, By The Heroes! Happy Earth Hour!
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Mar–Apr 2016
+Event #weareheroesbn @heroesbrunei
Organizer
Supported by
Official Health Partner
28 PLUS Mar–Apr 2016
Venue Partner
Broadcast Partner
Magazine Partner
Sponsor
Official Apparel
Event+
UNITING HEROES TO SAVE THE PLANET HEROES Brunei organized The Earth Hour Heroes Run happened 19th March 2016. Encouraged a good amount of participants, mostly the young generation, to unite for two main goals: To Look deeper into our environment and nature, and to create awareness on a better understanding and view how current global climate change challenges can affect the future.” And send the message to everyone that the power to change the world for the better starts in being their own glow and light, to be able to see yourself, under the stars.
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Mar–Apr 2016
+Life Inspired
C
ome to any events by the collective events, and you’ll probably see Shinny Chia in her overalls panicking over every little thing and zipping through the crowd making sure everything runs perfectly. Behind the scenes, it’s even more exhausting just observing her. It is no wonder then that the collective keeps outdoing itself every single time.
In just two years, the collective has grown rapidly, organising several wildly successful pop-up markets, closing in on the launch of its maker space (the first in Brunei), and organising one of the biggest festival days in Brunei — the BIG 10 Festival. With its ambitious art installations, a large network of creative arts vendors, and a growing pool of talented friends, the collective has become the creative arts events company everyone wants to work with. Yet Shinny is not complacent or resting on her laurels in any way. She is always looking for ways to expand and grow, looking into new avenues to promote the creative arts in Brunei, and discovering new talents to collaborate with. Take for instance the recent collaboration with the Australian High Commission, organising a music masterclass workshop in the collective MAKERSPACE with critically-acclaimed, world-renowned Oudh player Joseph Tawadros.
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Shinny seemingly is fearless in her pursuit of perfection, agonising over little details and working through obstacles many people have already given up on years ago. As some say, no one is a worse critic than the artist themselves, and this fact is apparent with Shinny. Self-admittedly critical of her own work, Shinny is always taking inspiration from outside of Brunei, bringing in ideas from all over the world to better herself and to better her own events. At the same time, she is adamant about collaborating with local talents, believing that many of Brunei’s artists are still yet to be discovered. Shinny has been instrumental in helping Brunei’s creative arts movement flourish. One example is the Borneo Wildlife Arts Festival, which featured impressive wire-mesh art installations of endangered animals crafted by art students. It was held in the maker space, something that has been Shinny’s dream to have. The MAKERSPACE is one of her ways to contribute to the growth of the creative arts, providing a place for artists to gather and create. With many planned projects, collaborations, and dreams, Shinny and the collective are about to embark on an even more challenging yet exciting era of the company. One cannot be faulted for being thrilled for what lays ahead.
Life Inspired+
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Mar–Apr 2016
+Life Inspired Q: What’s something you struggle with as a female entrepreneur that’s unique in Brunei? A: We have a really good amount of female empowerment here on a corporate level actually. I don’t know if that’s specific only to Brunei but I do tend to see more of a ‘girls have to stick together’ kind of vibe overseas and ladies are quite supportive and very proactive about supporting your fellow girlbosses whereas here I find female entrepreneurs in the same industry tend to undercut each other and male entrepreneurs tend to stick together and help each other out more. That is a minority, though. Q: How do you think you can manage that negative competitiveness and turn it into something positive? A: I think you just have to try to be friends with everybody. You can’t really help how people want to behave, but if you go in with the intention of being somebody’s friend and you keep pushing the message that it’s important for everyone to be supportive as opposed to looking out for yourself, or doing things that aren’t necessarily respectful or great to someone else but helps your business first and foremost. There’s just a fine balance, which I think people pick up on eventually. As long as you keep pushing those values, people will generally reciprocate. Q: Ever since the collective started, it’s really flourished. What do you think made it so successful, for something that’s never really been done before? What made you take that leap in the first place?
the small market, so how does that affect you and your plans?
like a more tomboy-ish kind of feminine.
A: I haven’t ever thought of it as the market in Brunei being different that makes it harder in this way or better in that way, or that I had to adjust my thinking or anything. It’s just, I look at the opportunities and assess, attack and approach them without concerning myself about whether it’s different or harder or better or anything like that. I think there’s no point in getting caught up in all that kind of stuff. The way things are here are the way things are here. You just need to be creative. If you were anywhere else, there’d be some kind of another obstacle. So you can’t sit here and complain about it.
Q: Lot of people view you as a successful woman?
Q: After the collective, we’ve had a few arts events companies pop up and try to do the same thing. What else do you want to see more of? A: I don’t think I’ve seen any other companies specifically doing exactly what we do as an art events company, though. I think people have their core business doing events and things they do on the side, intersecting with what the collective is doing. I don’t see anyone else doing exactly what we do because we have a very specific style and branding and I think, it’s more of finer details that you see that cross-over. I’d like to see more focus on building really unique branding and styles. For example with jewelry, you can be a jewelry artisan but what you use and how you do things and your branding have the opportunity to be totally different, but that diversity isn’t there yet. That’s the thing I feel is really lacking.
A: Honestly, what made me start was just frustration. I reached that point where I felt Brunei’s art culture needed a shake up and I just wanted to do something. At the time, I didn’t really have a fear of failure and just went in with everything I had and worked hard. I believe in hard work. That’s a key reason most businesses fail or succeed is that determination and commitment to keep going.
Q: How much of your own identity goes into the collective?
Q: One of the things people say about doing things in Brunei is there are a lot of unique obstacles like the ease of starting a business,
A: I don’t mind it. I think it’s a fair call especially since I put so much of myself into it, that it would come out feminine. Although, probably
32 PLUS Mar–Apr 2016
A: A lot I guess. I wouldn’t really put out something that I don’t like. And a lot of the stuff that I do, and the projects that we take on are things I want to do, stuff I want to see, and stuff I find interesting. Q: I heard people describe the collective as quite feminine, How do you react that
A: Really? Q: People do. lot of people do come up to you and say they admire what you’re doing. A: No. Really? Q: Yeah. You just usually say something like “I just wanna do what I do”. You’re pretty dismissive of compliments. A: Yeah, I’m very self-deprecating. You can thank or blame my parents for being big on humility. I hate arrogance. That’s just part of my upbringing, and so I’m not the kind to take compliments and I don’t really see when people try to compliment me. When I do realise I really appreciate it, though. It makes it all worth it when someone is at your event and says “I love the event, and I love what you did.” I’m so glad. Makes me feel like not sleeping for two years is worth it! Q: But your self-deprecation, your partly dismissive attitude towards compliments have definitely affected the collective, in the sense that your events are always trying to outdo the last one. You don’t think the last one was good enough. A: For sure. I take failure to heart, and I never think it’s good enough. Because I know what is out there. On an international level, it’s not there yet. You always have to want to push to be better. Otherwise, you’re going to stay the same and that’s not good for anybody. Q: What do you think of Bruneian female role models here? A: There are some great role models already, especially the ladies in this issue and the ladies we have in residencies at the maker space! I think we need more. Just more in general, especially on a government level. We definitely need more role models doing different things. There needs to be the difference invocation, in different industries, and specific businesses in industries. Otherwise, everyone is just going to have a specific kind of role model that’s not really helpful as a whole.
+Life Inspired Q: You also have residents here. Enya Bijoux, Do it Good Records, Na Forrer, etc. What made you want to have them here in the space? A: We’ve worked with these people in the past few years regularly. We’re all friends now. On top of that, first and foremost they’re all at the top of their game. Pretty much everybody who is a resident here is the best in their field. There’s no one else as successful as Yusrina (Enya Bijoux) in jewellery. Nana (Na Forrer) is one of the prime fashion designers in Brunei. Do it Good Records are the first vinyl store in Brunei. They really pushed high fidelity music and have grown a new trend out of it. B:Read, they’re the biggest reading organisation in Brunei. We tried to pick out a good mix of people at the top of their field and people who we think have a lot of potentials, and who I like working with that don’t have a space of their own and would benefit from it. Q: There’s also a lot of focus on aesthetics when it comes to the collective. A: For sure. That’s just a natural thing to think about when you’re being creative or arty. You’re creating something that makes you feel something and how something looks is a huge part of that. Aesthetics is just a natural part of creative work. Q: What’s your favourite female character in the film? Q: What are your health-related routines that you do? A: I like adventures sports. I like to surf. I like to hike. I love snow sports. I just like sports, in general, doing things that are active. I’m not the kind to just sit around at home and watch tv. I’d rather go out to the beach and go for a surf or a paddle. But I don’t really have a specific routine. I think that’s my personality. I just don’t like routines. Just keeping active in general is important. Q: Let’s talk about the maker space. A: Yay! Q: The space is quite new. Right now it’s not launched yet. Is it going as smoothly as you would’ve liked? A: It’s the first maker space in Brunei! The first space that I’ve ever done, so it’s definitely been a big learning curve. The popularity of the collective has meant that people want to work with us a lot more and I’m finding that I’m not able to focus as much attention on this as much as I thought I would be able to. But it’s happening! It’s coming. It’s definitely going to happen so keep an eye out. Q: With the space, what’s your main aim? A: The main aim is to have a place for creatives to do what they want. That’s why the whole concept of the space is that its first utility is a flexible space. It can be a place for a music gig, can be a place where you can do artwork after school, or somewhere to have a creative meeting. That’s why we also have a retail component of it, because we’re trying to showcase creative lifestyle with the space as well. It’s a place where you can come and create stuff but at the same time look at the things other people are creating. general melting pot or creative hub of sorts!
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A: Jennifer Lawrence. I love Jennifer Lawrence. She’s amazing. She’s so funny, and an amazing actress and really humble and is 100% unfiltered. Q: Music is a large part of the collective. What’s your favourite record to come out last year? A: Did Haim come out last year? No, right? Alabama Shakes then. For sure. Such a good album, and I just love that they’re so effortlessly talented. When you just watch them live, it’s incredible.
Life Inspired+
FEATURING: Shinny Chia ARTICLE BY: Mujahid Johar PHOTOGRAPHER: Mujahid Johar
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Interview with
Anna Aziz 36 PLUS Mar–Apr 2016
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crolling through the Hip and Healthy Instagram account, you can’t help but notice the vibrant and abundant mix of colours present in all the food photographs. If one were not intimately familiar with the concept, one would be surprised that clean eating could look so exciting and mouth-watering. Take, for instance, their smoked peppered mackerel. It’s tastefully garnished with coriander, seaweed, wasabi, pumpkin floss and organic chilli flakes. The resulting visual and texture are nothing short of exquisite. This is not an exception, mind you. Examples of visual creativity and culinary playfulness are prevalent in the Hip and Healthy kitchen. Hip and Healthy’s cold-pressed juices are a mainstay in their food lineup, with amusing names such as Dr Green Love, Phat Beets, and Tropic Thunder. Found in Lifestream Organic or preordered through their Instagram account, they are packaged in their instantly recognisable bottles and is a must-try for vegans, clean-eaters, or juice lovers. The woman behind Hip and Healthy, Anna Aziz, is as colourful a character as her dishes. Passionate about living a healthy, ethical and sustainable lifestyle, she has made it her mission to educate Brunei about the benefits, importance, and also the deliciousness of healthy eating. Anna is constantly playing around with ingredients and recipes while also finding time to organise Brunei’s first wellness retreat in Sumbiling Eco Village. There is no doubt that Anna Aziz and Hip and Healthy are one of the spearheads of the clean revolution in Brunei. She is a constant presence in popup markets, even organising one called The Green Gathering herself with the collective. Anna inspires aspiring health-conscious chefs with her experimental vigour and willingness to incorporate different influences in her dishes. Her passion for it is immediately clear. Approach her at her booth at a pop-up event and ask her about food, and she’ll light up talking about it for a long while. Her knowledge, sincerity, playfulness and enthusiasm for everything healthy really do shine through. In a country where obesity levels are rising and processed foods are dominant, we need people like Anna
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Aziz. Someone who believes in making healthy living accessible and hip to the masses. Someone who is hip and healthy. Q: Introduce yourself A: I created Hip and Healthy, which is an online food business focusing on healthy, wholesome food using organic produce wherever possible. Q: Even the name Hip and Healthy signifies something about the current acceptance of health, that it is hip to be healthy. Would you agree? A: I was just trying to give hipness to being healthy, because before, healthy was deemed as being a bit boring and bland. Not very tasty. So I wanted to inject a little cool and fun into healthy foods without compromising on taste. Q: Who is your main clientele? A: Just anyone and everyone, really. Bruneians are really embracing the healthy lifestyle movement and are more conscious about what they eat and what they put in and on their bodies, as well as keeping fit. It’s not really a trend, more of a lifestyle change. It’s not always easy weaning yourself from food that your body is accustomed to but you can make small changes by introducing more plant-based products and reducing your sugar intake. Q: Did you have any reservations when you started Hip and Healthy or were you confident from the start? A: In the beginning, there weren’t really many healthy alternatives out there, and at the time, it was a very small movement. I didn’t think it would take
off the way it did because Bruneians have very sweet palates. But it’s really grown from there. People’s mindsets and palates are shifting. The market has developed and grown, and I’ve grown too, testing and developing new recipes. It’s not easy to stick to a clean and healthy diet and lifestyle, but I feel, as a
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+Life Inspired nation we are slowly but surely moving in the right direction. Q: Speaking of recipes, where do you get your inspiration? A: Loads. There are lots of great food bloggers, Instagram accounts, and restaurants abroad where I draw inspiration. Inspiration is everywhere. With cold-pressed juices, it was something that I saw quite while ago, and I just said to myself, “you know what, let’s give that a try,” and I went for it. I carefully researched the best machine to get on the market, worked on getting the design for the packaging, the branding and, of course, trialing various recipes. Unlike the slow-press machines which are on the market, I use a hydraulic press which — although is a much slower two-stage process — retains up to 5 times more vitamins, minerals and enzymes than other processes. Q: Hip and Healthy has its own look, a unique aesthetic. What inspires that? A: It hasn’t really been curated or anything. It’s a gradual and organic process. A picture is worth a thousand words, and as they say, you eat first with your eyes. If it looks aesthetically pleasing, then people will be more willing to experiment. If it looks bland and boring, then no one will want to try it. Q: For someone who has never really gotten into health food and is used to having a Bruneian palate, what would you recommend as a starting point? A: A lot of people, I find, are really concerned about counting calories. I’m not into that. Once you start putting real and wholesome ingredients
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Life Inspired+ in your diet, like fruit and veggies, you don’t have to calorie count. A whole foods that you introduce into your diet, the better. It’s the processed foods that you should be wary of, with all the chemicals and additives in them. There are plenty of products in supermarkets that are promoted as being healthy, or are labeled as organic or all natural that are not actually healthy. Usually, they have all these additives and preservatives, and sometimes even E-numbers, which wreaks havoc on our bodies. As a consumer, it’s very misleading and large corporations exploit this. Q: What’s the most common misconception people have about food? A: Probably the low-fat label. People go, “oh, low fat, this MUST be healthy.” And sugar, if you’re not careful, is in everything at the moment. There is this film which I strongly recommend people to watch called That Sugar Film that really breaks this down. Sugar is actually a hidden ingredient. You find it in ketchup. You find it in your regular shop bought juices and ‘healthy’ yoghurts. You find it in all sorts of things. The way it sneaks up on you when you’re not even looking for it or even trying to avoid it. And with sugar, you get that rapid sugar spike and then your energy plummets and then you start to crave that same hit causing you to overeat. Q: Are you a sweet tooth? A: Totally. The obvious thing I love is fruit and yes, they do contain sugar, but like all things you just have to have them in moderation. I’m a huge believer of what you put in your body affects your wellbeing and mental health. I’m not trying to say you have to eat clean all the time. It’s ok to have treats once in a while. Just don’t beat yourself up about it. But if you maintain a healthier diet, you will definitely reap the rewards. In the desserts I make, I use a lot of wholesome, natural ingredients like nuts, such as hazelnuts and cashews, dates, cacao and organic honey. Q: Talking about ingredients, what are your favourite ingredients right now? Do you have spells where you use one ingredient in everything? A: It depends on the seasonality of it, and also the availability. You can’t always get everything in the supermarkets and markets. What I try to do is to
buy ingredients that are readily available, so it’s easier for people to replicate or try at home. There’s a huge hype for superfoods like chia seeds, quinoa and kale. But even spinach is a superfood. The whole misconception of superfoods is that it’s expensive, but a lot of the regular fruit and vegetables we eat are superfoods. Q: How much of your identity comes into play in Hip and Healthy? A: It’s completely me. Sometimes I put a positivity quote [on the Hip and Healthy Instagram]. It’s a bit cheesy but I quite like it. It helps me get by through my day to day when things get tough. You need a dose of good vibes now and then and if it gives a ray of positivity to my followers, then great! Q: Are there any challenges unique to being a female entrepreneur? A: I personally don’t feel there is much, but there are still some restrictions being a female entrepreneur. As an entrepreneur in general, you don’t really fit in the cookie cutter archetype of “finish your degree, get a job.” Although I did the corporate world in London for ten years, I decided to come back. I was juggling different odd projects here and there and wanted to do something different. It really just grew organically from there. As an entrepreneur, it’s more about finding your passion — what drives you. It shouldn’t be about the money. Of course, the money comes into play because you need to make sure that you’re sustainable as a business. If not, then you won’t last in the long run. Being a qualified accountant has helped me learn this early on. Another thing about starting your own business is that you just need to start. Don’t let fear, insecurities or inexperience hold you back. I’m always learning and yes, there will be mistakes, failures and setbacks along the way but you’ve just got to pick yourself up and push through. The time will never be just right, you just have to start. Q: Especially now, when both males and females can be providers and caretakers. A: Exactly. We’re trying to blur the lines in that sense. Our gender shouldn’t stop us or hold us back from what we want to do. Yes, it is a bit tougher, and yes, there is an inequality and the pay gap between men and women still exist but
we can push through and break that glass ceiling. So many women in the public eye are doing just that. Q: I do notice that there are a lot of female entrepreneurs, doing different things. What do you think about the solidarity between them here? It’s so great because in Brunei it’s still at its infancy stage and we all are supportive of each other. We all go through the same trials and tribulations. I have a friend who quit the shipping industry and now has started her own leather skin accessory line. It’s hard. It’s lonely. You’re not in an office where you have friends and you can go for lunch together. You’re doing this for yourself, and the only person that can push the business forward is yourself. So you have to always self-motivate and keep the momentum going. Because without you, the business goes nowhere. Q: How do you self-motivate? A: You have good days and bad days. Surround yourself with positive people who believe in you and have faith in you and push you to greater heights. That’s really important. My family and friends have been very supportive of me from day 1. Q: Do you have any other passions other than food? A: Yes. On March 26th and 27th, I’ll be hosting Brunei’s first wellness retreat in Temburong. I’m really excited about it because it’s never been done before. It’s set in this quaint rustic resort nestled in Temburong’s pristine rainforest, called the Sumbiling Eco Village. A lot of people go to Bali or India for yoga retreats. But this is right here on our doorstep. The weekend will entail daily meditations, yoga sessions, rainforests walks and forage for wild vegetables whilst practice mindfulness and connect with nature. We are so fortunate to be surrounded by an abundance of nature in our beautiful kingdom and we should promote Brunei as being the Green Heart of Borneo, the Kingdom of unexpected treasures that it is. FEATURING: Anna Aziz ARTICLE BY: Mujahid Johar PHOTOGRAPHER: Mujahid Johar
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Mar–Apr 2016
+Life Inspired
Azhani
Daniel 42 PLUS Mar–Apr 2016
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here are many sides to Azhani Daniel, the most public being the social media personality; emmagoodegg. Exhibiting a healthy amount of snark while also highlighting issues she’s passionate about, it’s her own public yet personal persona. With this persona, she also had a stint as a columnist for The Brunei Times, with the title of the column (‘Life in More Than 140 Characters’) referencing social media site Twitter’s infamous character limit. Another side to Azhani is being the Head of Corporate Communications and Social Media for the country’s national airline, Royal Brunei. She has overseen the foundation and strengthening of the company’s internet presence into one of the country’s foremost social media examples. The airline’s much-acclaimed rebranding also benefited from her involvement. Add to that her role as Editor-in-chief for the airline’s in-flight magazine, Muhibah, and it’s easy to see how valuable Azhani is to Royal Brunei’s ongoing attempts to revitalise itself. Azhani is also a loving mother and wife. Her children, Azim, Aman, and Anais, are — as most proud mothers can’t help — a constant presence on her social media. Anais is the youngest of the three and her antics get the most attention from Azhani’s followers, inspiring laughter and adoration in equal measures. She is also an avid bookworm, gladly indulging in her passion for the written word with books by authors in various genres such as J.K. Rowling, Enid Blyton, Haruki Murakami, Sophie Kinsella, and Neil Gaiman. Meet her in person, and you immediately sense her aura of authority, exuding elegance and inspiring a feeling of awe that has led to her being voted as one of the 50 most influential women in Brunei. She is also a proud feminist, bringing awareness and openly discussing issues that face women today, both in Brunei and in the rest of the world. With all this influence, there’s no doubt Azhani is putting it to good use. She advocates for the responsible use of social media and technology. In an online climate where
FEATURING: Azhani Daniel ARTICLE BY: Mujahid Johar PHOTOGRAPHER: Mujahid Johar
fact checking is often overlooked, sensitive content is often shared in inconsiderate ways, and copy-paste culture is rampant and often ignoring consequences, one cannot help but agree with Azhani’s advocacy. What are the challenges imposed by society when you are a successful, career-minded woman? Juggling work, home, relationships and personal life. Balancing job responsibilities, following my passions, going ahead with my aspirations and looking after my family; my kids and husband. All this can lead to challenging circumstances and situations where I may be deprived of
rest, sleep, independent thought and the luxury to be myself. What is your opinion on househusbands? If a family situation warrants that the wife works and the husband stays home to look after the household and children, I believe that there is no shame in it — it should not be perceived as a threat to masculinity. Contributing to the partnership of a marriage does not necessary mean a financial contribution. Who are your favourite heroines of history?
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Balancing job responsibilities, following my passions, going ahead with my aspirations and looking after my family; my kids and husband.
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Khadijah Binti Khuwaylid, the wife of the Prophet Muhammad PBUH. Even before her famous marriage to the Prophet Muhammad, she was an important figure in her own right, being a successful merchant and one of the elite figures of Mecca. She played a central role in supporting and propagating the new faith of Islam and has the distinction of being the first Muslim (and Islam’s first feminist!).
If they are willing to work hard, I believe they will have many opportunities.
And also Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani activist for female education and the youngest ever winner of the Nobel Prize Laureate. At 15 years of age, she was shot while riding on her school bus by unknown extremists. She survived and went on to mess up the narrative of extremists.
It has certainly gotten bigger and brighter and has created many opportunities for businesses and for personal growth. The downside is a lack of filter, because a lot of content is user-generated, and sometimes there is no sense of accountability or responsibility attached to what people publish on social media.
How has motherhood changed you? It has made my hips wider and affected the elasticity of my lower back and upper chest… What do you hope to see change for your daughters? Is there anything unique to daughters that you’re particularly worried about or feel is unfair?
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I hope everyone will look to become more accountable and take more responsibility for themselves. As one of the first and most successful social media personalities in Brunei, how much has the social media landscape changed from when you started?
What women issues do you think are still overlooked here? The biggest challenges everywhere are political participation and economic empowerment — and ending violence against women. No country is spared. Even in the most advanced countries where
women have been elected presidents or prime ministers, female candidates are still subjected to sexist jokes and comments, salary gaps persist, and there are too few women in major public and business positions. In Brunei, I would like to see more female representation in LegCo, even if it means allowing women to run for the office of the Ketua Kampung. Conversely, what women-related issues do you think gets a disproportionate amount of attention? I believe we have progressed beyond positive discrimination. Do you have any health routines or habits? Do you do any sports? Deep breathing and stretching. I took up scuba diving a couple of years ago and I am still trying to level up in yoga, after beginning in 2003. What’s a habit or value you have tried to instill in your kids the most? Financial discipline and to be unafraid to try.
+Life Inspired
Stephanie 48 PLUS Mar–Apr 2016
Koh
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t’s been a long-held view that a woman must choose between being career-minded or being family-centred. The dilemma itself is one that’s often posed to aspiring women who find themselves both chasing opportunities in their chosen careers, and spending quality time raising their respective families.
working mother, a source of inspiration for those who aspire to be as such.
Stephanie Koh thinks it’s a false dichotomy. She has chosen both for herself, being the mother of a 2-year-old, and with another child on the way. She is what one would call a supermom. Juggling her career as a reliability engineer for Brunei Shell Petroleum and her life as a loving mum and wife is no easy task, yet she talks about it as if it’s the most natural thing in the world for her.
Q: What does that entail?
She is also an advocate for recognising women from all industries, especially after having attended the International Week of Women and Women of the Future Awards. As a working mother, Stephanie is also making concentrated efforts in raising awareness and bringing about changes to help accommodate working mothers in the workplace. While she makes it look easy, she knows and empathizes with the hardships of working women of all sorts. After having gone through the many difficulties herself, she has been tirelessly helping to create a working environment more welcoming to women, be it pregnant mothers, or young women going offshore for the first time. The prominent baby bump makes her look positively radiant during the interview. This is a proud mother and an equally proud engineer. It’s easy to bring up the word ‘passionate’ again and again when talking about her. So are other words like ‘dedicated,’ ‘determined’, and ‘tireless’. Even with the big burden that she carries both literally and metaphorically, she still moves and communicates with unmistakable grace. This is a woman who has worked hard all her life and earned her successes. This is a woman who exudes a strong aura even with her careful demeanor. Stephanie Koh is the embodiment of the successful
Q: Would you like to introduce yourself? A: I’m an oil and gas professional. I’ve been in the industry for seven years now. My current role is a reliability engineer. My job entails that I make sure to get maximum uptime for our platforms to maximise oil and gas production for the country. For example, if there is a plant trip, I need to investigate what happened and apply the findings so that it does not happen again. Q: And you recently attended the International Women’s Week event? A: That was the International Week of Women. I was selected and sponsored by the British High Commission of Brunei. This is the first year that the UK Foreign Office organised this to include International delegates and it was very successful with delegates from 32 different countries. Each country had their own representative who attended a week long of programmes. Then there’s the Women of the Future summit, a global forum for future women leaders, assembling a unique community of dynamic current and future leaders. It was a day for us to hear from inspiring and successful men and women from different backgrounds. There is also the Woman of the Future awards. In the UK, whatever profession you’re in — whether it’s science and technology, performing arts, sports, or community spirits — they have this award to recognise outstanding women in these categories. The awards night was attended by the Countess of Wessex. It’s a big inspiration because back home here, we don’t really see people getting recognised for the work they do, whereas with the Women of the Future awards, it is a platform to recognize successful young women who are inspirational stars of tomorrow.
Who do you think could or should do that here in Brunei. I think it should be a non-profit organisation or association of some sort. Probably start small with a few categories recognising the good work that people do. How it works is, you send nominations per category and there is a panel of judges. It’s called Women of the Future, so if our interest is in promoting women to succeed in their careers, then we should have a category for women. Regardless of gender, in this country, we seldom see that kind of recognition. That would be a great platform if we could start something. Q: So you’ve been an engineer for Shell for 7 years. Before, engineering was a male-dominated profession. How do you think that has changed in the past few years? Or has it changed? A: I did chemical engineering for my degree. Back in university, you would see a 70–30 split. Thirty percent female. In courses like mechanical engineering, I think the ratio is still 90 to 10 percent. And this was in the UK. But if you look at the workforce where I am in Brunei, there’s quite a good balance. I’m a productions operation professional, so my line of work starts offshore. I stayed offshore for two and half years. I then did my 2 weeks on and off cycle. I was the first female on my shift on the Fairley-4 platform. But having said that, I also have a lot of friends on drilling rigs. They are either the only female or one of two or three. After I left, there were actually four ladies onboard Fairley-4, and they’ve kept that number up. From a BSP perspective, we don’t really feel there’s a gender inequality. Opportunities are equal to everyone. It’s whether or not you want to pursue it. Q: Why do you think it’s only been recent that women are more interested in doing engineering/ offshore work? A: I like to see myself as a role model and inspiration for others because sometimes people get put off or intimidated by having to live offshore. But the more people do it,
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+Life Inspired the more stories they hear. They get reassured and realise that it’s actually a very good learning experience. That’s one thing that helps a lot.
to go out. My advice: do it as early as you can.
I’m seeing a lot of ladies, whether they are graduates or HND technicians. There are a lot of women trying to start their career in an offshore environment.
A: If you’re talking about the offshore environment, the facilities are still a little limited. We’re still limited to using the restrooms in our own bedrooms. But in an office setting, I don’t think there’s anything different.
Q: You’re also a mother to a twoyear-old and expecting another one. How do you deal with being offshore and being a mother? A: See, that’s the thing. When I started my career, I had my mind set very clearly that I wanted to go offshore and cover the core of my operations in the beginning of my career before I started settling down with commitments. When you’re in the oil and gas business, you really need to be out there to learn the basics to learn what’s on the shop floor. I made it clear that yes, I really want to do this before I settle down with a family. I have a very young family at the moment. There are no commitments to go back offshore in the very near future. But the grounding that I obtained in the two and a half years is a very strong foundation for supporting the team who’s working offshore and running our day-to-day operations. Q: Do you think to be away from family puts off women from going offshore? A: That’s definitely a very big factor. But that’s why it’s very important to consider and take a stance. Do it as early in your career as possible. Most importantly, we recognize that from the office, we are nothing more than supporting those working in the frontline. It doesn’t matter if it’s their kid’s birthday or public holiday, they are the unsung heroes who are looking after and making sure the oil and gas production continues. But without the basic knowledge of how that all works, you would never be able to support them the best way you can. It’s really about making a choice of when in your career you want
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Q: At work, are there any unique challenges to being a female engineer?
If you’re talking about engineering in general, or working in the oil and gas industry, we are really, really lucky in BSP. I’ve always promoted the Women in Focus network within our company. That committee was set up because we found that there were a lot of barriers keeping working mothers happy at work. One of which being that, in the early months of being a mother — especially now that we’re promoting breastfeeding — there were no facilities for mothers to express milk at work comfortably. The Women in Focus network did a lot of work in advocating to make the company build these facilities for the working mothers in BSP. It doesn’t matter which location you’re at, as long as it is a BSP facility, they’re committed to having them there. I’ve spoken to a lot of working mothers in Brunei. My friends are all teachers or civil servants. They have to make do and use empty meeting rooms or classrooms to express milk. That’s one thing that would make women a lot happier at work. Facilities like those. Q: Are there any female role models you look up to? A: My mum, because she is very hardworking. She has a lot of passion for the things that she does. She’s very imaginative and very versatile. Q: What do you mean by imaginative? A: She finds alternative approaches and different ways of doing things, rather than just
going in a straight line. I took a lot of that from her. She’s a very strategic thinker. Q: Do you have any health routines that you try to follow? A: Before I got pregnant, I was a very active netball player. I enjoy swimming as well. But now, I’m quite limited in what I can do. Q: Being pregnant requires being health-conscious as well. What are some of the things you try to be aware of? A: I’m more conscious of superfoods intake, and I naturally crave food like avocados and healthy nuts. That’s about it. I’m not too much of a health freak. Q: Is there anything you want to see more of in Brunei in terms of women being successful? A: After having attended the International Women of the Future Week, I’ve had the chance to meet women from around the world. Not all were mothers yet, but many expressed that some of the factors that kept women off work were things like inaccessibility to affordable childcare. It could mean using most of your salary to pay for childcare. The other factor is that there are still cases of gender inequality where there’s a gender pay gap. We don’t see that in Brunei. One of the things we really under-appreciate is how accessible domestic help is to us. People need to see that that’s already a really big advantage to us ladies in Brunei and also having family who is really accessible and close to us. We should already feel really supported that we have these. I’m in this circle called Lean In and there’s also this book by Sheryl Sandberg titled Lean In. It talks about how when we become mothers, we start thinking, “oh no, I’m going to have too much to handle, so maybe I should take a step back in my career.” But I like to encourage women to lean in more. Don’t let motherhood make you take a step back. You need both. For me, it’s true that family always come
Life Inspired+ first. But don’t ever let yourself step back just because you think you’ll have less time after becoming a mother. It doesn’t have to be a professional career, you could venture into entrepreneurship. Q: Women now want to have a more successful career. There’s less stigma in being careerdriven. What do you think of the concept of househusbands? A: There’s still a stigma with being househusbands, and I would honestly say as well, would I want my husband to stay home and take care of the kids? At this moment, no. Because it’s very funny, but mothers have very high expectations when it comes to managing kids. Funny examples are how often to change a baby’s diaper, or what food to feed a baby. Dads are still very relaxed in that department. Maybe once they step up and be really passionate about what nutritional food they should feed their kid, then there should be no problems about men being househusbands. Right now it’s more of the attitude that “mommy will take care of it.” They don’t have a care because they know the mom will do it. When it comes to your kids, you only want what’s the best for them. It’s very natural for a mom to say, “what are you eating today?”, while dads are more carefree, at least in my case!
FEATURING: Stephanie Koh ARTICLE BY: Mujahid Johar PHOTOGRAPHER: Mujahid Johar
PLUS 51
Mar–Apr 2016
+Lifestyle
International
Women’s Day – What’s it All About?
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The first International Women’s Day Conference was organised in August 1910 to precede the general meeting of the Socialist Second International in Copenhagen, Denmark. Russian women marked their first International Women’s Day (IWD) in 1913 and the annual date was set as March 8th in 1914 when the day was dedicated to women’s right to vote in Germany. That same year, women in London marched from Bow to Trafalgar Square in support of women’s suffrage, with Sylvia Pankhurst being arrested at Charing Cross Station on her way to speak at the event.
strike for “Bread and Peace”, seeking an end to World War 2, an end to food shortages and an end to the czarist rule. IWD was then made a holiday in the wake of the October Revolution but was not declared a non-working day until many years later in 1965. While the celebration of IWD spread predominantly to socialist and communist countries, it did not gain popularity in the west until 1977 when the United Nations General Assembly asked its member states to proclaim March 8th as the UN day for women’s rights and world peace. During World War 2, many western countries marked the date with an acknowledgement of women’s contributions to the war effort and the defeat of Fascism.
In 1917, International Women’s Day was marked in Russia by demonstrations in St. Petersburg, which led to the February Revolution. Women went on
In modern times, the day has been given an official theme by the United Nations (UN) and its popularity has increased with events taking
uesday, March 8th was International Women’s Day — it’s been celebrated on the same date each year since the earliest celebration as a Socialist political event in New York in 1909. Primarily celebrated in Europe and America, it has also spread to other countries ever since it was declared a national holiday in the Soviet Union in 1917. It was originally organised by the Socialist Party of America in remembrance of the 1908 International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union strike.
52 PLUS Mar–Apr 2016
Lifestyle+
place in many countries around the world. Events are usually organised by women’s groups and in 2001, with the advent of the Internet, the global internationalwomensday.com hub was launched to spread the word and publish a free worldwide register of events. The website is sponsored by corporations that are committed to promoting gender equality. The International Women’s Day campaign theme for 2016 is #PledgeForParity and it was predicted by the 2014 World Economic Forum that it will take until 2095 to achieve this goal. This means that there is still a lot of work to be done if we want to close the gender gap on a global basis. While younger women may feel that all the battles have been won when it comes to women’s emancipation, this is just not the case. Women are still not paid equally, they’re still not present in equal numbers in business and politics and, on a global basis, women’s education, health and safety (particularly when it comes to violence perpetrated against
women) are not equal to that enjoyed by men. International Women’s Day and the International Women’s Movement is a global network of rich and diverse local activities which connect women from all around the world. With political rallies, networking events, business conferences, women’s craft markets, theatrical performances, fashion parades and other events relevant to local or national communities, the march towards progress goes on. Much has already been achieved, but there is still so much that needs to be conquered. Nowadays, with so many global corporations jumping on the bandwagon to actively support IWD by running their own campaigns, it’s becoming easier to see the light at the end of the tunnel. The world has changed and will carry on changing and we’ve seen significant changes in attitudes towards women in the last hundred years. Hopefully, this 21st century will be the one in which we do achieve equality for all, making the world a much fairer place. There are more women in politics and business than ever before and we’re undergoing a real sea change as women across the world unite in a quest for equality and peace.
PLUS 53
Mar–Apr 2016
+Lifestyle
Nurturing Like a Lady, Taking The Lead Like a Man —
The Power Of Being A Woman (SHE RUNS 2016) Article by: Shelley Busque
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hat does it mean and how does it feel to be “a woman”?
I’ve come across funny definitions of women on the Internet and in print as well, along the lines of women being indecisive and changing their minds constantly, that we are irrational beings when it comes to arguments, that we’re grumpy and a lot more (you get the point, right?). I have been around and am surrounded by beautiful women — women that shine, and inspire me in many ways. This is how I came to find that women are great at empowering others, tuning into people’s needs, building good and lasting relationships and balancing a staggering number of responsibilities — and these are great assets, not liabilities, may it be at the workplace or at home. Women are responsible for much of the beauty in the world. We create pretty things, do pretty things and we look forward to what’s beautiful along the way. “What lies behind us and what lies before us, are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”, American Poet Ralph Waldo Emerson once said (it took me several hours to actually absorb what it really meant). Little did Mr. Emerson know, what he said would sum up the past, present and future of our women today, globally.
54 PLUS Mar–Apr 2016
Taking a good look at our history, women have been stereotyped as weak and looked down on as inferior. Who would’ve known, that oppressed women would emerge as powerful pillars of society? At present, women are assuming the roles of litigation lawyers, doctors, CEOs of big companies (such as Shery Sandberg for instance, author of one of my personal favorite books LEAN IN, Facebook Chief Operating Officer, Board Member of The Walt Disney Company and in 2012, was included in *TIMES Magazine’s 100 most influential people) and high positions in the government of many countries. There is also an increasing number of women today that have become activists against child abuse and violence. Some of us are proponents of human and animal rights. In engaging ourselves, us women pour our whole hearts into these causes and in general, with whatever we do. Women’s sense of self has become defined by their accomplishments. The ability to make a difference in the world. As women, we can wisely pick up things for cheap and snap up deals/ bargains at the mall or splurge on unlimited chocolate bars to pacify ourselves when trying to overcome unforeseen and uncontrollable situations. Women can cry easily over
heartfelt movies, but also get a thrill from CSI. We are soft beings, who get easily touched by the sight of adorable babies, and outraged by violence. No matter what the case may have been in the hunting-and-gathering societies of our yesteryears, at present, women everywhere are hunting for independence and validation as a part of their self-fulfillment. Over time, us women have learned to master remote controls (yes), change tires, support ourselves, and successfully raise children on our own. Hence, amidst the unavoidable evolution of women, we can go and pursue what we really want, but at the same time, are not frightened to seek help. We can say what we mean, without being mean when we say it (sometimes). We can empathetically place our feet in the shoes of others, without losing direction. Women can hug each other in public and show emotion openly. Best of all (in my personal experience), we might not know how to solve all our problems right away, but still try our best while simply eating chocolate. Raised as caregivers, women have nurturing patience like no other species on this planet. We never tire of listening to the problems of others and are always there to help. When others give up, women have the courage to keep looking for solutions. Women
Lifestyle+ have the persistence to stick around and go the extra mile. Presently, most women all over the world have the courage, to be honest, outspoken, and confrontational in conventional ways. Millennial women can stand on their own two feet or be united to reach a common goal. We are resilient creatures in the face of great adversity. At no other time in history has society been so aware of the power of women. In this sense, femininity is a true personal power. These days, social and business worlds have mostly operated from a masculine perspective. Society has finally come to the conclusion that the lack of female energy is one of the reasons for most of the problems in the business and social world. We live in a time of towering men and depleting characters, enormous profits, and trivial relationships. We have more experts and fewer solutions, more knowledge and yet (it seems) we make less sense. We are faced with corruption and greed E.V.E.R.Y.D.A.Y. Eroding integrity comes our way like an avalanche. We, women, are the snowflakes in this avalanche and every single snowflake is responsible. This is a tribute to all women, that is, to duly to celebrate the power of being a woman. Albert Einstein said, “The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do bad things, but because of those who look on and do nothing”. (Women, how we really love quotes). WE have, as women, what it takes to create a world of human equality. Our time has come to capitalize on our feminine skills, traits and the warmth of our hearts to rock the world. Our strength lies within. These are rewarding times for women. The world needs our intuition to discern, our courage to forge ahead, our wisdom to see the big picture and our passion for humanity. If each woman does something, the collective results will be amazing! There is so much power, richness, and integrity in feminine nature. Women must stand united in their feminine spirit to bring about global changes! May the Force Be With You, Woman! LIVE FIT, LOVE LIFE!
PLUS 55
Mar–Apr 2016
#WEAREVICTORYATHLETES #PLUSLIFESTYLE
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