The Brunei Times, a private newspaper in Brunei Darussalam, raised B$18,235.55 in cash donations during the Tulong Mindanao Charity Auction and Bazaar held on 8 April 2012.

The charity event, which aimed to raise funds for the victims of Typhoon Sendong (Tropical Storm Washi) in the Philippines, was held at the Berakas Indoor Stadium at 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The Tulong Mindanao Charity Auction and Bazaar was initiated by The Brunei Times, organized by Prismworks Event Management, and supported by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports and the Filipino Association in Brunei (FAB).

The occasion was graced by His Royal Highness Prince Haji ‘Abdul Azim ibni His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzadin Waddaulah as Guest of Honor. He was accompanied by Deputy Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Datin Paduka Hajah Adina Othman, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Brunei Tourism Sheikh Jamaluddin Sheikh Mohamed, and Philippine Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Nestor Z. Ochoa.

Ambassador Ochoa congratulated the organizers of the event for successfully raising funds for a good cause. "The overwhelming response and generous gestures of the various sponsors and the whole-hearted support extended by members of the Filipino Community in Brunei Darussalam ensured the success of the event," he noted.

"I would also like to thank the officers and staff of The Brunei Times, its partner organizations, individual and corporate sponsors, and members of the public who supported the Charity Auction through their presence, assistance, and donations in cash and in kind for the fund-raising event," added Ambassador Ochoa.

Ambassador Ochoa added that with the success of the Tulong Mindanao campaign, he hoped to see more charity events initiated by the Filipino community, many of whom turned out to volunteer their time and bid for the auction items to raise funds for the victims.

Altogether, sixty lots were auctioned off during the event which included all inclusive business-class tickets to Melbourne with Royal Brunei Airlines, electronics, household appliances, vouchers for gym memberships, subscriptions to The Brunei Times and hampers of skincare products, among other items.

Donors based abroad were able to participate through the online bidding done through the Tulong Mindanao Facebook page. A 30-minute gym session with international celebrity actor and fitness guru, Wu Chun, went under the hammer for US$3,888.00 while a one-on-one basketball session with the star sold for US$2,626.00.

All auction items were donated by sponsor companies as part of the effort to raise money for the 600,000 people displaced by Typhoon Sendong (Washi) in Mindanao.

Corporate sponsors included The Face Shop, Jollibee, Ad Sport Event Management (AdSem), Toys R Us, Intracorp (B) Sdn Bhd, The Holiday Lodge Hotel, All Star Sports Café, Butra Heidelberg, Ideal Café & Grill, Sungai Liang Authority, JPMC Fitness Centre, Jasra Harrisons Sdn Bhd (Nestle Products), Syarikat Aliaa, Mc Donald's, Laneige cosmetics, Hi Rop Engineering, Chop Jing Chew and Brunei Times Sdn. Bhd.

The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports waived the fee for the use of the Indoor Stadium for the event. Jollibee provided drop off boxes at all 11 branches to facilitate the collection of items for the donation. END