HlaMin

Author: Hla Min (Lifelong Learner)

  • De La Salle Schools

    De LaSalle Brothers

    It is an Order — founded by St. John Baptist De La Salle — in the Catholic Church.

    A Brother has to take three vows:

    • Chasity
    • Loyalty
    • Poverty

    The mission of the Brothers is to promote Education.

    De La Salle Schools in Burma

    De La Salle Schools
    • St. Patrick’s High School (Moulmein)
    • St. Paul’s High School (Rangoon)
    • St. Peter’s High School (Mandalay)
    • St. Albert’s High School (Maymyo)
    • St. Joseph’s High School (Loikaw)
    • St. Columban’s High School (Bhamo)
    • De La Salle School (Twante)

    Old Paulians

    They include

    • ICS U Tin Tut
    U Tin Tut
    • U Chan Htoon
    • Dr. Ba Han
    Dr. Ba Han
    • Dr. Ba Maw
    • H.E. U Than Aung
    • Vipassa Sayagyi U Ba Khin

    SPHS Honor Roll

    During our school days, St. Paul’s High School displayed an Honor Roll with the outstanding Matriculates starting from the 1950s.

    Sayagyi U Ba Khin stood First in Matriculation in the Pre-war days.

    The Post-war saw SPHS heading the top list for most academic years. The following stood First in Burma in their Matriculation class.

    • George Chapman (1951)
    • Dr. Nyunt Tin (1952)
    • Koon Yin Chu (1954)
    • Dr. Soe Win (1958) — heading the Top Two
    • Dr. Frankie Ohn (1959) — heading the Top Four
    • Dr. Khin Maung U (1963) — heading the Top Five

    After nationalization, the Honor Roll disappeared.

    It was recovered by Ko Soe Nyunt (Taw Win Hnin Si, SPHS66).

    Old Paulian’s Association

    During our school days, the Old Paulian Association (OPA) was inside the school compound.

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    SPHS63
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    OPA Invitation

    In 1963, ten of us were invited to the Annual OPA Dinner.

    • Khin Maung U (1st)
    • Min Oo (2nd)
    • Myo San (Freddie Ba San, 3rd, GBNF)
    • Nyunt Wai (Victor Nyunt, 4th)
    • Thein Wai (5th)
    • Hla Min (7th)
    • Aung Kyaw Zaw (Johnny Maung Maung, 9th)
    • Maung Maung Kyi (11th, GBNF)
    • Aung Thuyein (Brownie Way, 13th, GBNF)
    • Khin Maung Zaw (Frank Gale, 17th)

    After nationalization, the OPA moved out. Sadly, OPA allowed non-Paulians to “join” for billiards and drinks.

    It took some time, before the Old Paulians — mostly from the late 50s and early 60s — took over the OPA and organized Reunions and Acariya Pu Zaw Pwes. OPA also awarded prizes to the children of Old Paulians who had done well academically (mostly in high school).

    OPA held Acariya Pu Zaw Pwes yearly.

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    Pu Zaw Pwe Invitation

    SPHS Sayas and Sayamas

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    SPHS Brothers & Sayas

    Some joined SPHS from KG. They would know more sayas and sayamas than me.

    After standing second in 3rd standard at PPBRS (Private Primary Boundary Road School), I transferred to Std. IV (D) at SPHS. As Dr. Thane Oke Kyaw Myint noted, most of the transfer students were placed in Section (D).

    Sections (A) and (B) were reserved mostly for the bright students.

    I had to be in the Top Two for four consecutive years, before I was assigned to Section (A) in Std. VIII.

    My Class Teachers include :

    • Ms. A Benjamin (IVD)
    • Mrs. V Boudville (VD)
    • U Pe Tin (VID)
    • U Nge (VIID)
    • Brother Anthony (VIIIA)
    • Brother Xavier (IXA)
    • Brother Austin (XA)

    Ms. Amelia Kyi (“Miss Hong Kong”) taught us English in VI and VII Standards. She would fine 25 pyas for failing the weekly test. However, she would reward 50 pyas for topping the test. My daily pocket money was 25 pyas.

    Brother Xavier taught us English in VIII and IX. He would mark a dictation test starting out with 100 and then subtracting 10 for every spelling error. One of my classmates ended with -130. For some reason, the Albertians said that Brother Xavier stopped being strict after he transferred from St. Paul’s to St. Albert’s.

    After Nationalization, Brother Xavier moved back to the UK. He subsequently left the Order.

    Brother Austin taught us English in X. He also taught “Morals and Manners” for the period when the Catholic students studied Catechism. He was the School Librarian and also in charge of the 8mm projector. Every week, he would take us to the School Library (which had books donated by Ford Foundation and Asia Foundation), ask us to check out a book and then write a review over the weekend.

    For the “Morals and Manners” class, he would ask us to recite poems from the book. The first three who recited perfectly could take “time off for the rest of the period”. I was lucky to win a few special prizes : a ticket to see “1960 Rome Olympics” documentary at Thamada (President) cinema, and a book covering North America (complete with history and atlas).

    He abhorred plagiarism. He said, “It’s okay if you did not time to finish your homework. But don’t copy other’s works. It’s a waste of time for you and me.”

    Contrary to his expectations, I did not end up in the Top Three.

    After Nationalization, Brother Austin moved to a De La Salle School in Malaysia, and continued teaching until his demise.
    

    Saya Sein was our Burmese teacher in High School. He taught us “Mingala Pa Pun Lu Na Ta Tu Ti Sein Ta Ti Ti Mingala” as an example of giving the meaning of Pali words. Saya Sein is the father of Dr. Soe Win (Chemistry, ICST, Retired Principal of UFL)

    Saya Kyaw Sein (brother in law of Saya Sein) taught VII(A) and was our relieving teacher.

    There were several subject teachers and relieving teachers. They include :

    • Brother Clementian
    • Brother Joseph
    • Saya Beatson
    • Saya D’Cruz
    • Saya Nyunt Maung
    • Saya Htay Myint
    • Saya Htwe
    • Saya Lewis
    • Saya Timms
    • Saya Kyaw Khin
    • Saya Johnny Myo
    • Saya M. Hla Min
    • Saya Hla Myint
    • Saya Kyaw Oo
    • Saya Aye
    • Saya San Thein
    SPHS VI D
    SPHS VIII A
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    VIII B

  • Arzani Nay

    My cousin Daw Myint Thwe was celebrating her birthday on July 19, 1947 when the sad news were announced. The birthday celebration was put on hold.

    Arzanis

    Time (or rather a clock) stood still at 10:37 AM on July 19, 1947.

    Seven Cabinet Ministers led by Bogoke Aung San, a Cabinet Secretary and a body guard were mercilessly gunned down. Eight perished on July 19, 1947. Mongpawn Sawbwa passed away on July 20, 1947.

    • Bogyoke Aung San
    • Thakin Mya
    • Deedok U Ba Cho
    • Mahn Ba Khine
    • Sao San Htun (Mongpawn Sawbwa)
    • U Ba Win
    • U Razak
    • ICS U Ohn Maung
    • Yebaw Ko Htwe
    Bogyoke Aung San

    There were several politicians named “U Mya”. Thakin Mya was a leader of an AFPFL faction. He was a “Minister without Portfolio” and was regarded as an unofficial Deputy Prime Minister.

    U Razak and his body guard Yebaw Ko Htwe received their last rites according to their faith.

    The remaining seven were honored at the Jubilee Hall before being moved to Arzani Gon near Shwe Dagon Pagoda.

    In our younger days, we walked to Shwe Dagon Pagoda on Saturdays.

    Martyrs’ Mausoleum

    We would occasionally stop by at the “Arzani Beikman” (Martyrs’ Mausoleum). Nine Oke Gu’s were on display. Four each flanked Bogyoke’s Oke Gu.

    We noticed that there were two tombs in the vicinity: one for U Tin Tut and one for Bo Sein Hman. Only recently did I learn about the “Empty Tomb” of U Tin Tut, Bagyee of Dr. Thane Oke Kyaw Myint.

    ICS U Tin Tut

    Lucky Ones?

    Two ministers (U Tin Tut and U Kyaw Nyein) did not attend the meeting. on July 19, 1947.

    According to “Phaw Kaung Ba Nyunt”, he could not find U Nu (Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies) at his office.

    A few ministers (such as Pagan U Ba Gyan and U Aung Zan Wai) who were seated at the “far side” of the meeting table escaped.

    U Ba Gyan is the elder brother of U Ba Shan (Secretary of the Mathematics Curriculum Committee, and father of Ko Boe Ba Shan [ex-UCC]).

    U Aung Zan Wai was a signer of the Panlong Agreement.

    Some Relatives

    Ma Nge (Nge Ma Ma Than, ex-UCC, daughter of U Aung Than) lost two uncles : U Ba Win and Bogyoke Aung San.

    Sayama Daw Myint Myint Khaing (Maths) lost her father Mahn Ba Khaing.

    Ma Khin Myint Cho lost her grand father Deedoke U Ba Cho. She invited us to a soon kwyay on one Arzani Nay.

    Saya U Tin Maung Thein (EE62) lost his father U Ohn Maung. Bogyoke asked U Ohn Maung for a presentation after the Cabinet Meeting.

    U Tin Myint (GBBF) and U Hla Kyi (sons of U Razak) were RUBC members.

    MongPawn Sawbwa Sao San Htun died in the hospital on July 20, 1947. San Hso Holm (“Sawbwa Lay”, his son, was an Old Paulian, an RUBC Green and winner of the Senior Novices crew coxed by Saya U Tin Htut, a scholar (English Honors (First Class) and two Law degrees), and an excellent writer. The Sawbwas requested his legal services. He was detained on March 2, 1962. After serving in the Education Ministry, he and his family migrated to Australia. His wife (sister of Saya Sao Kan Gyi) published an “autobiography”.

    New Mausoleum

    The “attempted massacre of Chung Doo Wan and his party” was carried out by three North Korean agents.

    One set of bombs did not go off and thus spared the lives of the Burmese contingent. U Soe Minn (son of Dr. Tha Minn — dentist in our younger days) was on duty as Deputy Director of Myanmar Ah Than TV. He was hit by shrapnel, but he survived. The award winning Kyemon reporter, who “switched” duties, was killed.

    • The “new” Arzani Beikman would not have a roof.
    • The nine tombs would be transformed into a monolithic “Gu”.
    • The families of the fallen leaders (e.g. Sayama Daw Myint Myint Khine) would not be invited to State functions and dinners.
    • Top tier leaders are no longer mandated to attend Arzani Day. Second tier leaders would show up as a token of respect for the fallen leaders.
    • The public would have little or no access to the ceremonies.

    Trust

    Did Bogyoke trust his people too much?

    Reports that 200 Bren Guns were stolen from COD (Central Ordinance Depot) did not move the administration to beef up security at the Secretariat (Ah Twin Wun Yone).

    In contrast, the former No. 1 would have three (or more) layers of security personnel. He would not eat anything that has not been tasted by his loyal chef.

    Dots

    There are some other dots that need to be connected. There are some rumors that need to be substantiated.

    Galon U Saw

    U Saw was a former Prime Minister of Burma. He prefixed his name with “Galon” to display his high esteem for Saya San and the Galon Troup.

    During the Second World War, he was detained in Uganda. A head reader supposedly cautioned U Saw that “every person he had met with that kind of head ended up in the gallows”.

    U Saw has hopes and inspirations to return to power in Burma. He presumably had the covert support of some Conservative Party leaders and members who disliked Bogyoke Aung San.

    U Saw was hit in or near the eye by a sharpshooter (supposedly Yangon Ba Swe). This caused U Saw to hold a grudge against Bogyoke and AFPFL.

    Smuggled Guns

    Around 2007, several Classified Documents in the UK passed the moratorium period.

    Those documents became a basis of the BBC Documentary “Who really killed Aung San?”

    According to those documents, the British smuggled Captain Vivian, the man who gave U Saw 200 Bren guns and then misinformed the press that he had died in action. Captain Vivian “died naturally sometime ago in his native Wales”.

    The Martyrs died from Sten Gun shots. The cache of Bren Guns were found in U Saw’s compound. The weapons added intrigue.

    Books and Articles

    The old newspapers cover Arzani Nay in somewhat detail.

    Bogyoke’s body guards include Natmauk Phone Kyaw (writer) and Bo Tun Hla (Tekkatho Nay Win, writer and actor).

    I used to read the articles by Tekkatho Nay Win.

    Dr. Maung Maung wrote a book on the Trial.

    A few years back, I read the book “Who killed Aung San?” by Kin Oung (former Naval Officer living in Australia). His father U Tun Hla Oung “arrested” Galon U Saw and his father-in-law U Thaung Sein (as Secretary of Insein Prison) “kept watch of” U Saw so that U Saw and his team can be “tried” by a Special Tribunal headed by U Kyaw Myint (father of Dr. Thane Oke Kyaw Myint).

    At one time, the public was “barred” from paying respect, and those who tried were detained.

    I did not have a chance to read the revised versions of the book.

    Book by Kin Oung

    I also saw the BBC’s production titled, “Who really killed Aung San?”

    Grudge?

    Several noted that the then Number One never attended the ceremonies. A few hinted that he was a member of the Thakin Ba Sein faction of AFPFL and had some “grudges” for those from the Thakin Mya faction. He was supposedly having fun with the Derby every July in UK.

  • DEC & PDP

    MIT Alumni

    Ken Olson and several other MIT alumni founded DEC (Digital Equipment Corporate).

    Supposedly, there was a protocol in government departments to purchase computers. In order to circumvent that, DEC named their mini-computers as PDP (Programmable Digital Processors).

    CHM

    CHM (Computer History Museum) has a PDP-1 on display. Retired DEC engineers restored a PDP-1. The exhibit has demos : one for play a “primitive” Space War game, another for “playing” music …

    PDP

    PDP-8 is a 12-bit mini-computer used in many universities of that period.

    PDP-11 is a 16-bit mini-computer. UCC acquired it.

    PDP 11/70

    VT-101 (or similar) terminals became the “new” mode of entering and running programs.

    VAX

    DEC later introduced VAX (Virtual Address eXtended) series.

    Gordon Bell was the VAX architect and co-author of the book using CMS (Computer Memory System) and formal methods to describe and evaluate computer systems. The artifacts that he collected for the book project were displayed in DEC as BCM (Boston Computer Museum) with Gwen Bell as the Curator. It later became CHM (Computer History Museum) in Mountain View, California.

    Docent

    I volunteered as a Docent for CHM for two years.

    I gave guided tours (for 45 minutes to an hour).

    One child asked his father how fast the 10 Million Dollar computer (Cray 1) was. The reply, “It’s slower than your PC and your smart phone”.

    U Khin Maung Zaw (KMZ) wrote :

    It was a shame that DEC/VAX/VMS did not take off well as some people hoped. Fortunately, Bill Gates hired VAX/VMS main architect Dave Cutler in 1988, who brought many of his team from DEC, 20+ as reported, as part of the hiring agreement of Dave Cutler.

    Dave Cutler and his team developed Windows NT, New Technology – a 64bit OS, and the rest is history. He has his hands on RedDot, which be came Microsoft Azure.

    Dr. Mark Russinovich, received his doctorate in 1989 from Carnegie Mellon, developed a very popular Windows utility suite called ‘SysInternals’ with his partner. This was a godsend for all Windows Systems Engineers, a Swiss Army Knife, if you will. He also had a short stint at IBM, he also wrote a series of articles comparing Windows NT with VMS?? in Windows Internals magazine. Microsoft eventually acquired the SysInternals, Mark included. Mark is now CTO of Microsoft Azure.

  • Articles by Neikban Zaw

    Neik Ban Zaw is the pen name of my beloved spouse.

    She wrote several articles for the Dhammanda Newsletter.

    A Question and Answer

    Article by Neik Ban Zaw 1

    Wut Hmar Ah Mye Nga Ye Ah Pa

    • The article was published in Dhammananda Newsletter in 2007 .
    • It discussed Wut ဝဋ် and Nga Ye ငရဲ

    Ko Seik Kyan Mar Ye

    • The article “Ko Seik Kyan Mar Ye” ကိုယ် စိတ် ကျန်း မာ ရေး (Physical and Mental Health) was published in Dhammananda Newsletter.

    Saya Kyay Zu

    • One should not forget the Kyay Zu ကျေး ဇူး one’s mentors.
    Article by Neikban Zaw 2

  • Astronomy

    Background

    The astronomers studied and mapped the space objects such as stars and comets first with the naked eye and then with the help of telescopes (optical, radio, …).

    Before the advent of the communication satellites and GPS (Global Positioning System), seafarers had to rely on their knowledge of astronomy for navigation.

    Greenwich is known for its observatory and the adoption of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time). UCT (Universal Coordinated Time) is now preferred.


    Edmund Halley is an Astronomer Royal known for the discovery of Halley’s comet. Mark Twain’s birth and death coincided with the two visits of Halley’s comet.

    AstroPhysics and AstroBiology are some disciplines using Astronomy.

    Astronomy Sayas

    U Ba Min

    • He matriculated from SPHS in 1956.
    • He joined the Mathematics Department.
    • He received MS in Mathematics and Astronomy at the University of California at Berkeley in the USA.
    • He resigned citing medical reasons when he was transferred to Myitkyina College.
    • He opened a shop in Mandalay Zay Gyo. One day, a group of Japanese visited his shop. They were surprised to learn that U Ba Min was a classmate of their Professor back in the USA, They took a photo to show to their professor.

    U Min Wun (Civil, GBNF)

    • He retired as Professor from RIT.
    • He is well versed in both Western and Eastern Astronomy.
    • He is a founding member of BARB. He served as Vice President.
    • He was an Advisor for the Myanmar Pyet Gs Dein မြန်မာ ပြက္ခဒိန် Committee
    U Min Wun

    U Aye Win Kyaw (C70, GBNF)

    • He is a founding member of BARB. He was an EC member & Teacher.
    • He taught Astronomy at BARB & MARB.
    U Aye Win Kyaw (Center)

    U Soe Min

    • He received State Scholarship to study Astronomy in the USA.
    • He taught Astronomy at RASU Mathematics Department. His assistant was Saya U Sein Win.

  • Arithmetic

    • In our younger days, we had to study Arithmetic.
    • Reading, (W)riting and (A)rithmetic were the Three R’s.
    • Burmese version is Ah Thone Lone (for Ah Phut, Ah Yay and Ah Twet.
    • Had to study some subjects in English and Burmese.

    Texts

    • Our elders used the textbook by Workman.
    • We use the book by U Pann Yi (who adapted/translated Workman’s book).

    Rapid Mental Calculation

    • During our younger days, there was an Indian lady who could do large calculations in her head.
    • There was Trachtenberg’s method of rapid mental calculation.
      To keep his sanity in a prison, Tratchenberg developed a method to perform arithmetic operations quickly.

    Short cuts

    • Before the advent of calculators and computers, it was advantageous to learn some short cuts.
    • (a) To find the square of a number ending in five.
    • 115 x 115 = (11 x 12) x 100 + 25 = 13225.
    • It can be done easily in the head.
    • It follows from Algebra.
    • (10a + 5) (10a + 5) = 100a^2 + 100a + 25 = 100a(a+1) + 25
    • (b) use “Casting out the nines” to check if multiplication is correct.
    • It follows from “Modulo Arithmetic”.
    • A number, which is a power of 10, when divided by 9 gives a remainder of 1.

    Abacus

    Some use abacus. There are several variations.

    (a) Most abacus has two sets of bead :
    Two beads (with a weight of 5)
    Five beads (with a weight of 1)
    (b) Some use less beads :
    One bead (with a weight of 5)
    Four beads (with a weight of 1)
    (c) Currently, some after-school classes in the USA teach abacus

    Computational Aids

    Mechanical, electro-mechanical and electronic calculators became computational aids. The early calculators were beaten by a proficient abacus user.

    Computers, PCs and smart devices are ubiquitous.

  • Apple

    • There are 100+ varieties of apples. Most are eaten fresh. Some are eaten as salad. Some are cooked or made into pie or sauce.
    • Grannie Smith was chosen by the Beatles for the logo of their company “Apple Records”.
    • Steve Wozniak (“Woz”) and Steve Jobs formed “Apple” Company to market their Apple computers.
    • “Apple” Company was sued by “Apple Records” for copyright infringement. The judge said that it was okay to use the name Apple for two different domains : computers and music. The judge might be surprised to learn that several decades later, Apple computers are playing Beatles albums on iTunes.
    • Steve Jobs named another product as “Macintosh”. In British English, Macintosh is a rain coat. McIntosh is an apple.
    • There used to be a grocery chain called “Apple Tree” and a restaurant chain called “Apple Bee”.
    • There are words and phrases like Adam’s apple, the apple of my eye, and apple pie order.
    • It is probable that Adam and Eve ate apple in the Garden of Eden. The Hebrew scriptures simply mention the “forbidden fruit”.
    • Sir Isaac Newton was in an apple orchard when he discovered the law of gravity. It is not sure if an apple fell on his head. He noticed that apples fall vertically to the ground. He asked himself why the moon did not fall to the earth.
    • Both men and women have Adam’s apple, but men have larger, distinctive ones.

  • Alumni of Selected Schools

    St. Paul’s High School (SPHS)

    Early alumni

    • ICS U Tin Tut
    • U Ba Khin (Vipassana, First in Burma)
    • U Chan Tun
    • Dr. Ba Han
    • Dr. Ba Maw
    • H.E. U Than Aung

    Sayas who attended SPHS

    • C. Ping Lee (EE, GBNF)
    • U Tin Htut (M, SPHS53)
    • Mao Toon Siong (M, SPHS55)
    • U Soe Paing (EE, UCC, SPHS56)
    • U Ko Ko Lay (GBNF, UCC, SPHS56)
    • U Ba Min (Maths, SPHS56)
    • U Myo Min (UCC, SPHS58)
    • Dr. Soe Win (Chem, SPHS58)
    • Dr. Sein Tun (GBNF, Phy, SPHS59)
    • Dr. Myint Han (CRO, SPHS59)
    • Dr. Myint Tun (Henry Cho Tun, Chem, SPHS60)
    • U Htun Aung Kyaw (Ch, SPHS61)
    • U Ohn Maung (Ch, SPHS62)
    • U Myint Soe (GBNF, C, SPHS62)
    • Dr. Htin Aung (C, SPHS63)
    • Dr. Myo Khin (C, SPHS63)

    Alumni who attended SPHS

    • Koon Yin Chu (Phillip, A, SPHS54)
    • U Tin Htoon (A, SPHS54)
    • U Myint Lwin (Henry Chee, GBNF, C, SPHS55)
    • U Than Se (Richard, Ch, SPHS56)
    • U Sein Htoon (M, SPHS57, RUBC Captain and Gold)
    • U Myint Khine (Norman, C, SPHS57, Boxing, Soccer, Track & Field, Rowing)
    • U Thaung Lwin (EC, SPHS60, RUBC Captain and Gold)
    • U Khin Maung Oo (Robert Gale, EC, SPHS60)
    • U Myo Myint (EC, SPHS60, RUBC Gold)
    • U Than Htut (M, SPHS60, RUBC Gold)
    • U Sein Shwe (M, SPHS61, Luchechun, Dobat, Harmonica)
    • U Aung Khin (EC, SPHS61)
    • U Kyaw Kyaw (C, SPHS61)
    • U Tin Nwe (Milton Sein, C, SPHS62)
    • U Hla Min (EC, SPHS63)
    • U Chit Po Po (M, GBNF)
    • U Tin Nwe (“Cowboy”, C, GBNF)
    • Uzin Aung Chaw (Victor Chaw, C, SPHS63)
    • U Ngwe Tun (C, SPHS63)
    • U Than Win (M, SPHS63)
    • U Khin Maung Bo (Alan Saw Maung, EP, SPHS63)
    • U Min Thaw (Gilbert Thaw, GBNF, EP, SPHS63)
    • U Aung Thu Yein (Brownie Way, GBNF, EC, SPHS63)
    • U Than Htay (M, SPHS63)
    • U La Min (EP, SPHS64)
    • U Hla Min (“Pauk Si”, GBNF, EP, SPHS64)
    • U Han Kyu Pe (A, GBNF, SPHS64)
    • U Myint Thin (M, GBNF, SPHS65)
    • U Myint Toe (M, SPHS65)
    • U Myo Lwin (Stanley Saw, M, SPHS65)
    • U Bo Bo Oo (Oscar Oo, M, SPHS65)
    • U Wunna Sithu (EC, SPHS65)
    • U Nyunt Tin (M, SPHS65)

    Methodist English High School (MEHS)

    U Maung Maung

    Sayas who attended MEHS include

    • U Tu Myint (Winston, M)
    • U Maung Maung (George, Ch)

    Alumni who attended MEHS

    • U Tun Aung (Jeffrey, EC)
    • U Tint Lwin (Daniel, M)
    • U Nay Win (M, GBNF)
    • Kenny Wong (M)
    • U Kyaw Min Thein (Kenneth Thein, M)
    • Daw Saw Yu Tint (Alice, T)
    • Tan Yu Beng (Benny, M)
    • U Khin Maung Aye (M, GBNF)
    • U Win Khaing (M)
    • Maurice Chee (Hla Myint Thein, M)

    Sacred Heart

    Alumni who attended Sacred Heart

    • U Tin Htut (Harry, M)
    • U Win Boh (Robert Gyu, EC)
    • U Tin Aung Win (Oscar Than Nyunt, M)
    • Abdul Rauf (Tin Aye, GBNF, EP)

    St. John’s Diocesan

    U Ba Than

    Sayas who attended St. John’s Dio

    • U Tin U (C)
    • U Ba Than (M)
    • Dr. Thein Hlyne (Min)
    • Dr. Tin Win (M)
    • U Moe Aung (E)
    • U Kyaw Sein (M)

    Alumni who attended St. John’s Dio

    • Uzin Bobby Myo Tun (Errol Than Tun, A)
    • Dr. Khin Maung Aye (M)

    Other schools in Rangoon include

    • ABM
    • St. Augustine
    • Branch Convent
    • Burmese Methodist
    • Central
    • Chinese Methodist
    • Hwa Kyone
    • St. John’s Convent
      Lei Lei Myaing (Amy), Than Than Yi …
    • St. Mary’s Diocesan
      Mae Khin Nyunt (Rosie) …
    • St. Philomena’s Convent
    • Myoma
      Zaw Win …
    • Nan Yang
    • Private Boundary Road School (PPBRS)
      Hla Min, Nay Win, Aung Myint (Thamankyar) …
    • TTC Practicing School
      Win Aung, Soe Win (UCC, PTC), Kyaw Zaw (DCA) …

    Schools outside Rangoon include

    • St. Albert’s (Maymyo)
      Zaw Min Nawaday, Saw Maung Maung Htwe …
    • St. Columban’s (Bhamo)
      David Myint Thein …
    • St. Patrick’s (Moulmein)
      U Aye, Dennis Mackey (Kyaw Thu) …
    • St. Peter’s (Mandalay)
      U Thein Tan …
    • De La Salle (Twante)
    • St. Joseph’s (Loikaw)
    • Kanbawza (Taunggyi)
      Tin Myint (John T Lee) …
    • Father Lafone (Mandalay)

  • Companies and Products

    Apple

    Apple Records is a company owned by the Beatles to produce and distribute their music. It sued the Apple Computer for infringement of the Apple trade mark. The judge decided that the two companies were in different domains. He could not envision that the Beatles music would be offered on Apple iTunes.
    Apple Computer was founded by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. They might have chosen “Apple” for their computer and their company so that it would be listed ahead of “Atari” (the first entry) in the Yellow Pages.

    Google

    Google is an accidental misspelling of Googol.
    Googol signifies a very large number. The value is 1E100 (or one followed by 100 zeroes).

    iPad

    The iPad trade mark was owned by Fujitsu, which had a project to develop an intelligent pad. Apple had an agreement with Fujitsu to use the trade mark.

    iPhone

    The iPhone trade mark was owned by Cisco. Apple had an agreement with Cisco to use the trade mark.

    Mac

    A meaning of Mac is “son of”.
    Apple developed the Macintosh computer. Not sure what the name stands for. McIntosh is an apple. Macintosh is a raincoat in British English.

  • BBS

    Early Days

    The Burma Broadcasting Service (BBS) was located in Windermere Crescent. It later moved to Prome Road.
    U Khin Zaw (“K”) was the founder Director.
    He was succeeded by his cousin and assistant U Pe Thaw.

    BBS was known as “Myanmar Ah Than”. It evolved into “Myanmar Yoke Myin Than Kyar“.

    There were three sessions : Morning, Noon and Night.
    The main programs were in Burmese.
    There were also programs in English and national languages (e.g. Shan)

    Local Talents

    The English section of BBS had a program for Local Talents. U Hla Bu (Percy Loonee), Daw Olive, Daw Allison Tun Ngwe and U Aung Thwin (Eddie) helped run the program.

    A typical session is allocated 15 minutes. An individual or a group can play or sing about five songs. A typical remuneration is 45 Kyats per session.

    Variety Show / Performers

    Occasionally, BBS holds a Variety Show. Some performers are listed in alphabetical order;

    • Andrew Kong — Keyboard
    • Dream Makers — Reggie Ba Oo, Eddie Ba Oo, …
    • Immanuel Four — Phillip Po Ba, Gerald Sao …
    • LPJ (Love Peace and Joy) — Victor Khin Nyo, Thein Tan, …
    • Playboys — Thann Naing, Tommy Kyaw Naing, Kyaw Naing, …
    • Ricky Zaw — Steel Guitar
    • Shamrock Boys — Nyi Nyi and Myint Soe
    • Super Star — Peter Ba Thein, Han Ngwe Tun, …
    • TAMPS — Tin Aung, Austin Xavier, Mra Tun, Pierpont Morgan and Sydney Sann Aung)
    • The Wild Ones — Paw brothers, …
    • Victor Ohn Maung — taught several to play the guitar
    • Win Mra and Des Rodgers
    • Win Sisters — led by Joyce Win / Nwe Yin Win
    • Some people (e.g. Reggie Ba Oo, Thein Tan) played on more than one group.
    • Most groups had three Guitarists (Lead, Rhythm and Bass) and a Drummer.
    • Some groups feature Steel, Hawaiian and 12 String Guitars, Banjo, Percussion and Keyboard.

    Several performers turned Professional during the Stereo Khit.