My parents decided to transfer me to SPHS (St. Paul’s High School) after passing Third Standard from PPBRS (Private Primary Boundary Road School). My brother was then studying for his Matriculation in SPHS.
Unpublished Rules
SPHS has some unpublished rules.
The Brothers prefer students to start from KG, or at least transfer from their affiliated Catholic Schools.
The applicant should have a relative who is a current or Old Paulian.
Sections (A) and (B) are usually assigned to good students.
Newcomers are usually not assigned to Sections (A) and (B).
Even though I placed second in PPBRS, I was admitted to St. IV(D). After doing well in IV(D), V(D), VI(D) and VII(D), I was permitted to join Section (A). I attended VIII(D), IX(D) and X(D).
Class Teachers
My class teachers at SPHS were
Std. IVD : Mrs. A Benjamin
Std. VD : Mrs. Violet Boudville
Std. VID : Saya U Pe Maung Tin
Std. VIID : Saya U Nge
Std. VIIIA : Brother Anthony
Std. IXA : Brother Xavier
Std. XA : Brother Austin
Dr. Thane Oke Kyaw Myint wrote :
I also joined at IVD, moving from St Philomena’ boy school (across the road from Convent). Like you wrote you start with D, then worked your way up to A. Our class teacher was Mrs Benjamin, who had to teach newcomers and plodders from earlier SPHS classes. Once when she was upset with us she shouted “Do you all know that IV D is the waste basket of St Paul’s?“. Nice to know that you were in IV D like me at the start.
In honor of Dana spirit of the people of Myanmar, demonstrated in COVID19 pandemic, Hla Min(EC69), Aung Myaing(ChE72) and Myo Myint(M73), alumni of Rangoon Institute of Technology(now known as Yangon Technological University) present the following poem and attached paintings to Myanmar in particular and the whole world in general. Dana covers sharing and caring: Sharing one’s assets(wealth, knowledge,volunteer work..)with those in need, Caring about fellow citizens especially in times of crises.
အုတ်ဖို မောင်ရင်မောင် Rangoon Institute of Technology 27th June 2020
(English version)
“Sharing and Caring Blossoms in Myanmar”
First words heard as a toddler embraced in a mother’s breast “For all our meritorious deeds we share our merits to all beings, saying Ah Hmya, Ah Hmya, Ah Hmya (responded in unison) Thadu, Thadu, Thadu (Well done, Well done, Well done) Sparkling innocent eyes gentle cries the infant gets the learning and lifelong impact of the words Ah Hmya and Thadu deep down in the heart. This fundamental spirit is ubiquitous and shining in our motherland manifested by various forms of Dana (Sharing and Caring) Donation of possessions Offering volunteer works Dissemination of knowledge The needy gets help from those who can afford Incomparable wholesome deeds shared physically, verbally and mentally to the pleasant ringing of a gong We joyfully proclaim “We share all our merits Ah Hmya, Ah Hmya, Ah Hmya (and respond in unison) Thardu Thadu Thadu” Translated by Hla Min Rangoon Institute of Technology 27th June 2020
Dr တင်အောင် (K C Chiu, ChE63) Past President, BEA Founding member, RIT Alumni International Worked in the SF Bay Area Moved to Southern California after retirement Brothers : Saya Dr. Aung Soe (C), U Soe Thein (EE)
ဦးမောင်မောင် (George, ChE66) Northern California Founding member, RIT Alumni International Founding member and Inaugural President, NorCal RITAA Provided seed money for the fundraiser to send YTU Library Staff for training Spouse : Eng Eng — sister of Saya U Myat Thwin (ChE66)
If one is inattentive for a few seconds, then one can trip or fall.
Take 30 seconds to 2 minutes to change posture.
Don’t climb up a foot or higher without something to hang on to.
Maintain balance and moderation. With control, you can enjoy good food and even wine (or beer).
Enjoy BFF (Best Friends Forever). Meet, greet, eat and be merry.
Laughter is the best medicine.
If you perform good deeds, you get merit every time you rejoice about those deeds.
Be imperfectly perfect.
Better to get a thing done than waiting for perfection (which may never come as in Charles Babbage’s projects).
Que sera sera (What will be will be).
Do not have great expectations.
Buzz Aldrin became depressed after the Apollo 11 trip, because he was only the second person to land on the moon.
Remember the things you learned as a kid.
“I had the blues because I had no shoes Till upon a street I met a man without feet.”
“Brighten in your corner.”
“In life’s rosy morning In manhood’s firm pride Let this be the motto Your footsteps to guide In storm or in sunshine Whatever assail We’ll go onward and conquer And never sail FAIL.”
One can stay physically active by walking, running, biking, swimming or exercising at a gym. One should do proper warm up and cool down.
Saw Maung Maung Htwe (Intake of 64) was Inter-Institute Marathon Champion. He stays fit by running daily and competing in long distance events all over Myanmar. He is the most senior among the active Marathoners. In 2018, I met him in Mandalay, where he had just completed his long distance race. We had a quick chat. In 2019, I saw him running all the way to attend the Reunion and Acaiya Pu Zaw Pwe of the Combined 1st BE Intake of 64 and 65.
Khin Maung Myint (M71) stays active by competing in events in several countries. He represented RIT in Rowing. There are three Khin Maung Myint in the Class of 71.
Mentally Active
One can stay mentally active by reading, writing, playing word games & cards, and meditating.
One can also exercise one’s mind (e.g. recalling the events associated with a picture).
Ivan Lee’s mother lived up to be 102 by being mentally active. She played Mah Jong two hours daily.
Socially Active
One can stay socially active by attending events (e.g. Toastmasters International, Meetups, celebrations).
One can also be active on the Social Media.
I have 2600+ posts in my web site hlamin.com I am Admin or Moderator in selected Facebook groups such as RIT Updates Fun with Learning RU Centennial
The rules change over the years. In 1960, the Top Hundred students were awarded Collegiate Scholarship. Dr. Than Toe placed 99th and won the Collegiate Scholarship. In 1963, those for the non-government schools have to place in the Top Forty to be awarded Collegiate Scholarship.
SPHS 63
In the Matriculation of 1963, five Paulians won the Top Honors.
Khin Maung U — First
Min Oo — Second
Myo San (GBNF) — Third
Nyunt Wai — Fourth
Thein Wai — Fifth
Kenny Wong (MEHS) placed 6th.
SPHS had seven students in the Top Ten.
Hla Min — 7th
Aung Kyaw Zaw (Johnny) — 9th
Winnie Aung (Branch Convent) placed 8th.
SPHS had ten students in the Top Twenty.
Maung Maung Kyi — 11th
Aung Thu Yein (Brownie, GBNF) — 13th
Khin Maung Zaw (Frank) — 17th
Group Photo
SPHS63 Scholarship Winners
Seated Min Oo (Kenneth, 2nd), Khin Maung U (George, 1st),Myo San (Freddie, 3rd)
SPHS stood First in 1951, 1952, 1954, 1958, 1959, 1963, 1965
1951 — SPHS had the Top student.
1952 — SPHS had TopTwo students.
1954 — SPHS had the Top student.
1958 — SPHS had TopTwo students.
1959 — SPHS had TopFour students.
1963 –SPHS has Top Five students.
1965 — SPHS had the TopThree students.
Notes
U Ba Than (M) won Collegiate Scholarship in 1947
U Tin Htut (M) won Collegiate Scholarship in 1953
U Soe Paing (EE) won Collegiate Scholarship in 1956
Daw Aye Aye Kyu wrote :
Aye Aye Kyu (Ch 6, 1969) was awarded Collegiate Scholarship (Roll No. MN 867, 1963 matriculate) for placing among the top 40 students from non governmental schools. (Morton Lane Judson High School, Moulmein) Was placed 36th in the list announced in ‘The Guardian’ Newspaper dated 6th August 1963.
Mega — e.g. 1 MB (Megabyte) = 1024 x 1024 bytes (more than a million). This has roots in using the Binary Number System in computers.
Master — e.g. M.Sc. or M.A.
Medical — e.g. MS (Medical Superintendent)
Medicine — e.g. MD (Doctor of Medicince)
Management — e.g. MIS (Management Information Systems).
MI — Machine Intelligence; Military Intelligence
MIT — Massachusetts Institute of Technology) in the USA. Professor Horwood (MIT) came to the University of Rangoon as a Visiting Professor. Sayagyi U Ba Hli proposed the Twinning Program, and Professor Horwood helped implement on the MIT side by accepting Burmese students for undergraduate and graduate study.
MIT — Mandalay Institute of Technology in Myanmar. BIT (Burma Institute of Technology) was renamed as RIT (Rangoon Institute of Technology) to allow engineering institutes to be opened in Mandalay and other cities.
U Thein Aung (M72) presents the differentiation with U Thein Aung (Met72).
I am Set Hmu — Maung Thein Aung. (I am Maung Thein Aung studying Mechanical Engineering.)
He is Set Hmu Maung — Thein Aung. (He is Thein Aung, who won Mr. RIT award and Sa Lwei Thaing in 1968).
Ba La Gyi vs. Ba Lar Gyi
During his RIT days, U Thein Aung (Met72) was “Ba La Gyi” (full of strength and prowess).
Lately, he has become “Ba Lar Gyi” (nothing notable left).
Khin Maung Win (EP69)
At a 69er gathering, Daw Saw Yu Tint (T69) greeted U Khin Maung Win (EP69) as Sargalay (“sparrow”).
He replied, “I am no longer Sargalay. I have became a La Da (“vulture”).
Kar Ku La Thin Char
Saya U Aung Myint (Pet69, Kyant Ba Hone) drew a cartoon:
“Ah Ba, Kar Ku La Thin Char (Calculus) is fascinating. If you differentiate a La Da, you get a Sargalay. If you integrate a Sargalay, you get back a La Da.”
Palindrome
A palindrome reads the same when read forward or backward.
There are palindromes in languages, music and art. The Pulitzer Prize winning book on Escher (Painter), Godel (Mathematician) and Bach (Composer) discusses threads that are common to Mathematics and Computer Science, Arts and Music. One such thread is a palindrome. For example, a musical composition (which is a palindrome) can be played from the front to back, and vice versa.
The earliest palindrome supposedly occurred in the Garden of Eden. MADAM I’M ADAM and the reply EVE
Napoleon Bonaparte is the first Corsican to attend the French Military Academy. He rose to be a young General, and then an Emperor. He supposedly lamented as follows: ABLE WAS I ERE I SAW ELBA .
There were two early Canals (Suez and Panama) to shorten the sea routes. The degree of difficulty was not the same. It took meticulous planning to build the Panama Canal. It gave rise to the palindrome : A MAN, A PLAN, PANAMA
Parent #1: My son’s only four and he can already spell his name backwards. Parent #2: Oh? And what’s his name? Parent #1: Otto.
Einstein Jokes
In our younger days, there were Newton jokes. Later, there were Einstein jokes.
It is possible that someone processed a joke about an absent minded professor and then attributed to a famous person.
Einstein (1)
It was raining. Einstein took off his hat and hid it in his coat. A student asked “Why?” The reply : “My hat is new and can be damaged. But my head cannot be damaged by the rain.”
Einstein (2)
A ticket inspector boarded a train. Einstein searched for his pockets. The inspector said, “You need not show me the ticket. You are Einstein.” The reply : “I do not know which stop I should get down.”
Einstein (3)
Einstein was carrying a stack of books. He collided with a lovely student. The books fell down. The student collected the books and returned them to Einstein.
Einstein asked, “Which way was I going?” The student replied, “You were going towards the school.” Einstein felt relieved and said, “Then, I must had my lunch at home.
Dr. Win Aung (M62) — NSF (National Science Foundation); Secretary General, iNEER; Attended SPZP-2000; Wrote about his father Saya C Ping Lee (EE) for RIT Alumni Newsletter; Attended First East Coast Reunion; Gave us dinner
East Coast ReunionDinner hosted by Dr. Win AungDr. Win Aung
U Win Aung (TTC, M70) — High School Luyechun for Ngapali Camp in the Summer of 1964; Represented RIT in Swimming and Water Polo; Secretary, RIT Swimming Association; Volunteer, Combined 1st BE Intake of 64 and 65
M70U Tha Htay, U Win Hyat, U Win Aung, U Soe Aung
U Win Aung (M69) — Moved to East Coast, USA; He would phone his former classes very late at night.
