Early civilizations celebrate seasonal changes such as the Winter Solstice and the Vernal Equinox.
Stonehenge, Yule Tide, and the sighting of Sirius (in conjunction with the floods of River Nile) have fascinated a wide spectrum of people.
December
December used to be the 10th (and not the 12th and last) month as implied by “Dec”. It has its fair share of religious and social events. It is time for some companies to have the annual shut down. It is time for classic and new stories about Christmas.
‘White Christmas” by Bing Crosby was the best selling single for many years.
“Blue Christmas” by Elvis Presley has been digitally manipulated to feature a duet with Lisa Marie.
Ma Khin Khin Kyu (Ann, A67) e-mailed me with a YouTube link to “iPhones & IPads sending Merry Christmas”.
Thanks to Sayas and alums for sending e-greetings.
Feedback
Roman Year
U Zaw Min (Standing 2nd from Right)
Dear Ko HM,
Happy holidays to you and your family.
Keep up your good work. We never cease to learn something new from our writings.
Latest one being December from the Latin “Dec” for December. To quote a Burmese saying, “Tha De Ma Mu, Gu Ma Myin”. It never crossed my mind to connect the Latin ‘Dec’ for 10 to December. Now that you got me thinking, Latin Sept (7), Oct (8) and Nov (9) stood for September, October and November.
I have read that the Roman year used to start in March (spring time), when the Roman Senate completed the budget for the year and the legions were sent out to fight the enemy. Someone got the bright idea to send the legions out in January to catch the barbarians in their winter camps. The senate completed the budget by January so that the legions could march out during the winter and January became the start of the year.
It is an Order in the Catholic Church founded by John Baptist De La Salle. 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
St. Patrick’s High School (Moulmein)
St. Paul’s High School (Rangoon)
St. Paul’s
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)
SomeSt. Pat Alumni
H.E. Dr. Mehm Thet San
Ko Ko Gyi (Tenessarim, Customs, Burma)
M Singh (RU Soccer)
U Aye (M62, BIT and RU Volleyball)
Jimmy Sein (Tint Swe , C55) Prome Hall/RU (Soccer)
Pway Ain(Htay Aung) RU (Soccer)
U Win Naing (George Hoke Wan) Stood fourth in Burma in Matriculation 1953.
Peter Shein (GBNF) Stood Tenth in Burma in Matriculation 1953
U Maung Maung (M54) Outstanding student 1953-54 Gold Medalist, first in his class of M54. FAO Project Manager
B Singh (RU Soccer)
U Soe Myint RU Soccer Captain (in mid sixties)
Sayadaw U Jotika
U Ngwe Zoe (Peter Gale, Medical Technologist)
U Kyaw Thu (Dennnis Mackey, C73)
SomeOld Paulians
ICS U Tin Tut
U Chan Htoon
Dr. Ba Han
Dr. Ba Maw
H.E. U Than Aung
Vipassa Sayagyi U Ba Khin
U Kyaw Win (Gawsa)
C. Ping Lee (EE)
Some Peterites
U Ye Myint
U Thaung Tin
U Khin Maung Than
H.E. Dr. Kyaw Myint
U Thein Tan
U Myo Min (Monty Han)
Des Rodgers
Albertians
Mehm Than Thoung (Maurice, RUBC Gold)
U San Aung (Sonny)
Victor Htun Shein (RUBC Gold)
U Zaw Min Nawaday
Mehm Tin Thoung (Freddie)
Dr. Robin Chan
Gordon Htun Shein
Saw Maung Maung Htwe
St. Columban Alumni
U Myint Thein (David)
Twante De La Salle Alumni
U Win Maung
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.
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)
Nyunt Wai (Victor Nyunt, 4th)
Thein Wai (5th)
Hla Min (7th)
Aung Kyaw Zaw (Johnny Maung Maung, 9th)
Maung Maung Kyi (11th)
Aung Thuyein (Brownie Way, 13th)
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).
SPHS Sayas and Sayamas
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 :
Dana stands for offering, alms, and donation. It is for Sharing and Caring.
Dana transcends religion and culture.
For Buddhists
Dana provides opportunities to gain kusala (wholesome deeds) before, during and after the offering.
One can share merits when performing a Dana. One can rejoice past Dana and gain merits.
Dana may be performed anonymously, privately or publicly. Dana may be performed daily or on specific occasions (e.g. sabbath, birthday, anniversary).
Dhamma Dana
Individuals, groups and organizations offer free books and CDs covering dhamma talks. They include :
Dhamma Download web sites
Triple Gems Publications
Tathagata Meditation Center (TMC)
An old saying states, “Dhamma Dana excels all Dana”.
Double Dana
Sayagyi U Ba Than donates the Garwara Money that he received from the SPZPs and alumni back to Charitable Organizations.
During one my visits, I witnessed the donation of One Lakh Kyat each to ten organizations. They include : Bo Bwa Yeik Tha, Little Sisters for the Poor, School for Deaf and Dumb, School for the Blind, U Hla Tun Foundation, Nar Yay Ah Thin.
Pyinnya Dana
It may stand for offerings made for the advancement of education (of the people and the society).
There are different forms of Pyinnya Dana. They include :
Sponsoring scholarships (e.g. NorCal RITAA provide some financial assistance to eligible YTU students with the help of RITAA.)
Donating to the “YTU Library Modernization”
Sharing of experience, knowledge and wisdom
Health Care
Swel Daw Yeik Foundation (SDYF) provides some financial assistance to eligible sayas and sayamas for Hospitalization and Frequent visits to the Clinic.
Individuals and groups donated for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19.
Variant strains of COVID-19 were reported in UK in December 2020 in UK; and in Japan in January 2021.
Cash and Kind
RIT Ah Nu Pyinnya Shins donate to the various noble causes (e.g. SPZP, Shwe YaDu, YTU Library) in cash and kind (e.g. paintings, cartoons).
Twinning Program Rangoon University and USA Universities Proposed by Sayagyi U Ba Hli (Dean of Engineering)
Fraternal Twins Maung Maung Win (Maung Yit, Cartoonist, Moemaka) Mi Mi Win (Junior Win, Bilingual author)
Identical Twins Navy Commanders Win Thein Maung and Lin Thein Maung Director A1 Than Htut and Actor/Director A1 Thein Htut
Conjoined Twins “Siamese Twins” Chang and Eng Bunker (Born in Siam, Died in USA) Ma Nan Soe and Ma Nan San (Burma / Myanmar)
First Operation on Conjoinedo Twins in Burma
Dr. Pe Nyun, Dr. Htut Saing and team operated on Ma Nan Soe and Ma Nan San
Dr. Pe Nyun and Dr. Htut Saing are Past Captains of Rangoon University Boat Club (RUBC)
Dr. Pe Nyun passed away in Canada
Dr. Htut Saing passed away in Hong Kong
Independence Day Regatta at Kandawgyi in 1948
1948
Dr. Pe Nyun, Dr. Pe Thein,U Khin Maung Wint, U Tin U and Cox represented Rangoon University Boat Club (RUBC) at the Independence Day Regatta held at Kandawgyi in 1948.
Professor Pe Nyun Award
Award given to Young Pediatric Surgeon
First established in 2012
The award for 2021 will be presented via Zoom Meeting
HlaMin 