by Hla Min
Updated : Aug 2025
Video Broadcast on January 2021
intellectual Strength
Knowledge is Power
Learning
School days
College days
Senior days
by Hla Min
Updated : Aug 2035
Video Broadcast
Text Update : January 20, 2021
Y is an alias for YMCA (Young Men Christian Association), which was founded in Britain and then spread to over many countries.
Several YMCA’s in the US are credited with
by Hla Min
Updated : Aug 2025
Video Broadcast on January 30, 2021
Text Update : February 5, 2021
It is an Order in the Catholic Church founded by John Baptist De La Salle.
A Brother has to take three vows:
The mission of the Brothers is to promote education.
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.
After nationalization, the Honor Roll disappeared.
It was recovered by Ko Soe Nyunt (Taw Win Hnin Si, SPHS66).
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.
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).
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. 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 :
by Hla Min
Updated : Aug 2025
Video Broadcast
Individuals, groups and organizations offer free books and CDs covering dhamma talks. They include :
An old saying states, “Dhamma Dana excels all 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 :
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.
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).
by Hla Min
Updated : Aug 2025
Video Broadcast on January 31, 2021
by Hla Min
Updated : Aug 2025
Video Broadcast on January 2, 2020
According to folk lore, a student went to study at Tekkatho (Tekka Sila) to study under Ditha Par Mauk Kha (Professor). The professor was an expert in Veda. He saw that some calamity (probably death) will fall soon on the student. So, he told the student to return to the village for a while and come back at a later date.
The student did some good deeds on the way back. He moved some fishes from an almost empty pond to nearby stream. He pruned the hanging branches and righted some bent trees. He used some planks to create a make-shift bridge.
On his subsequent visit, the student told the Professor about his actions on the way back to his village. The Professor was pleased to know that the student’s Yadaya had thwarted the ill effects.
Buddha and eight disciples (Arahants) recited Protective Verses for a child (who was under the threat of demons). The child lived to be 120.
“Phaya Koe Su” Pu Zaw Pwe is based on the story. However, the practice got “diluted” with the inclusion of Nine Gyo Min.
The following may be attributed to some then higher authorities who believe too much in the power of Yadaya.
by Hla Min
Updated : Aug 2025
Video Broadcast on January 24, 2021
Thesaurus
Thanks to my Parents and Uncles
by Hla Min
Updated : Aug 2025
Video Broadcast on January 18, 2021
by Hla Min
Updated : Aug 2025
Video Broadcast on January 19, 2021
I fondly remember the days that I had to read / study
I gained experience by volunteering as
Last but not the least, my heartfelt thanks to my beloved parents and their philanthropic forebears for instilling me the passion to help humanity in general and to my alma mater. They believed that “Any thing that’s worth doing is worth doing well.”
by Hla Min
Updated : Aug 2025
Video Broadcast on October 9, 2020
HlaMin 