by Hla Min

Updated : June 2025

From Sayagyi Dr. Aung Gyi (Canada)

• Sayagyi hosted us for two days during our trip to Canada in July 2015.
• He enjoys talking about the RIT days. His account “Coconut Episode” was published in the Swel Daw Yeik Sar saung for SPZP-2002.
• Due to schedule conflicts, he could not make it to the soon kyway on August 20, 2016, but he asked Maurice to order Tohu Thoke. He sent a message to Maurice to be read at the gathering.

Ko Hla Min & family, & Friends,

First of all I would like to mention that I am sorry I was not able to be there for Happy Birthday celebration for Ko Hla Min with all of you. I miss the opportunity of sharing the good time, laughter and the good food with my friends. Although I am not there in person for this joyful occasion, I want you to know that my heart and thoughts are with all of you.

Having said all of the above, I would like to express my deep appreciation and thanks to Ko Hla Min for his years of dedicated and selfless service to keep us informed and connected; and at the same time for keeping the “RIT SPIRIT” alive. I am quite sure all of the RIT Alumni also appreciate and are grateful for this excellent service like me. In recognition of this outstanding community service, I understand that Northern California RIT Alumni is giving Ko Hla Min some kind of an award for which he deserves. I hope that Ko Hla Min will be able to continue this service for years to come, as I feel that no other person may be able to carry out this task better than he does.

I really do not know how old Ko Hla Min is now. The number is irrelevant; what’s important is that he is still healthy and active and he still looks young. With this happy thought my wife and I wish Ko Hla Min “Happy Birthday”.

May you all be happy, healthy, prosperous and free from all harm. Please enjoy your joyful get-together.

With abundant Metta
Aung Gyi

From Saya Dr. San Hla Aung (C58)

Dear Ko Hla Min,

Here’s wishing you all the happiness and the best of everything on your Birthday and praying for many many more returns of the Day.

Thanks also for your tireless effort and devotion towards keeping the website alive and flourishing, and letting all of us alumni stay connected. Kudos for a great job so well done!

With boundless metta,
San Hla Aung

From Saya U San Tun (Sain Fone Wong, M59)

Dear U Hla Min,

We regret that we will not be able to join the celebration of your birthday at the Theravada Buddhist Society of America on August 20, 2016.

There is no doubt that the attendance will be large and all the Burmese foods will be mouth-watering and delicious. We are sure all the attendees will have a good time and leave the celebration venue with a fond memory.

We admire you for all the good deeds and sacrifices you have been doing over the past decade for the benefits to oversea Burmese immigrants not only in the bay area, Southern California, the United States and over various parts of the world. Keep up the good work!

We expect to meet you at the annual Nor Cal RITAA dinner on September 17,2016. We wish you a happy birthday and our best regards to your beloved Daw Sein Yee.

Sain Fone & Sylvia

From Saya Dr. Chris Lee (L Tin Htun, EE59)

Dear Ko Hla Min:

From reading the recent emails in your “Update”, tomorrow will be a great “Happy Birthday Bonanza Party” for you. It will surely be a fun, exciting and memorable event for all attendees.

We wish you a wonderful Happy Birthday and many many more returns.

Best regards,
Chris and Pam Lee

From Saya U Tin Htut (M60)

• Founder & Past President of BASES
• Organizer for SPZP-2000
• Saya will attend the soon kyway on August 20, 2016 and the Annual Dinner of Northern California RIT Alumni Association on September 17, 2016. Thanks.

Yes, I will be glad to join you all in the celebration.
Tin Htut

From Saya U Soe Paing (my mentor at RIT and UCC)

Happy 70th Birthday and best wishes for many more birthdays to come.

SP

From Saya Dr. Tin Win (M62) and Daw Lily Win (T72)

Dear Ko Hla Min,

We wish you a very happy Birthday and many more years with good health, prosperity and contentment.

Best regards,
Tin Win and Lily

From Saya KC Chiu (Dr. Tin Aung, ChE63)

Ko Hla Min,

Happy birthday to you. Your voluntary service in keeping RIT alumni connected is unprecedented and commendable. You deserve the honorable commendation party to be held on 8/20/2016 at Half Moon Bay. If I didn’t move to Southern California last year, I would not miss it for the world. Happy birthday again and many more to come.

Regards,
KC Chiu

From Saya Dr. Nyo Win (M65)

• Past President of BAPS
• Founding member of RIT Alumni International
• Founding member & BOD for NorCal RIT AA
• Saya Allen Htay’s article, “Brother, can you afford US $500?” refers to “U Nyo Win Act” for SPZP-2000. The Act did not need to be implemented thanks to the Golden Sponsors : U Thaung Sein (Steeve Kay, EC70), U Yu Beng (Benny Tan, M70), U Khin Maung oo (Ivan Lee, M69), U Tin Myint (David Ko, M67) and U Maung Maung Than (M79) and the numerous sponsors.

Hello Ko Hla Min,

We all are expecting and waiting for the up coming celebration of your birthday at Half Moon Bay Monastery this Saturday [August 20, 2016]. It’s going to be one of its kind in our RIT alumni community, and surely on the day of the celebration you will be overwhelmed by all the alums, sayas, sayamas, friends and well wishers. I’d like to wish you beforehand a very happy birthday and looking forward to seeing you at the celebration party.

Warmest regards,
[Saya Dr.] Nyo Win (ME 65)

From Saya Dr. Kyaw Sein (M65)

Dear U Hla Min,

Best wishes for your Birthday and many happy returns of the day from this day onwards and far beyond.May good health, happiness, prosperity and success be always with your whole family.

With warm and sincere regards
Kyaw Sein. Prof. Dr.
University of Malaysia
Mechatronics

From Saya U Maung Maung (George, ChE66) & spouse

Dear Ko Hla Min,

See you at the Half Moon Bay Monastery this Saturday.

Thanks for your dedication and untiring effort in keeping us all in touch with alumni all around the world.

Also wishing you the very best on your Birthday and many more to come.

Best regards.
George & Eng Eng Chan

From King Wong (Victor, C66)

Dear Ko Hla Min,

All good and kind words are spoken by others.

My tongue is tied and twisted.
All I can say ” Happy Birthday to You “

BTW, also Happy Birthday to adorable Grace.

Best Regards
King Wong (Victor)

From Daw Khin Khin Kyu (Ann, A67)

Dear Ko Hla Min,

Thank you so much for keeping RIT spirit well and healthy all the time.

Appreciate all your hard work and time well spent. I regret that I can’t come to your BD celebration since I will be out of town that day.

Wishing you many many more returns. Enjoy yourself and be healthy every day.

Best regards
Ann K K Kyu

Editor’s Note:
Daw KKK sent a birthday gift with Maurice.

From U Saim Mayet (M67)

Dear U Hla Min,

Wish you a very happy birthday. I admire you for all the hard work you have been doing for more than a decade to keep us informed about RIT sayagyis, sayamas and other members. Thank you.

Salim Mayet (M 67)

From Saya U Myat Htoo (C 68)

Dear U Hla Min,

I would like to thank you for your dedication towards our alma mater by sacrificing your precious time and your tireless work over a decade and a half to connect all alumni around the world. Your work is unbelievably amazing and you are the inspiration for all of us.

I am very happy that I will be joining you to celebrate your birthday at Half Moon Bay Monastery where you and I among other Board of Directors helped Sayadaw U Silananda successfully develop TBSA Meditation Center to propagate Theravada Buddhism in the western world and beyond.

With ananda metta,
[Saya U] Myat Htoo

Editor’s notes:
Saya served for a decade or so as President of TBSA. He supervised the Last Journey for Sayadaw U Silananda. He scattered Sayadaw’s ashes into the San Francisco Bay near the Golden Gate Bridge.
He plays the ukelele well. He enjoys golf & tennis. He is a Past President of BADA.

Sayadaw U Okkantha (C69)

Happy happy birthday.

Ashin Oakkantha (Victor Aung Chaw).

Editor’s notes:
Sayadaw was my classmate at SPHS and RIT.

From Benny Tan (Yu Beng, M70) and Angelina

Dear Ko Hla Min,

You’ve spent years sharing your amazing memories and wonderful writing ability with all of us from RIT, YIT, etc.

I like to thank you for sharing your wonderful RIT spirit and making a positive difference for so many people. Time is the most precious thing and you have generously shared your time and talents with all of us year after amazing year.

Congratulations and all the best to you on your milestone birthday. May you live long, happy and healthy and may all your dreams and wishes come true.

All the best,
Benny and Angelina Tan

From Daw Mai Khin Nyunt (Rosie, ChE71)

Dear Ko Hla Min,

(a) May I wish to your beloved grand daughter “Grace”. HAPPY 2nd BIRTHDAY AND MANY MORE TO COME

No doubt that she will become a smart little adorable girl. My grandson will be two years in coming Sept. He gives us hope and happiness. Each and every movement is interesting and adorable for us. I’m sure you and Ma Sein feel the same.

(b) Many Happy Returns of the Day. Wish you could spend your life per your wish with Dhamma, family and friends.

Have a nice and memorable gathering.

With Metta,
Rosie

From U San Lin (Robert, EC73, Texas)

Grace is brilliant.

I can imagine how proud and happy you are.

Wishing you a happy birthday too.

Robert [San Lin]

From Maurice Chee (M75)

• Past President of BAPS
• Founding member & Treasurer of RIT Alumni International
• Chaired Working Committee (with Benny) for SPZP-2000
• Financial Controller & Publisher of RIT Alumni Newsletter for SPZP-2000
• Great organizer.

The following is an update [as of August 12, 2016] on alumni members attending and bringing yummy authentic Burmese cuisines:

• Ko Hla Min and family of 5
• Dhamma friends of Ko Hla Min 10 to 15
• Dr Aung Gyi – Tohu Toke (Sayegyi cannot make it but he will send me his speech to be read on his behalf).
• Saya U Tin Htut & Mrs
• U Myo Min & Daw Khin Khin Chit Maung
• U Tin Maung Nyunt
• Saya Myat Htoo & spouse – Ohn-no Kyauk Chau
• Benny & Angelina Tan – Monhinga
• Saya Nyo Win & spouse – Si Tha min
• Saya Maung Maung & Eng Eng- samosa
• Sayalay U Thein Aung & 3 – mango pickle to compliment the Dan Pauk plus curry dishes
• Maurice & Mary Chee – Dan Pauk
• Gordon & Lillian Kaung – Dessert
• Ko Myint Swe & Daw San San Swe – Chin Baung Gyaw to compliment the Dan Pauk
• Walter Tan & Angela – Naan-Gyi-Toke
• Charlie & Diana Tseng – Birthday Cake
• Edward Saw – Chinese egg custard
• Alex Khoo – Sa-nwin-ma-kin and “Mont-Kywe-thee
• Ko Kyaw Myint & 1 – falooda
• Daw Khin Mya Yee – Pe Pyoke (Salad or Fry TBD and maybe Thee Song Hin)
• Ko Hla Kyi & 3 – Nga Pyaw Baung (Banana dessert) ;
• Ko Hla Kyi & company is kind enough to sponsor forks, spoons, napkins, plates and bowls as well as volunteering for erecting the tents, tables, chairs and cleanup.
• Ko Thaung Nyunt
• Daw Mu Mu Kin Htay – Let Phet Toke
• Patrick Naing & Mimi
• Ko Mya Thwin & spouse – fried small dried shrimp sesame noodle
• Ma Thandar Aye & spouse
• Dr Myint Thein aka Maung Ba Thein, nickname: Insein Zay Kaung
• Daw Khin Khin Win & spouse
• Ko Myint Soe
• U Yu Ket (Edward Saw)
• Stan & Lu Lu Liou
• Ko Soe Thu & spouse
• Ko San Lin & family

Daw Kyu Kyu Lin (T75)

Her nickname is “Baw Lone”. She represented RIT in volleyball. She will bring Si Kyet (may be Kyee Oh Si Kyet). Thanks.

From U Myint Soe (M79)

Three photos

From Gordon Kaung (M83) and Lillian Kaung (EC83)

Hello Saya Hla Min:

We wish you the happiest of B-days, and many many more to come!

We will bring a bottle of premium iNapaWine for you and ama to enjoy at your B-day (we know ama will definitely enjoy our premium wine to stay healthy, and take good care of you).

With lots of metta,
Gordon and Lillian Kaung
Wine Maker

From Saya U Khin (Lucien Chen, RIT English, Taipei)

Dear Hla Min,

I have been an ardent “fan” of your RIT Newsletter updates ever since you included me in your mailing list at the suggestion of Des Rodgers many many years ago.

You have made a great contribution to the RIT community by bringing the RIT alumni, sayas and sayamas together through your reports, messages, photos, etc. in the RIT Newsletter and also through your persistent efforts in carrying on the good work against all odds. Who is going to fill your shoes after you retire?

I spent the best years of my life (1964 ~ 1968) at the RIT and I cherish the good old days I had at the RIT with my former colleagues at the English Department such as Saya Desmond Rodgers, Saya U Win Mra, Saya U Joe Ba Maung, Saya Sao Kangyi (deceased), Saya U Kyaw Lwin Hla, Sayama Daw Yin Yin Mya (Terry), Sayama Daw Charity Sein U, Sayama Daw Khin May Lwin (Muriel), Sayama Daw Tin Tin Oo (Toni), Sayama Daw Khin Saw Tint (Anne), among others; my former colleagues at other engineering departments and non-engineering departments such as Saya U Tin Maung (Civil), Saya U Christopher Maung (Civil), Saya Allen Htay (civil), Saya Dr K.C. Khoo (Chemical), among others; and my former students Tin Tin Myint (Emma), Khin Phyu Latt (Christine), Tin Tin Hla (Su Tin), Sai Kham Sang, Pamela Myo Min, George Lim, among others.

I hope you will have a great time at the birthday party that will be hosted in your honor on August 20th at Half Moon Bay, California, by your former classmates, colleagues, sayas and sayamas.

I shall also be wishing you a happy birthday in absentia from this part of the world, and hope you will have many happy and healthy returns of the day in the years to come.

Sincerely yours,
Lucian Chen (Saya U Khin)