HlaMin

Blog

  • Associations

    Old Paulians Association

    On June 30, 1963, the OPA (Old Paulians Association) invited the top students from the Matriculation to attend the dinner. I stood 7th in the whole of Burma in the Matriculation examination held in May 1963.

    Invitation from OPA
    • OPA hosted Acariya Pu Zaw Pwe annually.
    • Among the teachers of our times, Saya Beatson (now Sayadaw) is the last one standing.
    Sayadaw Beatson
    • U Khin Maung Htun (GBNF, SPHS58) and U Nay Oke (St. Paul’s) served as Patrons.
    • U Myo Nyunt (Harry Kyaw, SPHS63) is a Past President.

    Burmese American Professionals Society

    I am a Lifetime Member of BAPS.

    BAPS Membership

    I volunteered as a Contributing Editor of the BAPS Newsletter.

    BAPS Officers

    My articles include

    • Burmese Religious Calendar
    • A Sea Burial for Professor Htay Lwin Nyo
    BAPS Newsletter
    • Past BAPS Presidents include Saya U Nyo Win (M65), Benny Tan (M70) and Maurice Chee (M75).

    RIT Alumni International

    Bay Area Alumni Group founded RIT Alumni International
    • I am a member of the SF Bay Area RIT Alumni Group which founded RIT Alumni International and hosted SPZP-2000.
    • I was a core Organizer for RIT Alumni Reunion & Saya Pu Zaw Pwe in October 2000.
    SPZP-2000 Organizers
    • Saya Allen Htay (GBNF, C58) was Leader of the Bay Area Alumni Group. He served as President of RIT Alumni International.
    • A few years back, RIT Alumni International closed down. Maurice Chee visited the Swel Daw Yeik Foundation in Yangon and handed over the Balance of RIT Alumni International account.
    • I have served for 26 years as Chief Editor of the RIT Alumni International Newsletter. A commemorative edition of the Newsletter was published for SPZP-2000.
    RIT Alumni Newsletter
    • In August 2016, Ko Maurice Chee (M75) organized a birthday soon kwyay at Dhammananda Vihara, Half Moon Bay, California. On behalf of the Alumni, Saya U Myat Htoo (C68) presented the “Alumni Appreciation Award”.
    Award 1

    Reunion of SPZP Organizer

    • Ko Khin Maung Zaw (EC76) designed the first RIT web site. He came down from Seattle to attend the Retirement Soon Kway of Ko Maurice Chee (M75). The picture was taken at a sea food restaurant overlooking the San Francisco Bay (within sight of SFO — San Francisco International Airport). Ko Benny Tan (M70), Ko Maurice and Ko KMZ were core organizers of SPZP-2000.
    Reunion of SPZP-2000 Organizers

    NorCal RITAA

    • I am a founding member. I served as a member of BOD (Board of Directors).
    • Past Presidents include Saya U Maung Maung (George, ChE66), Gordon Kaung (Kaung Kaung Oo, M83) and U Aung Myint Oo (EC84). Current President is U Tin Maung Win (C86).
    • Past BOD Chair is Stan Liou (M67). Saya U Myat Htoo (C68) has served as Chair for several terms.
    EC & BOD
    • In 2016, I was presented with Alumni Appreciation Award.
    U Myat Htoo & U Hla Min
    Appreciation
    • Before the pandemic, NorCal RITAA provided scholarship & financial aid to eligible YTU students.
    • At the Annual Dinner in 2024, NorCal RITAA celebrated the Centennial of Engineering Education in Burma / Myanmar and the 60th Anniversary of RIT.

    Toastmaster International

    I am a DTM (Distinguished Toastmaster).

    DTM 1
    DTM 2

    TBSA

    • I am a Past Vice President of Theravada Buddhist Society of America. Past Presidents include Saya U Htin Paw (GBNF, EE58), U Hla Aung (Stanley Khoo, SPHS63, Master Mariner) and Saya U Myat Htoo (C68).
    • I served as Editor of Dhammananda Newsletter and Content Editor of TBSA website.
    Dhammanda Newsletter
    • I served as Master of Ceremony for the Memorial Service of Sayadaw U Silananda. I carried the box holding Sayadaw’s ashes. The monks and devotees scattered the ashes from a boat into the waters near the Golden Gate Bridge.
    • I was a Contributing Editor for the book honoring Sayadaw U Silananda.
    Honor 1
    • I was emcee at the 10th Anniversary Soon Kwyay at Dhammanda Vihara.
    Honor 2

    TMC

    • I served as Translator / Interpreter for Beelin Sayadaw U Pyinnyadipa at Tathagata Meditation Center. Sayadaw moved back to Yangon to head the Hse Mile Gone monastery. He is Chief Resident Monk at Panditarama monastery.
    • I received some books from TMC.
    Dictionary 1
    Dictionary 2

    CHM

    • I served as Docent of Computer History Museum for two years.
    Computer Chess

    ACM

    • I was a member of the national ACM and the San Francisco Bay Area ACM Chapter.
    • I was a volunteer for the talks at the Bay Area Chapter.
  • Happy Anniversary

    Happy Anniversary

    by Hla Min

    Updated : May 2025

    More than five decades

    Our wedding reception

    Enjoying Love Songs

    Music lovers

    Happy 52nd Anniversary to

    • a Caring Spouse
    My beloved spouse
    • a Dutiful Mother
    With our sons
    • a Loving Grandmother
    With our grandkids

    May you be blessed with

    • Good Health
    • Abundant Wealth
    • Unbounded Love
    • Happiness
    • Peace
    • Calm
    • Tranquility
    • … for many more years to come.

    Celebrations

    Cruise Gift by our sons in 2013

    Cruise

    June 23, 2019 Breakfast

    with our sons, daughter-in-law and Myees

    June 23, 2109 Lunch

    Ko Benny Tan (M70) and Ma Angelina hosted a lunch for our 46th Anniversary.

    With Benny & Angelina

  • Name (7)

    Broadcast on November 10, 2020

    Naming conventions

    Disciplines
    Astronomy
    Biology
    Chemistry

    Towns / Cities

    Roads / Streets

    Examinations / Awards

  • Rowing 10

    U Chan Tha

    U Chan Tha

    U Tin Htut

    • Won Senior Novices in 1953 as Crew and in 1954 as Cox
    • Past Captain and Gold
    • President of RIT Rowing
    • Administrator of RUBC
    • Founding member and Past President of BASES (in Southern California)
    • Brother of U Sein Tin, U Mya Maung, Daw Kyi Kyi, Daw Si Si, Dr. Daw Yi Yi, Dr. Than Toe and Daw Khin Khin

    Dr. Harry Saing

    • Dr. Harry Saing was an outstanding athlete in Darjeeling and the Faculty of Medicine.
    • He won the Senior Novices in 1953.
      He is a Past Captain and Gold.
      He usually rowed as Bow in Coxless Pairs, Coxed Pairs, Coxed Fours and Coxed Eights.
      In 1962 he served as Coach and Timing Stroke for the RUBC team with seven new Golds.
    • He represented RUBC in 10+ Regattas in 19 (or so) events.
    • Ko Harry passed away in Hong Kong. Per his wishes, his ashes were scattered near the Hong Kong Rowing and Sailing Club (where he was a Patron).
    • I wrote a tribute to Ko Harry in the Commemorative Issue of the 90th Anniversary. The issue also lists the Inter Club events.

    U Tin Htoon

    • U Tin Htoon joined RUBC in 1954. He is Past Captain and Gold.
      He rowed as No. (2) to Ko Jimmy Saw Lwin and Ko Willie in his early days as RUBC Gold and as Timing Stroke in the later days.
    • He represented RUBC in 10+ Regattas in 19 (or so) events.
    • He won the Venables Bowl for Coxless Pairs with Ko Harry at the 1958 ARAE Regatta in Calcutta.
    • He won the Willingdon Trophy for Coxed Fours with Ko Harry, Ko Victor Htun Shein, Ko Sunny Teng and Ko Sein Htoon at the 1960 ARAE Regatta in Colombo.
    • He won a Silver in Yachting at the SEAP Games with Ko Hla Khin (Burma Navy).
      He cofounded Triple Gems Publication with Ko Harry Than Htut, Dr. Maung Maung Lwin, Ma Emma Tin Tun Myint and Ko Victor Htay Aung.

    Golden Crew

    • Ko Victor Htun Shein, Ko Sunny Teng, Ko Mya Maung, Ko Maurice Tun Thoung and Ko Tin Wa won ten (or so) events.
    • They won Senior Novices at the Monsoon and Annual Regattas in 1958.
    • They won the Color Challenge Fours at the Monsoon and Annual Regattas in 1959.
    • They became Gold in 1960 and 1961.
    • Ko Victor and Ko Sunny won the Willingdon Trophy for Coxed Fours at the 1960 ARAE Regatta in Colombo with Ko Tin Htoon, Ko Harry and Ko Sein Htoon.
    • Ko Tin Wa led the RUBC team to FEARA in 1961 as Captain and Cox of Coxed Fours.
      Ko Tin Htoon, Ko Harry, Ko Victor, Ko Win Kyi and Ko Tin Wa competed in the Coxed Fours.
      Ko Tin Htoon, Ko Harry and Ko Eddie Hla Min competed in the Coxed Pairs.
      Ko Willie competed in Single Sculls.
    • Ko Mya Maung and Ko Maurice competed in the Inter-Varsity race.
    • Ko Victor joined the Air Force and perished in an accident.
    • Ko Maurice retired as Rector of RU Distance Learning.
    • Ko Sunny left before graduation from the Faculty of Engineering (to USA or Canada).
    • Ko Tin Wa and Ko Mya Maung moved to the USA.
      I last met them in Northern California and Southern California.
      Ko Mya Maung is now known as Ko Minn Aung.

  • Never to forget

  • Dean

    Rangoon University has several Faculties (each with its Dean).

    For example, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering

    First native Dean

    • U Ba Hli
      Earlier served as Professor of Civil Engineering and Principal of GTI.

    Interim Dean

    • U Po Tha
    • Dr. Tha Hla
    • Dr. Maung Maung Kha

    Dean of BIT

    • U Yone Mo
      Later became Rector of RIT
    U Ba Hli

  • Ba Than

    Broadcast on September 10, 2020

    Dr. Ba Than (Surgeon, Rector)

    UPI U Ba Than (Journalist)

    Dhammika U Ba Than (Retired Colonel, Writer, Translator)

    U Ba Than (B.A, History teacher)

    Sayagyi U Ba Than (Retired Professor of Mechanical Engineering)

    Other U Ba Than

  • Breath

    Broadcast on September 19, 2020

    Air is freely available

    Breathe in / Inhale

    Oxygen

    First breath (at birth)

    Breath out / Exhale

    Carbon dioxide

    Last breath (at death)

    *****

    Traditions for systematic breathing

    Yoga

    Anapana (Tranquility Meditation)

    Vipassana (Insight Meditation)

    *****

    Deep Breathing

    Shallow Breathing

    Controlled Breathing (using count)

    Equal length
    4/4, 5/5 or 6/6

    Longer exhale
    4/8

    Hold
    4/7/8

    Extremely long exhale
    xx/20

    *****

    Advantages

    Balanced system

    Sleep

    Occasional need for agitation

    *****

    Aids for breathing

    Portable Oxygen Tank

    Ventilator

  • ChE 72

    Chemical

  • St. Paul’s High School

    Broadcast on September 22, 2020

    Founded by De La Salle Brothers in Yangon in 1860 as “St. Paul’s English High School”

    Centennial in 1960

    Sesquicentennial in 2010

    Recognized as Yangon Heritage Site

    *****

    Alumni

    U Aung Zan Wai survived July 19, 1947
    Participant of Pinlon Agreement

    Dr. Ba Han : Law Professor and Lexicographer

    Deedok U Ba Cho : Arzani

    U Ba Khin : First in Burma, first native Auditor General, Vipassana teacher, mentor of Goenkaji

    Dr. Ba Than : Surgeon, Medical Superintendent of RGH during Japanese Occupation, Rector of Institute of Medicine, Zwe Ah Nyeint founder

    U Tin Tut : First ICS by Invitation, Minister in Bogyoke Aung San Cabinet and Post-Independence Government, Victim of political assassination

    ***

    Top Matriculates from SPHS

    1951 George Chapman

    1952 Dr. Nyunt Tin

    1954 Koon Yin Chu

    1958 Dr. Soe Win

    1959 Dr. Frankie Ohn

    1963 Dr. Khin Maung U

    1965 Bernard Khaw

    See details in my web site hlamin.com

    ***

    Some of my teachers

    Amelia Kyi : Miss Hong Kong (English)

    Brother Xavier (English)

    Brother Austin (English, Moral and Manners, Librarian)

    Brother Clementian (Mathematics)