by U Tin Htoon (A60)
My hearty congratulation to members of the Northern California RIT Alumni International, the Steering Committee, and the Working Committee, for successfully organizing the Grand Reunion and ‘Saya Pu Zaw Pwe’ in San Francisco on October 28, 2000. I was extremely happy to be part of a huge gathering of more than 300 people at the Embassy Suite Hotel, where former Rectors, Head of Departments, Professors, Lecturers, Assistant Lecturers, were there together with alumni members, associates, families and guests.
Although I graduated as an Architect (40) years
ago, it seems only like yesterday to be back with them again. I thank
the organizers and the participants for having this wonderful and
memorable opportunity of a life time and I will never forget this
historical event. It won’t be wrong for me to say that the vision and
foresight of the pioneers, knowing the values and importance of
organizational works, established ‘BASES’ and ‘BAPS’ in California, did
the ground work for many years and thus also assisted in having this
historical gathering. However, the turning point was the wise and timely
suggestion made by Saya U Soe Paing and the decision taken the “Bay
area Advisory Group” led by Saya Allen Htay, in taking advantage and
making good use of the information technology. This resulted in getting
connected internationally with RIT alumni around the world within a
short period of time, and eventually culminated into this premier
Myanmar Architects and Engineers reunion of the millennium. For this, I
wish to congratulate Johnny Hla Min and Khin Maung Zaw for their
“cetena”, dedication and concerted effort in starting with a seemingly
causal e-mail service, that led to the birth of website. Without this, I
really don’t know how all of us can get connected within such a short
span of time, and be able to communicate and pass on crucial information
like we have been doing. Thus, I sincerely wish to express my special
thanks to both of you for the valuable services rendered in spite of the
busy work schedule and personal sacrifices. I do hope that you all will
continue to nurture this valuable tool for the benefit and convenience
of our group in particular and that of the Myanmar community in general.
My list won’t be complete without mentioning Benny Tan and Maurice Chee
for their valuable services and contributions made. Lastly, a big thank
you to all those who were actively involved in this great event and
hope that you will understand for being unable to thank individually by
name. Because of your sincere efforts and hard work, the good seeds that
have been sown has started to bear some good fruits. As the seed is, so
the fruit will be. As the action is, so the result will be.
When we all left our motherland looking for a greener pasture, you all
will concur that we do share a common goal, i.e. to have a better way of
life. Because of this event and through the e-mails and the website, I
am glad to know that majority of us have (had) good jobs, good education
for the children and a comfortable life, thus fulfilling our goals.
Some of us have even retired. Some are preparing to retire. The good
seeds sown decades ago have bear fruits which we all have been enjoying.
Thus, it is obvious that we need to keep on sowing good seeds in order
to continue enjoying the fruits of our labor. However, every one of us
might not be fully aware of how this process works. Especially when we
have a Myanmar saying “Pyinnar – shi – ta – di – phyit – khe’ ” (learned
persons tend to lack awareness).
May all beings be happy.
Tin Htoon (A60) California, USA
Editor’s note:
U Tin Htoon’s pastime is reading Buddhist literature and help publish some of them via Triple Gems Publication, and practicing vipassana meditation in the tradition of Ledi Sayadaw, Saya Thet, Saya U Ba Khin and Saya Mr. Goenka.
HlaMin 