Blog

by Hla Min

Updated : May 2025

SPZP–2000

Formal and Informal Gatherings

• USA hosted the First RIT Grand Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe in October 2000.
• The Celebrations kicked off with an Informal “Welcome” Dinner / Gathering” at a Sea Food Restaurant.
  The Main event was the Reunion and SPZP at Embassy Suites Hotel near San Francisco International Airport.
  The Family event was the “Farewell” Lunch / Gathering at a High School.
  

Donors

• Saya Allen Htay‘s article, “Can you spare US$500 and more?” was a major factor for having Donors — large and small — for SPZP-2000.
• In particular, there were Five Golden Sponsors.
  Steeve Kay (U Thaung Sein, EC70, Southern California)
  Benny Tan (Tan Yu Beng, M70, Northern California)
  Ivan Lee (U Khin Maung Oo, M69, New Jersey)
  David Ko (U Tin Myint, GBNF, M67, Northern California)
  U Maung Maung Than (M79, Texas)
  

SPZP-2000 Organizers

U Khin Maung Zaw (KMZ, EC76, web master) copied the names/tags from the very first posting from his album.

Sitting L-R: Saya U Mya Htoo (Civil 68), U Benny Tan (Yu Beng, Mech 70), Saya KC Chiu (Dr. Tin Aung, Chem 63), U Hla Min (EC 69) Editor Extraordinaire, Saya U Allen Htay (GBNF, Civil 58), Saya U Nyo Win (Dr. K H Chen, Mech 65), Saya U Tin Htut (Mech 60), Saya U Maung Maung (George, Chem 66), Daw San San Nyunt (Sandra, Mrs. Thein Aung, Mech 76)

Standing L-R: U Soe Aung (Mech 75), U Gordan Kaung (Kaung Kaung Oo, Mech 83), U Myint Swe (EP 74), U Anthony Ng (Aye Tun, Mech 76), U Mya Thwin (Phillip, EP 75), U Maurice Chee (Hla Myint Thein, Mech 75), U Thura Thant Zin (Mech 76), Sayalay U Thein Aung (James, Met 72), U Myint Lwin (Henry Chee, GBNF, Civil 63), U Khin Maung Zaw (KMZ, EC76), Daw Yi Yi Khaing (Audrey Wong, Civil 84), Daw San San Swe (Mrs Myint Swe, EC74)

All of them, except KMZ, live in various cities across Northern and Southern California. KMZ lives in a city near Seattle, Washington State.

Publications

• The Commemorative Issue of “RIT Alumni International Newsletter” was published for SPZP-2000.
  I served as Chief Editor.
  Henry Lim (U Aung Myint, BAPS) and U Thein Aung (Met72) volunteered as Associate Editors.
  Maurice Chee (M75) served as Publisher (in addition to being Co-Chair, Working Committee; Financial Controller; Logistics Head)
• It featured articles by Sayas and Alumni.
  
• My poem “SAYA PU ZAW PWE” was published in the Newsletter as well as in the ex-RIT website (designed and implemented by U Khin Maung Zaw). Several sayas and alumni contributed to the two series :
  64 “Countdown to the Reunion” articles
  and
  36 “Post-Reunion” articles
  

SAYA PUZAW PWE
Poem by Hla Min

S eems like it was only yesterday
A t our alma mater in a land far away
Y ou taught us to work, play, laugh, even cry
A nd coaxed us, forced us to aim for the sky

P roblems in real life, lab, computation, survey
U nderstand concepts, design, display, …
Z eal, zest, ardor, grit, passion to make it “our day”
A rchitects, engineers, we’ve come here to say
W e honor your metta, your cetana — we fully can’t repay

P resently we meet, alum from five decades we greet
W ith memories true, fond, sweet
E cstatic yet sad that the GBNF could not join this memorable fete

Notes

• The term “SAYA GADAW PWE” has religious connotations.
• Since the SPZP-2000 organizers and attendees profess different religions, the term SAYA PUZAW PWE (meaning honoring the mentors and paying respect to them for their metta and cetana) was chosen.
  
• GBNF means “Gone But Not Forgotten“.
• As of November 1, 2021, the GBNF list for the Class of 69 is 115 (about a third).
• Of the 20 (or so) EE sayas of our RIT days, almost half are GBNF.

Singapore SPZPs

• Singapore hosted SPZPs in December 2002, April 2007 and December 2010.
• Saya U Moe Aung was Chair of SPZP-2002 and SPZP-2010.
• U Nyan Win Shwe (William, M72) chaired SPZP-2007.
  
• Commemorative Issue of “Swel Daw Yeik Sar Saung” was published for each SPZP.
  Saya U Moe Aung (Tekkatho Moe War) served as Chief Editor.
• My poem “SAYA PU ZAW PWE” was reprinted on the Back Cover of SPZP-2002 Sar Saung.
• My poem “SWE DAW YEIK” was printed in SPZP-2007 Sar Saung.
  In my later writings, I use SWEL DAW (following Saya’s usage) instead of SWE DAW.
• My article “A Sad and Short Clip : EE Sayas” was published in SPZP-2010 Sar Saung”.

Yangon SPZPs

• Yangon hosted SPZPs in December 2004, December 2012 and December 2016.
• There was a slight earthquake on the day of SPZP-2004.
• A follow-up SPZP was scheduled for Yangon in December 2006, but changes in Political Climate dictated the SPZP to be rescheduled for Singapore in April 2007 (around Thingyan).
  
• SPZP-2012 was the first to be held at the Gyogone Campus.
• Thanks to H.E. U Aye Myint (EP72) for his initiative to bring back glory to our beloved alma mater, and to the sayas, sayamas, and alumni who made the “Home Coming Reunion” possible.
• There were tears of joys.
• On a sad note, the higher authorities transferred U Aye Myint to another Ministry before he could help the alma mater to the fullest extent.
• SPZP-2012 led to the founding of Swel Daw Yeik Foundation (SDYF), the Shwe YaDu Celebrations (with the planting of 50 Swel Daw Bins), and the RIT-YIT-YTU Alumni Association (ARITA) — to name a few.