Blog

by Hla Min

Updated : Aug 2025

Memories of UCC (9)

U Thein Oo (Ah Thay Lay)

He was an entrepreneur in his school days. He supposedly paid his school fees from his winnings from “Ta Chut Hmout” (SHOW or FIVE CARD POKER) and similar games. With great control and having excellent strategies, he was never victimized by “over-emotional” card players. He was also good in sports : as a “lifter” in volleyball and as a “smasher” in table tennis. He joined the Department of Commerce, Institute of Economics as tutor and later transferred to UCC as Application Programmer. His mentors include Saya Dr. Khin Mg Kyi (who attended the University as a monk & is known for his debating style). Saya Ah Thay Lay is equally good as his mentor and may be even better.

Saya did further studies in the United Kingdom. Saya found his soul mate Daw Than Than Tint at UCC. They and their family members (son, daughter-in-law) operate ACE and its subsidiaries. He co-founded MCC (“training & services” company) with a fellow alumni/saya (U Tin Win Aung). He and his spouse have served in various capacities (President …) in Computer Organizations such as MCF (Myanmar Computer Federation).

He is an example of “Great men are short”.

Notes

Some young people might not realize that Burma had talented people in Arts, Science, Social Science, Medicine, Engineering, and Fine Arts.

The following is a partial list of World Class Economists.

● Dr. Solomon served as Dean at Stanford University and Economic Adviser in the Nixon Administration.

● Dr. Hla Myint is revered at Oxford University.

● Dr. Tun Thin was one of the pioneers at the Faculty of Social Science, University of Rangoon. He is highly regarded by IMF (International Monetary Fund) and World Bank.

● Dr. Tun Wai is a renowned Economist.

● Dr. Ronald Findlay was a Gold Medalist at MIT. He served as Research Professor at the Institute of Economics. He then served as Dean at Columbia University.

Memories of UCC (10)

Feedback from UCC alumni

U Zaw Tun (Singapore) wrote :
Saya, we should produce a book after you are done.

Sayama Daw Mu Mu Myint (Professor, UCSY) wrote :
ICST/UCSY will celebrate the 30th Anniversary in March, 2018. A magazine will be published to commemorate the Anniversary.

U Khin Maung Zaw (EC76, Designer and Web Master of the “original” ex-RIT web site) wrote :
KJ , thanks much for posting these old stories, sharing with the rest. We really had many interesting and amazing characters there in those days. We, the three so-called musketeers, made things much more interesting, pushed the envelope so to speak. But thanks to all the Sayas – Saya Paing, Saya Myo, Saya Lay and seniors like you, UTAG etc, we were able to do whatever we felt like it there. I know for sure that we offended many people there, but with the great rapport and support from many of you, our mischievous acts, intentionally or not, were pretty much forgiven. Like I said a few times here, those were the good old days.I would like to thank all of  you for what we did there, and sincerely ask for your forgiveness if we, especially myself, indeed offended any of you. I am indebted to all of you. Sayas, seniors, contemporaries, as well as some juniors, as I learned a lot while I was there.

U Tin Win (EC71, RIT, UCC, FRI) wrote :
In my days in UCC, UTAG was CE and ICL computer’s printer was line printer and it could print only 120 char/line. To get 160 char/line, UTAG modified the line printer by joining the original plastic printer shaft with another short shaft. One day, he came to the engineering workshop and said he would modify it. First he cleaned the desk workplace where he would join the shafts. At that time, one apprentice engineer (Ko Khin Maung) came into the room and saw UTAG cleaning the desk. Then, KKM, shouted, “Whoo!.. actually modification of printer is just Cleaning the desk”.

Daw Myint Myint Thein (Susan) phoned :
I felt young again reading about the good old days at UCC.

Memories of UCC (11)

Mra Tun (Programmer & Musician)

Some may not know Mra (Arakanese for Mya), but he owns a set of equipment — Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar, Bass Guitar, a set of Drums, and audio equipment — to form and lead a band. He was the leader of a band called TAMPS. The band’s name is formed from the initials of the members : Tin Aung, Austin Xavier, Mra Tun, Pierpont Morgan and Sidney Sann Aung. He was a Mathematics major and joined UCC as an applications programmer. There were some difficulties in finding a suitable university in the United Kingdom. He received an offer from the University of Belfast, Northern Ireland but there was violence notably in connection with IRA [Irish Republican Army]. He ended up migrating to the United States. He continued to jam with the local bands in Southern California.

Notes :

The UNITED KINGDOM is made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Mra worked as an independent consultant and as a contractor for IBM. Most of his projects are related to maintaining or enhancing COBOL (Common Business Oriented Language), considered as a “dead language” by some. Recently, he had a project assignment in Sacramento, the Capital of California. He came down to meet and greet Saya Paing at Rafi’s house.

His spouse Mary Hundley is the sister of Bo Bo Han (Tony Hundley, vocalist).

Memories of UCC (12)

In my original posts, I used abbreviations and nicknames. They may be cryptic to those who had not worked or studied at UCC. For example, I would use “Saya Chit” to refer to Saya Dr. Chit Swe, Founder/Director of UCC and my mentor. In the revised posts, I have added actual names and terms.

I have a reasonably good memory, but it is far from perfect. When I am in he flow” or in “the zone”, words flow off my mind with ease. I am not relying on notes and documentation for the posts. There will be unintentional errors, typos, and omissions.

Some Connections

Using the feedback, I have corrected the posts. The following are some who had connections to UCC and its employees.

Ko Tauk Tun (Micky)

He was a volunteer for the UCC project.

Ko Ba Than Aye (Myo Myint Lay, GBNF)

He was a volunteer for the UCC project. He joined the Army.

Ko Myint Oo

He was a volunteer Assistant of Sayagyi Dr. Chit Swe. He transferred to the Phaung Gyi Training School.

Charlie Tseng (EC70)

Saya Paing had recruited him, but he managed to migrate to the United States before the UCC employees were “selected and validated” by PSC (Public Services Commission). Ko Charlie formed a company called VersaSoft with a product that is supposedly easier to use than comparative software such as D-Base software. His spouse Ma Diana Tseng (ChE71) worked for a Division of IBM (International Business Machines). Ko Charlie pays respect to Saya Paing whenever Saya visits the San Francisco Bay Area.

Lucas Lee (Sein Tun, SPHS66)

He is a classmate of Ko Charlie (Myint Lwin, Burma Judo Champion) at SPHS. Ko Lucas studied Physics. He volunteered when UCC was stationed at Mandalay Hall in the main campus. He migrated to the United States. He joined the armed forces and received training in electronics. Later, as a Veteran, he was offered a job at HP (Hewlett Packard). He had a liver transplant many years ago and is doing well.

Ko Toung (Tom Liu, EC69)

He attended some courses at Mandalay Hall. He migrated to the United States. He did graduate studies about the same time as Ko Khin Maung Oo (Ivan, M69). He lives in Trumbull, Connecticut. He is retired and often travels to Hong Kong to spend time with his son and grandchildren. He took us to visit Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut.

Memories of UCC (13)

Saya Dr. Tin Maung (GBNF)

He is the son of Saya Kar (Maths), who served as Minister of Education in the Caretaker Government. His brothers include U Aye Mg, Dr. Thein Mg (EENT). Saya joined the Department of Mathematics as Tutor. He went for further studies in UK. Upon his return, he was promoted to Lecturer. He succeeded Saya Chit as Director of UCC.

Department of Computer Science

During his tenure, DCS was established with Saya Lay as Professor and Saya TAG as Associate Professor. I was Lecturer.

Institute of Computer Science and Technology

In 1987, ICST was established with Saya as Rector.

There were four Departments :

● Hardware Technology
● Software Technology
● Information Systems [IS]
● Computational Mathematics.

Saya Lay was Professor of Information Systems. Saya TAG was Associate Professor of Hardware Technology. I was Associate Professor of Software Technology. Bachelor degree courses in CS (Computer Science) and CT (Computer Technology) were given. In the first batch, there were 30 CS and 15 CT students.

Some Alumni of ICST

I met Mi Hnin Thin Myaing (Roll Number One in CS) at Sae Taw Win 2 Dhamma Center, Sebastopol, California. She was then a “Major” in the US Navy. She is a Dental Surgeon. A few years back, her mother showed me the photo of MHTM and proudly said that shehad became a Navy Commander (equivalent of Lieutenant Colonel).

I have lost contact with Ye Htut Aung (a top student in CT and a Luyechun). He was a DBA in Southern California.

During my visit to Sydney in 2006, Aye Aye Kyaw Zin (daughter of my classmate U Kyaw Zin [EP69]), Su Su Hlaing and Win Pe treated me to dinner.

I met several CS and CT students in Singapore. One said, “You were telling a lot of jokes. I did not learn much.”

San Yin Myint [Samantha, 2nd Batch] attended the First RIT Grand Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe as a guest of her cousinMaurice Chee (U Hla Myint Thein, M75, co-Chair of SPZP-2000). Her aunts Dr. Betty Chu (Pathologist, GBNF) and Daw Muriel Tun Gyaw (Principal of No. (2) Latha SHS) were also present as Guests in that event in October, 2000. I was Chief Editor of “RIT Alumni Newsletter”, which is partly responsible for getting the sayas and alumni get reconnected electronically and physically. SYM and her friends invited me to their gathering during my past visits. She invited me to attend the 5th ICST/UCSY Acariya Pu Zaw Pwe held on January 14, 2018.

Notes

Saya U Aung Zaw used to comment that I digress a lot. Many people may be surprised to know that I grew up reading encyclopedias and dictionaries and listening to “real life” stories (that are often stranger than fiction). Since I belong to several circles (RIT, UCC, SPHS, BRS), I tend to throw in links and cross-references.

Saya Dr. Tin Maung continued to implement the Vision and Mission set by the UCC Founders, and managed to go further. We miss you. Saya did not live long enough to see 26 batches (from ICST and UCSY) host the 5th Acariya Pu Zaw Pwe on January 14, 2018. The 4th Pu Zaw Pwe took place in 2011. San Yin Myint and her friends posted a “Live” Facebook session of the Acariya Pu Zaw Pwe. Saya Dr. Kyaw Thein, Saya Dr. Maung Maung Htay, Saya U Myint Swe, Sayama Judy and I gave short speeches at the Pu Zaw Pwe.

Memories of UCC (14)

Saya Dr. F Ba Hli

He received Sc.D . (Doctor of Science) from MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). At MIT, he helped “fresh” scholars including Saya Dr. Aung Gyi and Saya U Min Wun acclimatize with the environment and studies.

His father Sayagyi U Ba Hli served as the first native Dean, Faculty of Engineering, Rangoon University. Sayagyi U Ba Hli is credited with the idea of “TWINNING” RU with prestigious Universities (such as MIT and Harvard) in the United States, and for sending State Scholars to pursue undergraduate and graduate programs with the “goal” of replacing Contract Lecturers (e.g. from India) with native sayas.

Saya served as Director General of UBARI (Union of Burma Applied Research Institute) and Advisor for the Ministry of National Planning. He was a prime supporter of UCC Project. He served as a member of the Board of Directors and as an External Examiner for the Computer Science graduates.

Ko Htay Aung and Ma Tin Tin Hlaing

Ko Htay Aung (Victor, EC80) is a nephew of Saya U Sein Hlaing . His spouse Ma Tin Tin Hlaing is the daughter of Dr. F Ba Hli and Daw Myint Thwe (sister of U Tin U, U Ba Than, U Myo Min …). Ko Htay Aung and team “programmed” a PROM (Programmable Read Only Memory) to print Burmese characters on the Cromemco System Three micro-computer. He worked on Burmese Word Processing for Wang Computers. He migrated to Australia. For several years, he came back to Yangon to volunteer as an interpreter for the “10-day Meditation Retreat for Foreign Yogis” at the Mahasi Sasana Yeiktha. Ma Tin Tin Hlaing and her younger brother Ko Thar Hlaing (EC83, classmate of KMD founder Ko Thaung Tin) are UCC alumni.

Notes

During my visit to Sydney (Australia) in 2006, Saya U Aung Zaw hosted a UCC reunion and mini-PZP (Pu Zaw Pwe) for Sayagyi Dr. Chit Swe and Sayagyi Dr. F Ba Hli.

Memories of UCC (15)

Saya U Sein Win (Technical Advisor, GBNF)

He is the younger brother of Dr. Tin U (Medical Superintendent of Children’s Hospital) and Dr. Saw Lwin. Saya was a top student at the University of Michigan. His fellow students gave Saya a nickname : “Hopping” (Khone Swa) Sein Win for his agility. Saya served as Lecturer in the Department of Electrical Engineering (EE) at RIT. When EE Department was “formally split” into EC (Electrical Communications, AKA also known as EcE and Electronics Engineering) and EP (Electrical Power), Saya served as Professor of EP.

Grape vine says that Saya is an absent minded Professor. He married late. One day, he drove Sayagadaw to a market. He taught (or discussed with) his students for quite some time and almost forgot to pick up Sayagadaw.

Saya served as Technical Advisor for UCC. He worked closely with U Win Htein (SPHS, Purdue University, PWD, GBNF) for the design and maintenance of the Electrical Systems (including Motor Alternator, Diesel Generator, Air conditioning …) at UCC.

Saya served as Line Judge at the RUBC (Rangoon University Boat Club) Regattas. He stays fit by swimming regularly (even when he was visiting Singapore on a business trip). He was President of the RIT Swimming and Water Polo team.

Saya is a Genius. He has a vast knowledge. Saya Dr. San Hla Aung (C58) remembers Saya U Sein Win discussing and/or debating about several subjects including Civil Engineering.

U Win Htein (GBNF)

He was a classmate of Saya U Soe Paing and Saya U Ko Ko Lay (GBNF) at SPHS.

Several Paulians were chosen as State Scholars to study in the USA. Saya U Soe Paing, Saya U Ko Ko Lay and Bohmu Percy Maung Maung (GBNF) chose to study at Stanford University. U Win Htein chose to study Electrical Engineering at Purdue University.

Grape vine says that he had problem with colors. So, instead of reading the color code on the resistors, he would measure them.T

by Hla Min

Updated : Aug 2025

Memories of UCC (34)

Childbirth

• For some people, childbirth is not so difficult. The Teoh family raised 15 children named alphabetically from “A” (Albert Teoh) to “O” (Oscar Teoh”).
• For some, childbirth is not so easy.
• We read about Saya Dr. Pike Tin’s mother.
• Now, we will read about Saya Dr. Tun Aung Gyaw’s mother.

No Breast Feeding

• Saya TAG’s mother supposedly breast fed her children.
• Sadly, they passed away.
• When Saya TAG was born, his mother decided not to breastfeed him.
• Saya TAG grew up healthy.
• He served as Joint Secretary of RIT Thaing Club with Saya U Tin Maung Nyunt (M60) as President.
• Saya TAG became the “eldest” child.
• He has a younger brother and sister.

Always A Child

• Saya’s father thinks and treats Saya TAG as a child even after Saya got married and had children.
• Grape vine says that Saya’s father visited him while Saya was volunteering at UCC.
• At night Saya’s father checked if Saya was tucked up in a blanket.

Phobia

• Saya phobia is fear of being haunted.
• When UCC was housed in Mandalay Hall, there were stories about students. who after being killed in the demonstrations (e.g. 7th July), were rambling as ghosts in and around Mandalay Hall.
• Saya would ask someone to accompany him to the restroom at night.

Update

• Saya is having quality time with his five children and four grandchildren.
• Saya is a workaholic.
• Saya is still working full time often on multiple projects.
• Saya hosted us at Cape Cod where the wedding reception of his younger son was held. We were surprised to learn that he was on call. Too much Than Yaw Zin on his work.
• Some time back Saya was at work, when his spouse had a medical emergency at home. It was lucky because their daughter, who had an appointment with her mother, arrived on time to call the ambulance.

Memories of UCC (35)

Veda Kyaung Oke

• U Myint Sein (Bobby, SPHS 64, B. Com 68, Idea Astrology, GBNF) is my childhood friend.
• We attended PPBRS (Private Primary Boundary Road School) and SPHS (St. Paul’s High School).
• He became the Principal at BARB (Burmese Astro Research Bureau). He later founded Idea Astrology.
• He asked me if I can help him to speed up some Veda processes (e.g. generation of a Natal Horoscope, also known as Zartar).
• I had two students — Ko Win Latt and Ko Zaw Tun — who were willing to take the Veda challenge.

Win Latt

• U Win Latt owned a computer and was also an excellent programmer.
• Under my supervision and with the guidance of Ko Myint Sein, Ko Win Latt came up with three versions of the Horoscope program.
• He named them WinHoro V3, V6 and V9 (for Versions 3, 6, and 9).
• I am not sure whether he believed in Ta Rin (three and its multiples) and Na Win (nine and its multiples).
• V3 produces the “basic” horoscope with Yathi (Rasi), Bawa and Nawin (Navamsa). It is also known as “Tri Cekka Zartar” referring to the three parts. It takes some time (a few minutes to an hour) if done manually.
• V6 produces a better horoscope.
• V9 produces the best horoscope.
• He later conducted computer classes and managed a computer company called Sysmagic.

BASIC

• BASIC (Beginner’s All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code) is a programming designed by Professors John Kemeny and Thomas Kurtz for use with the Dartmouth College Time Sharing System.
• Bill Gates and Paul Allen implemented “Tiny BASIC” for the MITS Altair microprocessor kit.
• BASICA (Advanced BASIC), GWBASIC (Gee Whiz BASIC) and APPLESOFT became variants of BASIC for PCs.

Zaw Tun

• One needs expert knowledge to interpret a Zartar.
• U Zaw Tun (now in Singapore sharing his time with Programming and volunteering at Singapore Chan Mei Yeik Tha) used PROLOG (language for Logic Programming) to implement the Bedin (Astrology) Rules.
• He tested his program with several sets of data.
• He was surprised when his program said that “the Two Year Old is a rich person (possibly a Millionaire)”.
• He thought that there must be a bug.
• It turned out that the Two Year Old is the grand son of a wealthy Sawbwa (Saophalong, Shan noble), who decided that his grandson should inherit his wealth.

Aung Myint Oo

U Aung Myint Oo (EC84, ex-UCC) re-implemented WinHoro using “C” language on the Window PCs.

Idea Astrology

• After retiring from BARB, U Myint Sein founded a private school named Idea Astrology.
• U Zaw Tun is in touch with some of the alumni of that school.
• For some time, U Myint Sein also taught Medical Astrology at the “School for Indigenous Medical Practitioners (Taing Yin Say Sayas)”.
• Sad to note that my good friend passed away peacefully a few years back. He supposedly had “Si Chet Khauk Swe” in North Okkalapa that morning on his final day. He came back home and watched TV. He apparently had a heart attack.
• I met U Myint Sein’s son on January 24, 2018. He told me of his “Kan Soe Kan Kaung” experience. He was taking time off from his ship to study for Chief Mate examination when U Myint Sein passed away unexpectedly. He was unlucky (Kan Soe) to lose his father, but was lucky (Kan Kaung) to be present at his father’s last journey.

Memories of UCC (36)

Some COBOL Programmers

U Soe Thein (Joe Thein)

• Joe had a disability, but that did not prevent him to have a good life and career.
• He completed training courses from ICL (including COBOL programming).
• He joined UCC as an off-line operator.
• He transferred to the Business Application Division as a prorammer.
• He became one of the COBOL teachers with Judy and Japan Sayagyi.

U Aung Hlaing (Japan Sayargyi)

• He is the younger brother of U Tun Hlaing, Dr. Tha Hlaing and Dr. Nyunt Hlaing.
• His wife worked for the Foreign Ministry and was assigned to Japan.
• He accompanied her and worked in Japan as a COBOL programmer.
• Saya U Soe Paing met him during his training (sponsored by JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) and implemented by Fujitsu and other Japanese computer companies.
• Saya U Soe Paing asked U Aung Hlaing if he would like to join UCC upon his return to Burma.

Daw Nwe Nwe Win (Judy)

• Judy was a star athlete at RASU.
• At UCC, she would often be the sixth player on the men’s team.
• She used to hang around a lot with Daw Nge Ma Ma Than (Ma Nge).
• One day, some one approached Judy and Ma Nge with two envelopes. He said, “It’s for both of you”. Guess what? Inside each envelope was a “Yee Zar Sar”.
• Judy and Ma Nge remained “twins” until U Myint Swe managed to get the favor of Ma Nge.
• It would take some more time before a young knight named U Myint Zaw would ask Judy to tie the knot.

Memories of UCC (37)

U San Myint Thane (Sammy)

• Sammy asked his brother Dr. Thein Toe Thane in the US to send him some books (including the one by Klingman) and a Microprocessor Tool kit for use in his Final Year Project.
• Sammy was interested in microprocessors.
• He and Kelvin Leigh used the microprocessor kit to build a microcomputer system with selected capabilities.
• They ran demonstration programs on the assembled microprocessor system.
• After completing his project, Sammy donated the books to Saya U Kyaw Lwin (EE, GBNF) for using as reference in Saya’s courses (e.g. Digital Electronics).
• Sammy spent some time at UCC while waiting to migrate to the United States.
• Sammy and Kelvin migrated to the US.

Duality

• Klingman discusses “Hardware Software Duality”.
• The concept of Duality can be found in Mathematics and Logic.
• The “Line-Point Duality” says that “Two intersecting lines determine a point. Two points determine a line [which passes through both]”. In this Geometric aspect, Line and Point are Duals.
• De Morgan’s Theorems in “Set Theory” and “Boolean Algebra” are Duals.
• In Set Theory, Union and Intersection are Duals.
• In Boolean Algebra, AND (Conjunction) and OR (Disjunction) are Duals.
• Klingman said that “Any hardware can be implemented in software. Any software can be implemented in hardware.”
• There are trade-offs to consider whether to use hardware, software, firmware or a combination.

Life after UCC

• Sammy’s mother wanted Sammy to get married and was willing to arrange, but Sammy set the requirements too high.
• The bride must be young, intelligent, and able to play Classical and Modern music.
• Finally, by applying some “Relaxation Techniques”, Sammy became a loving spouse and a caring father of twins.
• Sammy hosted me at his house in Texas, California. He was then an eligible bachelor.
• I met Sammy again at the RIT Alumni Reunion in the East Coast several years ago. Sammy was requested by U Nyein Min (C79) to help organize the Reunion.