by Hla Min

Updated : June 2025

(1) World wide SPZP

There has been seven world world Saya Pu Zaw Pwes.

USA SPZP

• The First RIT Grand Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe was held in the USA in October 2000.
• Host : RIT Alumni International
• Working Committee : Benny, Maurice & team
• Steering Committee : Mostly Sayas
• Golden Sponsors : David Ko (M67), Ivan Lee (M69), Steeve Kay (EC70), Benny Tan (M70), Mg Mg Than (M79)
• Ex-RIT website had Special Pages for SPZP-2000
• I wrote 64 “Countdown to the Reunion” and 36 “Post-Reunion”.
• Special issue of “RIT Alumni Newsletter”

• Brief Bio of Sayagyis & selected Sayas
• Souvenirs : Kyauk Si Bagyee, Banner, Mug, T-shirt, Calendar/Clock

Singapore SPZP

Singapore sayas & alumni hosted

• SPZP-2002 in December 2002

• SPZP-2007 in April 2007 ; Singapore was Backup for SPZP-2006 (with Yangon as Host); Due to change in Political Climate, Yangon could not host SPZP-2006.
• SPZP-2010 in December 2010.

U Moe Aung

• Tekkatho Moe War
• Chair of SPZP-2002 and SPZP-2010
• Chief Editor of Swel Daw Yeik Sar Saung for all three Singapore SPZPs

U Nyan Win Shwe

• M72
• Chair of SPZP-2007

See Posts

• Gatherings in Singapore
• SPZP-2007 Diary

Yangon SPZP

Yangon hosted

• SPZP-2004
• SPZP-2012
• SPZP-2016.
• All SPZPs were in December.
• Note : Yangon could not host SPZP-2006 due to the political climate and so requested Singapore to host SPZP-2007.

SPZP-2004

• Yangon was hosting a Conference for Engineers from ASEAN countries
• SPZP-2004 was allowed to complement the Conference
• Yangon could not host SPZP-2006 due to the political climate and so requested Singapore to host SPZP-2007

SPZP-2012 : True Home Coming

SPZP-2012 brought tears of joy. Many have given up the hope of seeing their beloved alma mater rise again from the trampling of the Adhamma Regime. HE U Aye Myint (EP72) paved the way to have the True Home Coming (Reunion and SPZP) at the Gyogone Campus.

SPZP-2016

• First SPZP to be held all day at the Gyogone Campus.
• Thanks to sponsors and donors of SPZP-2016, free food (breakfast, lunch and dinner) was offered to all attendees.

(2) 2015 RIT Alumni Reunion in Los Angeles

• Main event : Reunion Dinner & Entertainment at Knott’s Berry Farm
• Optional event : Brunch at a compound of U Thura Thant Zin’s company; Interview of selected attendees

• Organizers include Saya Dr. Tin Win (M62), Saya U Tin Htut (M60), U Thura Thant Zin (M76) & U Khin Maung Lay (Henry, T68).

• Sponsors include Steeve Kay, (U Thaung Sein, EC70) and Kay Family Foundation (KFF), which provided a matching fund of US$30,000.

• Attendees include Sayas and Alumni from USA, Myanmar, and Japan.

• Entertainers include Saya U Myat Htoo, U Khin Maung Lay, Daw Mya Than Win (Golden Jubilee Swel Daw Yeik Minthamee), U Thaung Sein (singing “Shwe Mi”), May Win Maung, and Ni Ni Win Shwe.

Photo : George Wong (LA)
L to R : Ni Ni Win Shwe, Dr. Naing Naing Aung (Met), May Win Maung, Ko Thein Ngwe (RITAJ)

(3) SF Bay Area Dinner Gathering in 2015

After attending the 2015 Alumni Reunion in Los Angeles, Sayagyi Dr. Aung Gyi visited the SF Bay Area. The dinner gathering at a sea food restaurant was attended by sayas and alumni. 

They include :

• Percy Lao (part-time Saya)
• Dr. San Lin (part-time Saya)
• Saya U Kyi Kong Tham (C63)
• Saya U Maung Maung (George, ChE66)
• Victor Wong (King Wong, C66)
• Saya U Myat Htoo (C68)
• U Nyan Shein (Henry, C68)
• U Hla Min (EC69)
• Benny Tan (M70)
• Walter Tan (M70)
• Patrick Fong (C70)
• Saya U Thein Aung (James, Met72)
• Maurice Chee (M75)
• U Aye Tun (Anthony, M76)
• Daw Khin Mya Yee (Sarah, C77)
• Daw San San Nyunt (Sandra, M77)
• U Khin Maung Tun (T78, President, SDYF)
• U Aung Kyaw (Alex Khoo, C81)
• U Yu Ket (Edward Saw, EC85)
• U Tin Maung Win (C86)
• U Tin Oo (M86)
• U Nyunt Than (M86)

(4) Combined 1st BE Intake of 64 and 65
Reunion and PZP in 2018

The Combined 1st BE Intake of 64 and 65 (most of them graduated in 1970 and 1971) hosted the Reunion and Acariya Pu Zaw Pwe on November 24, 2018 at the Assembly Hall of Gyogone Campus.

It was the 20th time for the group. The invitation is shown below.

(5) International Tipitaka Chanting

The International Tipitaka Chanting Council was established in 2006, B.E. 2550

• It has organized Annual Tipitaka Chanting Ceremony at/under the Sacred Bodhi Tree.
• In 2013, the 9th Annual International Tipitaka Chanting Ceremony was held at/under the Sacred Bodhi Tree from December 2nd – 13th, 2013. Sangha, devotees, and volunteers from ten countries participated.
• It was the second consecutive year that the Sangha from Myanmar undertook the task as main organizer.

• In 2014, the First International Tipitaka Chanting Ceremony in America Dedicated to World Peace and Inner Harmony was held on October 9, 10 and 11, 2014 at Allston Way, Berkley, California.
• U Jotalankara, Chief Resident Monk, Dhammananda Vihara was requested to take part and also give a speech. I edited Sayadaw’s speech.

(6) TEDx Yangon

By Thiri Thant Mon (Organizer)

Even if you impact one person – it’s worth it.

I heard this from a veteran TEDx organiser. He said it was about seeing the light of understanding, the light of passion shine in people’s eyes. Last Saturday, 6 October 2018, we hosted our third TEDx event. As I scanned the audience from backstage, those flickers of light told me – hey, it was worth it!

When I started my TEDx journey, I thought I will do it for three years – enough for the movement to gain some momentum. In the weeks leading up to each event, I am convinced I am crazy. I have a demanding career, two young children, responsibilities from other philanthropic projects I support. So many balls in the air that I cannot drop and TEDx takes so much time and effort.

I started TEDx because of my passion for knowledge and freedom of ideas, the desire to stimulate positive conversations in Myanmar. To give a literal stage for ideas that people have not heard before. And because deep down, I believe it matters to our society.

Along the way, I gained something unexpected. I discovered amazing people who became great friends. My fellow team members – present and past – who are as crazy as I am to give time, so much of it, and pour passion and professionalism into our endeavor. Our awe-inspiringly brave speakers. Our enthusiastic volunteers. Patrons offering support. TEDsters and TEDxers, a global community of dreamers who are doers, liberals who are realists. My tribe.

People who know me best know that I am a passionate individual. They also tell me they have never seen me more happy and passionate than when I talk about TEDx. My eyes light up and my face glows.

It is the flicker in my own eyes and the impact TEDx Yangon has on me, that makes it all worth it. Bring on year four!

Sayama Daw Tin Tin Myint (Emma, ChE69) wrote :

Thiri Thant Mon is the daughter of U Sann Aung (USA Photo, M74). She is the niece of Sayama Emma and Daw Than Than Yi (T71, GBNF).

(7) Min Ko Naing’s Talk

• Min Ko Naing is the pen name of Paw Oo Tun (author, artist, student activist).
• He was a 3rd year student at RASU, when he became a student leader of the 8-8-88 movement.
• He visited the San Francisco Bay Area twice.
• The first time, he talked about the injustice system and the brutal regimes.
• The second time, he & Aw Pi Kye were Speakers for the SF Bay Area Annual Talks 2018.

Anecdote

• A political prisoner begged his prison mates to give him a pain reliever.
• Most people did not have courage to provide one.
• One had cetana & courage, but lacked medical knowledge. He gave Buspro to the wailing prisoner, who was relieved of pain forever.

Edu & Social Systems

• He recounted his observations of the educational & social systems of the countries that he had visited.
• He was impressed with some systems which take the nursery children out into the open and teach lessons from nature, and those that allow students to pursue any combination of subjects provided they envision a problem to solve using the mix.
• He lamented about how most parents & students in Myanmar prepare at all costs for that “all important Matric exam” to pursue two or three high profile professions.

Feedback from a Senior

• The talk is more suitable for the general audience in Myanmar.
• Kudos to the activist turned “evangelist for critical thinking and social change”.

Updates

• Pandemic caused the cancellation of SPZP-2020.
• SPZP-2016 will be remembered for the All Day Event at Gyogone Campus with Free Food for Breakfast, Lunch & Gathering.
• Several Sayas and Alumni — including Organizers & Sponsors — are GBNF.
• Some Sayas & Alumni have medical problems — decline in physical & mental health. They cannot travel far. They cannot sit for a long period. They can trip or fall with serious consequences.
• Several top students from the 1st BE Intake in 1964 are GBNF. Tommy Shwe (Badminton) & Peter Pe (Swimming & Water Polo) passed away unexpectedly. Cho Aye (Hiking, Group Organizer) and Steeve Kay (Multiple Golden Sponsor) had medical problems.
• Over 40% of 69ers are GBNF.
• I was Interpreter for some of Beelin Sayadaw’s dhamma talks at TMC. I visited him at Hse Mile Gone & Panditarama. He recently passed away.
• U Nay Oke (St. Paul’s) talked about Two Poets at TEDx-InyaLake.
• I met Aw Pi Kye twice during his trip to the USA with Min Ko Naing. First in Fremont at the start of their trip. Second in Los Angeles at the tail end of their trip. APK was delighted that the End of the Buddhist Lent was near, and that he would be able to drink alcohol freely again (since Waso).