26th New Generation Seminar September 18-October 2, 2016 Cultural Heritage and Identity in a Globalizing, Urbanizing World Honolulu • Phnom Penh • Yangon Yangon Program September 28-October 2, 2016
Wednesday, September 28
14:35 Group arrives from Phnom Penh, Bangkok Airways flight PG 0707.
15:30 Meet group transportation and proceed to hotel:
PARKROYAL Yangon 33 Alan Pya Phaya Road, Dagon Township, Yangon, Myanmar +95 1 250 388; Toll-Free: 1 877 237 7838 https://www.parkroyalhotels.com/en/hotels-resorts/myanmar/yangon.html
Burma Program Logistics Coordinator: Sonny Nyunt THEIN Managing Director, Enterprise Group & Owner, Gracious Myanmar Travel Tel: + 95-01-393303; Mobile: +959 5011012 (095011012 local) Khine Nwe Mobile: +959 420113410 [email protected]; www.myanmartravelagent.com
18:10 Depart hotel for dinner and Shwedagon Pagoda (by bus) ` *Note: Please dress modestly for our visit to the Shwedagon Pagoda after dinner. Per the Pagoda website, visitors are asked to wear trousers or at least knee length shorts or skirt, and t-shirts with elbow length sleeves. You will need to remove your shoes upon entry.
18:30 Group dinner at Padonmar Restaurant No.105/107, Kha-Yae-Bin Road, Dagon Township Contact: Sonny, [email protected]; +95 9 4210 82687, +95 9 7981 63085 Mr. BO BO, Manager, phone: +95 9 250 193 488
Padonmar is a renovated heritage home that serves Myanmar and Thai cuisine. We will be joined by Aung Ba Kyu (ABK) and his wife Swe Swe. ABK grew up in this heritage home and will share some oral history of the property. Oral historians Virginia Henderson and Tim Webster will also join and share background about the house. Mandalay Marionettes founder Mama Naing and her husband also will join us
19:40 Depart for Shwedagon Pagoda (by bus) 26th New Generation Seminar, Yangon Program, page 2 of 7
20:00 Visit to Shwedagon Pagoda The 2,500 year old Shwedagon Pagoda is considered the historical and cultural center of Yangon, and is a repository of the best in Myanmar heritage – architecture, sculpture and arts. Believed to enshrine strands of Buddha's hair and other holy relics, is the most sacred and impressive Buddhist site for the people of the Union of Myanmar. It consists of hundreds colorful temples, stupas, and statues that reflect architectural eras spanning almost 2,500 years. From a humble beginning of 8.2 meters, the Shwedagon Pagoda today stands close to 110 meters. It is covered with hundreds of gold plates and the top of the stupa is encrusted with 4531 diamonds; the largest of which is a 72 carat diamond. It is clearly one of the wonders of the religious world. Visitors will experience an insider's view of this magnificent historical and living symbol of Buddhism to the lives of the Myanmar people as Shwedagon Pagoda forms the focus of religious as well as community activities. Amidst the art and architecture, visitors will see the bustling of devotees and monks washing the statues, offering flowers, worshiping, and meditating. For a history of the Pagoda, please visit: http://www.shwedagon.org/history.php or http://www.lonelyplanet.com/myanmar-burma/yangon-rangoon/sights/religious/shwedagon-paya
21:30 Return to hotel
Thursday, September 29 Complimentary breakfast is served daily at the hotel *Note: Wear business casual clothing and comfortable walking shoes for today’s meetings. Bring a hat, umbrella, and rain jacket.
Breakfast at hotel (on own)
8:00 Meet in lobby to depart (by bus)
8:20 Arrive at Yangon Heritage Trust offices
Yangon Heritage Trust 22-24 (First Floor), Pansodan Street (lowest block), Kyauktada Township Phone: +95 1 240 544, +95 9 32100 785 E-Mail: [email protected] Facebook: www.facebook.com/theyangonheritagetrust.org http://www.yangonheritagetrust.org/home
8:30-10:15 Yangon Heritage Trust Tour of downtown area of the city center (Lokanat Gallery, 37th street, Post Office, Strand, lot of Secretariat as mentioned on Trip Advisor reviews) Yangon Heritage Trust (YHT) is a private, non-profit organization founded in 2012 by Dr. Thant Myint-U and a group of like-minded architects, business people, historians, and others dedicated to preserving the city’s unique architectural legacy in recognition that Yangon’s built heritage was at risk from decades of neglect and, more pressingly, a new wave of intense pressure for rapid urban development. YHT advocates for heritage protection, develops clear and sustainable policy options, engages with government, business and civil society, communicates its ideas to the widest possible audience, undertakes specific conservation projects, and facilitates research and training. YHT offers heritage tours for visitors to promote its cause and to financially sustain their work. Tour will provide an overview of and introduction to the heritage architecture of Yangon’s urban core, the significance and history of the area, the challenges and pressures on these areas amidst the changes that are taking place.
10:15 Return to the Heritage Trust office
26th New Generation Seminar, Yangon Program, page 3 of 7
10:30-11:45 Preserving Heritage in Yangon: The Vision and Work of the Yangon Heritage Trust Daw Moe Moe Lwin, Director, Yangon Heritage Trust Between 1990 and 2011 as much as 35% of downtown Yangon, or about 1,800 buildings, were destroyed. Yangon's historic buildings were levelled to make way for new buildings. Strong pressures for development, a surge in land prices, limited regulation and an absence of planning legislation, has led to serious concerns that these heritage assets will be lost. Discussion will provide an overview of the challenges of preserving heritage in Yangon, the mission and work of the Yangon Heritage Trust, the role of YHT as a non-government entity and how it engages government, businesses, and the community for heritage preservation with its vision for Yangon which “involves allowing the city to fully modernize while also conserving the urban heritage which makes it unique. What have been the lessons learned for success and what challenges remain?
11:45 Break; time to view exhibit and photos in office
12:00-12:30 Legal and Land Issues in Heritage Preservation in Yangon Sue Mark, research scholar and legal expert The current legal framework governing land and structure ownership in Yangon is very complex and is often a “knot” in heritage preservation. Thus, The Yangon Heritage Trust and Pyoe Pin organization carried out a study to analyse the regulatory framework that governs heritage residential buildings. The study was carried out by a cultural heritage lawyer supported by a Myanmar lawyer and social researcher from late 2015 to early 2016. The study sampled 8 buildings in Downtown Conservation Area and interviews with key informants. Ms. Mark will share the results of this study and the ways forward in resolving the legal obstacles to revitalization of Yangon’s city center.
12:30 Proceed to lunch (on foot)
12:45-14:00 Lunch at Rangoon Tea House 77-79 Pansodan Street, Lower Middle Block (Opposite Shwe Bank) Yangon (Rangoon) 11182, Phone: 959979078681
14:00 Depart lunch for City Hall (by bus)
14:30-15:30 Preserving Heritage as an Engine of Economic Growth Daw Hlaing Maw Oo, Secretary, Yangon City Development Committee, City Hall Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC) is the administrative body of Yangon. It consists of 20 departments, with headquarters in the Yangon City Hall. The committee's chairman also acts as the city's mayor. On 14 May 1990, the Yangon City Development Law formally established the present incarnation of YCDC, delegating wide responsibilities to this body, including city planning, land administration, tax collection, and development. However, the YCDC is also responsible for duties stipulated in the 1922 Rangoon Municipal Act. The YCDC is technically independent of the government, and raises its own revenues through tax collection, fees, licenses and property development. Provide an overview of how the city views heritage as part of its development vision, how it works with stakeholders to determine what to preserve and how to preserve it with limited budgets, and the future vision for a sustainable, integrated Yangon. How does the city plan to deal with human settlements and communities that are not being ‘saved’ and must be moved or removed in order for development to take place?
15:30 Proceed to Cyrus Pun’s offices (by bus)
26th New Generation Seminar, Yangon Program, page 4 of 7
16:00-17:00 Business Perspectives on Development in Yangon Cyrus Pun, Executive Director, Yoma Strategic, Yangon, Myanmar
Yoma Strategic Holdings Ltd., an investment holding company, engages in real estate, agriculture, automotive, and luxury tourism businesses in Myanmar. The company develops gated community, residential, retail mall, serviced apartments, office towers, and landmark development projects. It is also involved in constructing residential units; rental of properties; property development and management, and design and architectural services; and advertising services, as well as operates quick services restaurants. In addition, Yoma Strategic Holdings engages in vehicle operating lease and rental business; the operation of a service center for European automobiles in Yangon and Mitsubishi Motors after-sales service center in Mandalay; tourism business through the operation of hot air balloon business; and luxurious adventure travelling services in Myanmar and Bhutan. Yoma Strategic Holdings Ltd. was incorporated in 1962 and is headquartered in Singapore.
Businessman and real estate developer Cyrus Pun will provide an overview of economic development in Yangon—what is happening in terms of investment – and his vision for development in Myanmar. Mr. Pun and Yoma Strategic have just been granted an extended lease to move forward on their “Landmark” development project featuring the Yangon Central Railway Station, a heritage building. See articles. VENUE: Yoma Strategic Holdings, Ltd., FMI Centre, Level 10, 380 Bogyoke Aung San Road, Pabedan Township, Yangon, Myanmar; www.yomastrategic.com http://www.reuters.com/article/us-myanmar-business-sergepun-idUSKCN0XP007 http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/business/property-news/3452-spa-yoma-strategic- unveil-landmark-project-for-yangon.html http://frontiermyanmar.net/en/business/yoma-lease-extension-landmark-project
17:00 Return to hotel (by bus) *Note: participants should eat a snack or dinner as we will not be free for dinner until after the performance at 8:00 pm
18:00 Meet in hotel lobby to depart for cultural program (by bus)
18:30-20:00 Cultural Performance and discussion about revival of puppetry in Myanmar as an art form and for economic empowerment of communities Mama Naing, Founder and Puppeteer, Mandalay Marionettes, http://mandalaymarionettes.com/; Mobile: 09 2015866; [email protected] VENUE: Serene Valley Hotel, No. 75 (A), University Avenue Road, Bahan Township
In the past, Myanmar Puppetry was not only for entertainment, but also a high art held in much esteem by all classes. Marionettes were a means of making people aware of current events, a medium for educating the people in literature, history and religion, display of lifestyles and customs. At the same time, they functioned as mouthpieces for the people in the days of royalty, tiny hands in state and social affairs. Nowadays, the old traditional marionette generation has almost faded away. This is simply due to the lack of patronage required during the last few decades. Therefore, it has come to pass that the art of marionette is referred to as a dying art that was rapidly disappearing with the advance of modern entertainment. The same story is applicable to the artists. So Mama Naing and her partner have worked to restore this folk art and have arranged a special marionette show for visitors to Mandalay, the center of Myanmar arts and culture. This work has brought back the art of Marionettes and provided employment and empowerment to the artists
Musicians and puppeteers from Mandalay will provide a performance of this ancient tradition and Mama Naing will share her inspiring story of reviving this art form.
20:00 Return to hotel (by bus); dinner on own
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Friday, September 30 Complimentary breakfast is served daily at the hotel *Note: Wear business casual clothing and comfortable walking shoes for today’s meetings. Bring a hat, umbrella, and rain jacket.
Breakfast at hotel (on own)
8:00 Gather in hotel meeting room-- Room Padomyar 4
8:00-11:00 Tour of Yangon Heritage (on foot) Virginia Henderson and Tim Webster, authors of “Yangon Echoes: Inside Heritage Homes,” Mobile: 09 250 156 750; [email protected]
“Yangon Echoes is a popular history of buildings used as homes in Burma's bustling, former capital, charting social space and urban folklore and linking past to present via living memories. This anthology records everyday life through domestic connections to old places and explores the present day significance of Yangon's rich inheritance.” Oral historian and heritage expert Virginia Henderson and photographer Tim Webster are currently working with Michael Schuster, the curator of the East-West Center Gallery, on an exhibition of Yangon heritage which is scheduled to open early next year in Honolulu. Tim and Virginia will provide an overview of this work along with discussion, followed by a tour that explores diverse multi-cultural, multi-ethnic Yangon. Proposed visits include: walk down Yaw Min Gyi St with a possible visit with residents, through Scott Market to Anawrahta St (Indian area), Sri Kali temple to Latha St (Chinatown), Jewish Synagogue, Sunne Bengale Mosque, Baptist Emmanuel Church, Hanuman Temple – shophouses and street stalls. 8:00-9:00 Discussion at hotel 9:15-10:55 Tour; end tour at City Hall for meeting with U Toe Aung VENUE: ParkRoyal Hotel meeting room and walking tour
11:00-12:00 Overview of Yangon City Development Issues and Vision U Toe Aung, Head of the Urban Planning Department, City Hall, City of Yangon
The Greater Yangon Strategic Development plan 2040 unveiled in 2015 builds on previous “megacity” plans with preparations for development to accommodate a population of 10 million people in Yangon by 2040—up from about 5.2 million today. Plans cover approximately 118,732 acres costing k 8.178 trillion (US$7.4 billion). According to the initial 2013 version of the plan, it “should transform the current commercial heart of Myanmar into a modern urban center used for development and growth, able to compete in the coming decades with major Asian and global markets. According to the forecast, it will create at least 200 thousand new jobs by giving accelerated boost to internal production.” U Toe Aung will share current pressures facing Yangon’s development and growth— infrastructure, housing, commercial development, traffic, waste management, jobs, etc. as well as an overview of the Yangon Strategic Development Plan 2040 with a vision for the scope of the work to be undertaken in Yangon, the pressures city leaders and managers are facing--from different groups, from lack of funding, etc.--and the strategies that are being employed to meet these challenges. What role does heritage play in these city plans? Is it seen as an economic asset and driver, or as a difficulty—or both—and how are cultural assets incorporated into city planning? https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2016/may/20/myanmar-democracy-yangon- changing-skyline http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/national-news/yangon/14977-government-unveils- yangon-development-plan.html 26th New Generation Seminar, Yangon Program, page 6 of 7
12:30-13:30 Case Study of Successful Heritage Preservation in Yangon: 491-501 Merchant Street Meeting with Turquoise Mountain Foundation Harry Wardill, Director – Myanmar, Turquoise Mountain Foundation U Ko Ko, Project Engineer Turquoise Mountain was established in 2006 by Britain’s Prince Charles and former Afghan president Hamid Karzai to regenerate the old city of the Afghanistan capital, Kabul, where it has renovated more than 100 heritage buildings. The non-profit organization has a three-fold objective of regenerating historic urban areas, renewing traditional arts and architecture, and spurring the sustainable development of indigenous craft industries around the world. In Yangon it recently completed its first project in partnership with the Yangon Heritage Trust and other donors. The collaborative, community-centered model of renovating 491-501 Merchant Street is seen as a model for heritage preservation in Yangon. The Merchant Street renovation project will serve as a case study of preservation of a structure through the work of civil society organizations in coordination with donors, private developers, residents, and the government as well as training craftspeople for sustainability and economic empowerment. Mr. Wardill also can share Turquoise Mountain’s work in Afghanistan and how they’ve revived arts and crafts as well as architecture. Session will include viewing the short film, Under One Roof, which tells stories from residents of the Merchant Street building. After the film and discussion, we will visit the Merchant street project and possibly talk to residents. From there, the group will move on to take a look at the Ministry of Hotel & Tourism building, which is the site of the organization’s new landmark redevelopment project. VENUE: Pansodan Scene Gallery, 144 Pansodan St, Kyauktada Contact: Turquoise Mountain. 74H Aye Chan Thar Street, Middle Shwe Gone Taing, Bahan Township 11201, Yangon, +95 (0) 9979 786 575 (Myanmar mobile); +95 (0) 1 540 198 (Myanmar landline) www.turquoisemountain.org; www.turquoisemountainarts.org Rebirth of Yangon Building Points way for Cities Crumbling Heritage Yangon Heritage gets a Facelift Saving the past for the Future
13:45 Proceed to LinkAge restaurant for lunch
14:00-15:00 Lunch at LinkAge 1st fl, 141 Seikkantha St, Kyauktadar, +95 9 4958 3618 LinkAge is a colorful restaurant and art gallery run by the social development project Forever that helps train street kids and generates income for a shelter as well as other projects. https://www.facebook.com/LinkAge.Restaurant?ref=hl
15:00 Depart LinkAge for hotel
16:00 Depart hotel for Strand Square (by bus)
16:30-18:30 Engagement with “Global Shapers” of Myanmar: Panel discussion followed by a reception/informal gathering The Global Shapers Community, an Initiative of the World Economic Forum, is a network of Hubs developed and led by young leaders between 20 and 30 years old who are exceptional in their potential, their achievements and their drive to make a contribution to their communities. Global Shapers will talk about their vision for Myanmar, the importance of cultural heritage and traditions in their vision, how they see Myanmar heritage and identity— 26th New Generation Seminar, Yangon Program, page 7 of 7
Burman, Buddhist or other, what it means to be Burmese/Myanmarese, and how they feel about the future opportunities and challenges in their country. Panel discussion with Shapers from 4:30-5:30, followed by a reception. VENUE: Strand Square Building Contact: Min Htin, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Nexus Solutions, a computer & IT solutions company, Mobile: 09-450043233; [email protected]
18:30 Return to hotel (by bus); dinner and evening free to explore Yangon
Saturday, October 1 Complimentary breakfast is served daily at the hotel
Breakfast on own
8:30 Gather in meeting room at hotel—Room Padomyar 4
8:30-11:30 Program Debriefing—exploring key take-aways, lessons learned and best practices, establishing on-going network mechanisms, and formal written evaluations
11:45 Lunch at hotel
12:15-18:00 Free time in Yangon
18:00 Gather at hotel to depart for closing dinner
18:30 Closing dinner VENUE: Shan Yoe Yar, 169, War Dan Street, Lanmadaw Township, Yangon, Myanmar, 01 221 524 09250 566 695 A century-old wooden mansion has been expertly renovated into Yangon's most upmarket Shan restaurant.
Read more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/myanmar-burma/yangon- rangoon/restaurants/other/shan-yoe-yar#ixzz4KOPXvxqY
20:00 Return to hotel
Sunday, October 2
Participants depart for home countries at various times