RP whiz kids shine

Twelve of the 17 members of the Philippine team won medals in the recently concluded 3rd International Mathematics and Science Olympiad held in Jakarta.

The competition, held from Nov. 12 to 18 last year, was organized by Indonesia’s education ministry in order to develop elementary school students’ interest and talent in math and science.

The Philippine team competed against students from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Nigeria, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

Robert Allan Buendia from Naic Central School in Cavite and Arvin Wilson Alba from San Beda College in Alabang, Muntinlupa City won gold medals in the science category, while Katrina Anne Tiambeng of Colegio San Agustin in Makati City won a silver medal.

In a statement, Education Secretary Jesli Lapus congratulated the members of the Philippine team and noted that their outstanding performance “in this competition shows our enormous potential in math and science.”

Those who won bronze medals in the science category are Maria Montelibano of the Iloilo City SPED Center, Lord John Flores of the Lanao Elementary School in Ilocos Norte, Elizabeth Dominguez of Poveda Learning Center in Quezon City and Jerome Talampas of Colegio San Agustin.

Kenneth Co of Xavier School in San Juan town and Henry Jefferson Morco of Chiang Kai Shek School in Manila won a silver medal each in the mathematics category.

Those who won a bronze medal in the mathematics category are Brendon Matthew Go of Xavier School, Seanne Daphne Ng of St. Jude Catholic School in Manila, and Isaiah Paolo Lee of Mother Goose Montessori in Dagupan City, Pangasinan.

The members of Philippine team were accompanied by their parents, their trainers and Department of Education officials. –Sandy Araneta, The Philippine STAR