RP bags math championship; 7 students earn perfect scores

MANILA, Philippines — Seven Filipino students have earned perfect math scores and made the country one of seven overall champions in an international competition, an official from the Philippine team said in a statement to media.

They are Hazel Abigail Lim of Hope Christian High School (Philippine Team A), Keefe Collin Tan of St. Jude Catholic School, Neil Benjamin DT. Kho of San Beda College-Alabang and Michael Brodeth of Colegio San Agustin-Makati (all of Philippine Team B); and Audrey Celine Lao of St. Jude Catholic School, Kenneth Co and Brendon Matthew Go of Xavier School (Philippine Team D), according to Dr. Simon Chua, president of the Mathematics Trainers’ Guild-Philippines (MTG).

Chua, who accompanied the MTG-trained Philippine teams to the Po Leung Kuk 12th Primary Math World Contest in Hong Kong, said this year’s performance of the students was spectacular.

“These students have trained and worked hard to prepare for this contest. Their performance this year is very impressive,” Chua said in a statement to media.

The math contest, held in Hong Kong from July 11-15, was participated in by 44 teams from the United States, Bulgaria, South Africa, Thailand, Taiwan, India, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Mainland China, Macau and Mexico, the statement said.

The latest feat comes just three days after 14-year-old Sarah Jane Cua, another MTG-trained student, emerged as champion in the Brand’s Sudoku Challenge 2008 Asia Pacific Open held in Singapore over the weekend, Chua said.

The impressive performance of the four participating teams from the Philippines paved way for the country’s emergence as one of the seven overall champions both in the individual and team competitions for the first time, Chua said.

In addition, Philippine Team B and Philippine Team D have been adjudged as first placers together with five other teams from Taiwan, Beijing-China, San Marcos-USA, Indonesia and Hong Kong, Chua said.

The other members of the Philippine teams that contributed to the excellent performance in the Hong Kong contest are Mikaela Angelina Uy and Seanne Daphne Ng of St. Jude Catholic School, Justin Edric Yturzaeta of Jubilee Christian Academy, Samuel Christian Ong of UNO High School, Henry Jefferson Morco of Chiang Kai Shek College, Isaiah Paolo Lee of Mother Goose School, Joelle Sophia Peña of St. Pedro Poveda College, Deany Hendrick Cheng of Grace Christian High School and Julius Vincent Sy of St. Stephen’s High School.

The Philippine delegation was headed by Chua together with Carlo Bryan Nerecena, Robert Degolacion and Anthony Ang as team leaders and Queenie Sarabia, Consesa Rapacon, Sheilla Lynn Diamse and Mark Ivan Robla as deputy team leaders.

“The amazing accomplishment of our students only reflects the passion of the MTG to uplift Philippine math education in the country,” Chua said.

The Philippine team is scheduled to arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport this Wednesday at 8 p.m. via Philippine Airlines flight PR 508 from Hong Kong. –INQUIRER.net