RP math wizard, 14, aces Canadian math tilt

MANILA, Philippines—A 14-year-old high school student of the Chiang Kai Shek College (CKSC) in Manila got a perfect score while 246 other young Filipinos were among the top scorers in a correspondence-based Canadian Mathematics Competition (CMC).

Henry Jefferson Morco, an incoming CKSC high school sophomore, scored 100 percent in the 10th Grade or Cayley division of the contest, making him the recipient of the much coveted CMC 2009 medal.

The other Filipino top scorers, who made it to the “top 25 percent” of this year’s CMC, received certificates of distinction, according to the Mathematics Trainers Guild-Philippines (MTG).

More than 70,000 students took the part in the annual contest, organized by the Center for Education in Mathematics and Computing, which is based at the University of Waterloo in Ontario.

The MTG administered the annual contest here in behalf of the CMC early this year.

Near perfect

John Russell Virata, 15, and an incoming senior student of the Gideon Academy in Pasay City, was “just a few points away from obtaining a perfect score” and also will receive the medal in the Fermat or Grade 11 division.

Virata, one of the country’s representatives and medal winners during last year’s Thailand Math Competitions in Chiang Mai, was also among the topnotchers in the Euclid or Grade 12 division.

The other Euclid top scorers were Geraldine Baniqued of St. Paul College-Pasig, Zheng Rong Wu and Ricci Ryan Rofo of the Zamboanga Chong Hua High School, Aldric Reyes and Matthew Ng of Chiang Kai Shek College, and Carmela Antoinette Lao of St. Jude Catholic School.

Another medalist was Austin Chua, incoming Grade 6 student of the St. Jude Catholic School, who topped the Pascal or Grade 9 level. Ninety others “performed very well” in the same division, according to Dr. Simon Chua, president of MTG.

The MTG is currently training hundreds of elementary and high school students nationwide who will compete in several international math contests this year, including those to be hosted by the group’s counterparts in China, Hong Kong and the United States.
Other top scorers

Filipino top scorers in the Pascal or Grade 9 division of the CMC included Adrianne Ardon of Juan Sumulong Elementary School, Lorenzo Baquiran of Jaro 1 Elementary School, Janine Bisnar of Makati Science High School, Eula Chua of Pangasinan Universal Institute, Czarina Lao of St. Jude Catholic School, Dominic Echavez of Precious International School-Davao, Rigil Kent Olegario of Camiling Central Elementary School, Pascal Palma of Colegio San Agustin, David Sy of Philippine Institute, and Gen Mark Tanno of Southville International School, among others.

Their counterparts in the Cayley division were Arvin Alba of Philippine Science High School, Aloysius Alipio of Jesus is Lord Colleges Foundation, Charles Antonio of Pasig Catholic College, Amina Batara of San Pedro Poveda College, John Bulaong of Ateneo de Naga University High School, Lamb Harold Cajayon of Olongapo City National High School, Paul Co of Tarlac Living Faith Academy, Aileen Cu of Uno High School, Sed Holaysan of Bethany Christian School, and Patrick Lucanas of Leyte National High School, among others.

Other top scorers in the Fermat contest included Angeline Baniqued of St. Paul College-Pasig, Hanz Cabanes of Zamboanga Chong Hua High School, Aissa Mei Chua of Philippine Science High School-Ilocos, Darryl Diaz of Manila Science High School, Lance Maravillas of MSU-IIT Integrated Development School, Hazel Joy Shi of Philippine Cultural College, Jordan Tan of Xavier School, Dianna Valles of Taguig Science High School, Matthew Chan of St. Stephen’s High School, and Zixin Zhang of Grace Christian College, among others. (A complete list of those who did very well in the competition is posted on www.mtgphil.org).–Jerry E. Esplanada, Philippine Daily Inquirer