Young Filipino Math wizards snag 297 medals in 2013

MANILA, Philippines—With a medal haul of 297, including 47 golds, a group of young Filipino numbers aces has been cited by their handlers— the nongovernment Mathematics Trainers’ Guild-Philippines (MTG)—for making the country proud with their “excellent performance” in seven international math competitions in 2013.

Dr. Simon Chua, MTG cofounder and president, on Sunday noted that “our young Math wizards have proven once again that they could be as good if not better than the world’s best in the field of mathematics.”

In a statement, he said that “these kids’ participation in various international contests is one of the challenges that make their lives interesting. Winning medals in these competitions makes their lives meaningful.”

Chua also cited the MTG’s partners, referring to an undisclosed number of private and public schools, as well as the parents of the “young numbers aces and private entities supporting our program to institutionalize excellence in Math education and training in the country.”

This year, the MTG “plans to reach out to promising Math wizards in more public schools all over the country” although it “finds it not easy to penetrate the public school system due to the lack of support from some (Department of Education) regional offices and public school administrators.”

Chua, however, said they “remain optimistic in bringing more numbers aces from public schools into the core of our training programs and eventually the Philippine Math team.”

Last year, the country’s gold medalists in the 10th International Math and Science Olympiad for Primary School Students, which Taguig City hosted in December, were John Henry Marquez from the University of the Philippines Integrated School in Quezon City and Stefan Marcus Ong and Steven Reyes, both from St. Jude Catholic School in Manila.

In the 2013 International Math Competition hosted by Singapore in August, the Philippines’ 23 gold medals came courtesy of Kyle Patrick Dulay, Raphael Villaluz, Alyssa Guevarra and Rafael Jose Santiago, all from the Philippine Science High School; Mark Davidson Cua from Pangasinan Universal Institute; Mark Uy of Xavier School; Jan Kendrick Ong of Chiang Kai Shek College and Lou Irish Gonzales from Pasig Catholic College, among others.

In the Bulgarian International Math Competition held in July in the Black Sea town of Bourgas, the gold medalists included Jinger Chong from St. Jude Catholic School; Vicente Raphael Chan from Zamboanga Chong Hua High School; Clyde Wesley Ang of Chiang Kai Shek College and Farrell Eldrian Wu of MGC New Life Christian Academy.

Five Filipino students also garnered perfect scores in the 2013 Australian Math Competition: Adrian Reginald Sy and Matthew Angelo Isidro, both from St. Jude Catholic School; Clyde Wesley Ang; Kyle Patrick Dulay; and Shaquille Wyan Que from Grace Christian College.

Last year, the Philippine Math team also took home 99 silver and 151 bronze medals as well as 80 merit awards from various international contests. –Jerry E. Esplanada, Philippine Daily Inquirer

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