Pinoy whiz kid tops international math contest

MANILA, Philippines – A young Filipino mathematician emerged as one of the individual champions in a tough World Mathematics Team Championship held at the Jiuhua Resort and Convention Center held in Beijing, China, from Nov. 2 to 6.

Eleven-year-old Farrel Eldrian Wu, a Grade 6 student of MGC New Life Christian Academy in Taguig City, won a gold medal and ranked first in the primary division individual contests.

Aside from Wu, two other primary school students, Clyde Wesley Ang of Chiang Kai Shek College and Miguel Lorenzo Ildesa of PAREF Westbridge School in Iloilo, also won a gold medal each in the individual contest.

Individual silver medalists are Andrea Jaba of Saint Jude Catholic School and Sedrick Scott Keh of Xavier School in the primary division, and Ma. Czarina Angela Lao of Saint Jude Catholic School and Raenelle Ean Ngo of Chiang Kai Shek College in the middle school division.

A Philippine primary school team, Philippines Team 1, emerged second overall in a team contest. The team was composed of Wu, Ang, Ildesa, Jaba, Keh and John Aries Ceazar Hingan of San Beda College-Alabang in Muntinlupa.

The Philippine delegation was headed by Rechilda Villame, executive vice president of the Mathematics Trainers Guild-Philippines, together with Eugenia Guerra, Nikolai Christian Vasquez and Phoebe Guerra.

Aside from Hingan, other individual bronze medalists are Jan Joshua Cruz of Pasig Catholic College, Christian Philip Gelera of UP Integrated School, Matthew Angelo Isidro of Saint Jude Catholic School, Shaquille Wyan Que of Grace Christian College, twin brothers Mark Christopher and Matthew Johann Uy of Xavier School, Karli Ang of Philippine Institute of Quezon City, Michael Brodeth and Marc Patrick Celon of Philippine Science High School Main, Austin Chua of Saint Jude Catholic School, Camille Dee of Immaculate Concepcion Academy, Aaron Dy of Xavier School, Brendon Go of British School of Manila, Aldrich Aldwin Mayoralgo of Xavier School, Mikaela Uy of Saint Jude Catholic School and Daniel Young of Jubilee Christian Academy.

A total of 65 teams from the United States, host China, Philippines, South Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia and Macau joined the contest. –Rainier Allan Ronda (The Philippine Star)