Pinoy children bag medals in mathematics tilt

FILIPINO elementary and high school students bagged 11 gold medals in the recently concluded 3rd International Math Contest in Singapore, the Department of Foreign Affairs reported yesterday.

In all, the Philippine team won 44 medals in a competition with students from China, India, Malaysia and Singapore held from Aug. 16 to 21 at the International School in Singapore.

The 11 math wizards who won gold medals were Harvey Eaton Uy; Ma. Czarina Angela Lao; Mikaela Angelina Uy; Sterling Alvin Tiu; Gari Lincoln Chua; Roselen Ann Vieja; Geovin Dexter Uy; Zheng Rong Wu; Rafael Perea; Francisco Adajar; and Paul Julian Hao.

The Philippine team also brought home 12 silver and 21 bronze medals. Fifteen team members also received merit awards.

The Mathematics Trainer’s Guild of the Philippines, the group that trained the Filipino math wizards, said the competition was geared at showing kids the importance of math in their lives.

The competition in Singapore also served as the Philippine team’s preparation for the International Mathematics Olympiad.

In the Singapore competition, the test had three parts: 10 multiple-choice questions, 10 fill-in-the-blanks questions, and three problem-solving questions where the solution had to be presented.

Simon Chua, MTG president, was ecstatic.

“This is not only the achievement of the individual Filipino student nor of the MTG but also of the Philippines,” Chua said.

Earlier, the foreign affairs department also reported that the Halili-Cruz School of Ballet from the Philippines bagged 40 trophies and medals including all seven perpetual trophies awarded by the 2007 Asia-Pacific Dance Competition, also held in Singapore.

Charge d’affaires Maria Lumen Isleta of the Philippine Embassy in Singapore reported that the school bagged all seven perpetual trophies awarded to outstanding dancers last July 22.

HCSB had 54 entries and won the gold in the following categories: Classical Solo (Open-Professional); Neo-Classical Solo (Open-Professional); Modern Solo (Open-Professional); Groups (Open-Professional); Groups under 16-“Aniwana”; and Groups under 10 and under 13-National “Magtanim.” –Michael Caber, Manila Standard Today