RP wizards win 31 medals in South Korea math contest

MANILA, Philippines - Young Filipino math wizards won 31 medals including two team gold medals in the International Math Competition (IMC) held in South Korea from July 25 to 29.

Dr. Simon Chua, head of the RP delegation, said a total of 604 elementary and high school students competed in the contest that comprised 151 teams from 26 countries and territories including China, Canada, Thailand, Australia, South Africa, Taiwan, Philippines and host country South Korea.

“We are delighted about the great showing of our Filipino students in the contest,” said Dr. Chua, who is also the president of the Mathematics Trainers Guild-Philippines (MTG), an organization of math experts that trains Filipino students for international math contests.

According to Chua and Rechilda Villame, MTG vice president, the entire Philippine team won two gold medals, one silver, 28 bronzes and 11 merit awards in the contest.

The two gold medals were courtesy of Philippine Teams A and B in the team contest in the Korea Elementary Mathematics International Competition (KEMIC), the contest for the elementary division. Teams A and B also won bronze in the group contest.

Team A is composed of Jason Joseph Fernandez of San Beda College Alabang in Muntinlupa City, Kaye Janelle Yao of Grace Christian College, and Ma. Czarina Angela Lao and Vince Benedict Say, both students of Saint Jude Catholic School.

On the other hand, Team B is composed of Raymond Joseph Fadri of San Beda College Alabang, Andrew Brandon Ong of Chiang Kai Shek College, Austin Edrich Chua of Saint Jude Catholic School, and Nathaniel Joshua Balete of Philippine Institute of Quezon City.

The individual bronze medalists of the Philippine team in the elementary and high school divisions are: all the members of elementary Teams A and B, Miguel Lorenzo Ildesa of PAREF Westbridge School, Shawn Gabriele Cabanes of Zamboanga Chong Hua High School, Camille Tyrene Dee of Immaculate Conception Academy, Sarah Jane Cua of Pangasinan Universal Institute, Brendon Matthew Go of Xavier School, Audrey Celine Lao of Saint Jude Catholic School, Michael Brodeth of Philippine Science High School Main, Mikaela Angelina Uy of Saint Jude Catholic School, Justin Edric Yturzaeta of Jubilee Christian Academy, Kenneth Co of Philippine Science High School-Main and Vance Eldric Go of Saint Jude Catholic School.

Elementary Team D won a bronze in the team and group contests while Team C bagged a bronze in the team contest.

Teams C and D are composed of Magin Benedict Ferrer, Mark Davidson Cua, Miguel Lorenzo Ildesa, Sedrick Scott Keh, Gen Mark Tanno, Miguel Luis Rivera, Ramon Galvan III and Shawn Gabrielle Cabanes.

In the high school division or the Korea Invitational World Youth Mathematics Inter-City Competition, Team A composed of Janssen Lawrence Chan, Michelin Ang, Camille Tyrene Dee and Sarah Jane Cua bagged a silver medal in the team contest.

On the other hand, high school Teams B, C and D composed of Aldrich Aldwin Mayoralgo, Brendon Matthew Go, Julius Vincent Sy, Audrey Celine Lao, Hubert Yao, Keefe Collin Tan, Michel Brodeth, Mikaela Angelina Uy, Justin Edric Yturzaeta, Kenneth Co, Neil Jordan Chua Goy and Vance Eldric Go won a bronze each in the team contest. Team D also won a bronze in the group contest.

The team leaders and coaches of the RP team are Villame, Dr. Eduardo Dela Cruz, dean of the Arellano University School of Education; Robert Degolacion, Joseph Wee, Isidro Aguilar, Jonathan Glorial, Manuel Kotah, Rodello De Asis and Eugenia Guerra.

China was declared overall champion in the contest. Other countries that competed in the IMC are Bulgaria, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cyprus, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Macau, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Nepal, Nigeria, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and United Arab Emirates.

The Philippine team was scheduled to arrive in Manila on Thursday.