International math experts to train Filipino teachers

MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Oct. 3, 2010) - Six well-known international math experts from China, Taiwan, Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Thailand will be coming to the Philippines to train Filipino teachers on the latest trends in mathematics that could help uplift the quality of teaching in the country.

The experts, who are all respected in the international math community, have been invited by the Mathematics Trainers Guild-Philippines for the 2010 International Mathematics Educators Convention that will be held from October 21 to 24 at the Royale Tagaytay Country Club in Cavite.

Dr. Simon Chua, MTG president, said these experts will teach about the newest math teaching methodologies and innovative strategies to make math a fun-filled subject in schools.

They are Dr. Lee Shen Hong, chairman of the China Mathematical Olympiad; Prof. Wen Hsien Sun, president of the Chiu Chang Math Education Foundation in Taipei, Taiwan; Prof. Peter Taylor, executive director of the Australian Mathematics Trust; Dr. Pramote Kajornpai, director at Thailand’s Ministry of Education; Prof. Pinky Leung, principal of the Hong Kong Mathematical Olympiad School; and Dr. Ridwan Hasan Saputra, president and director of the KPM Math Clinic in Indonesia.

The convention will be held in coordination with the Department of Education.

Dr. Chua, the first Filipino to receive the prestigious Paul Erdos Award for mathematics, said the MTG and the DepEd is committed to promoting and uplifting mathematics education in the country.

“Math should not be a fearsome subject for students. It can be taught in a fun-filled classroom environment. Our Filipino math teachers will learn the newest math teaching techniques from these international experts,” said Chua who founded the MTG in 1995 along with Professor Rechilda Villame.

Since then, MTG has been spearheading the country’s quest for math excellence by training Filipino students and sending them to compete in international math contests.

This year alone, MTG-trained Filipino students won medals in various international math competitions including the International Mathematics Competitions in Singapore and South Korea, China Primary Math Olympiad, and 13th Po Leung Kuk Primary Mathematics World Contest.

Pinoy students win again in 2 int’l contests

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino math wizards again won medals and awards in two additional international math competitions held recently in China and Taiwan.

Dr. Simon Chua, president of the Mathematics Trainers Guild-Philippines, said a group of students bagged two bronze medals and four merit awards in the South East Mathematical Olympiad (SEMO) held in Taiwan.

Another batch of Filipino students won 53 honors in the 2010 China Primary Math Olympiad held in Tianjin, China.

In the SEMO, Erik Lance Astillero of Chiang Kai Shek College and Vance Eldric Go of St. Jude Catholic School each garnered a bronze medal. On the other hand, Sean Timothy Cheng, Neil Chua Goy, and Shaun Wesley Que, all students of Grace Christian College, and Geovin Dexter Uy of Chiang Kai Shek College all won merit awards.

According to Chua, nine countries competed in the contest: Philippines, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Macao, Malaysia, South Africa, Taiwan and Thailand.

On the other hand, in the 2010 China Primary Math Olympiad held in Tianjin, student Leander Noel Kiu of Pace Academy won second honors, the only Filipino student who got the award. Kiu is a member of Philippine Team 8, which emerged as the Philippines’ Best Team. The other two members of the team are Giwon Kim of Learning Link Academy and Christopher Joseph Magno of Falcon Learning Center, which both won third honors.

Fifty other Filipino students bagged third honors in the individual competition - Ella Mae Absalon, Sean Moises Aliño, Eugenio Laureano Ares, James Christian Atilano, Lesley Clarice Balete, Mia Beatrice Cahimat, Hannah Faye Canonigo, Alysza Me Carballo, Jordan Lewis Chan, Hazel Lynn Chung, Julianne Liana Co, Miko Johnson Co, Rufa Aizha Cunanan, Leovigildo Ramon De Castro III, Mikhaela Marie Diaz, Kristine Ashley Doble, Gabriel Angelo Estampador.

And Charles Louie Fernan, Gian Francesco Gamboa, Rusjonell Gerona, Gene Go Jr., Tatyana Marie Gonzaga, Jonas Andrew Ho, Shannon Gail Ho, Christopher Kohchet-Chua, Andrea Louise Lee, Marielle Francesca Lim, Marion Antonio Lim, Tonita Mari Lim, Mary Claire Lizarda, Jeremy John Magpantay, Rhomel Isaac Marcojos, Raphael Antonio Morallo, Jonathan Murga, Liam Sanro Ng, Steve HK Ng, Arvy Daniel Ngo, Maria Andrea Kristina Onglao, Camille Therese Pastoriza, Carlos Jan Penas, Charlene Rabutin, Danielle Joy Lim See, Justine John Serdoncillo, Anna Sofia Serrano, Guinevere Soria, Gwyneth Soria, Mary Joyce Tan, Terrence Brian Tsai, Joanna Nicole Yu and Sean Josef Zamora.

The MTG trained the contestants for the two competitions.

The Philippines recently competed in the 2010 China Junior High School Math Olympiad also in Tianjin and the Hua LoGeng Golden Cup Mathematics Invitational Competition in Taiwan.

Pinoy kids declared 2nd overall in Singapore int’l math tilt

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines bagged 136 medals and merit awards to place second overall behind China in the 6th International Mathematics Competition (IMC) held from August 6 to 10 in Singapore.

According to Dr. Simon Chua, president of the Mathematics Trainers Guild-Philippines (MTG), the young Filipino math wizards bagged 12 gold medals, 26 silvers, 54 bronzes and 44 merit awards in the contest.

The Philippines placed second behind China in the overall ranking in the competition that was participated in 987 students from 10 countries and territories. Third place was Indonesia followed by Malaysia, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand and India, according to Rechilda Villame, MTG vice president.

Dr. Chua said this year’s medal harvest increased compared to last year’s contest where Filipino students won 102 medals. MTG is an organization of math experts that train students for math competitions abroad.

The 12 Filipino gold medalists are: Raphael Villaluz San Beda College-Alabang in Muntinlupa, Matthew Angelo Isidro of St Jude Catholic School, Shaquille Wyan T. Que of Grace Christian College, Farrel Eldrian Wu of MGC New Life Christian Academy, Errol John Suarez of Bicol University Integrated Laboratory School.

Frederick Matthew Corpuz of Colegio San Agustin-Makati, Adrian Reginald Sy of St Jude Catholic School, Gabriele Anne Gabaton of Pasig Catholic College, Jervis Ong Chua of Philippine Cultural College, Kate Andrea Bonamy of Grace Christian College, Shaun Wesley Que of Grace Christian College, and Karl Joshua Reyes of Regional Science High School in Olongapo.
The 26 silver medalists are Xavier Jefferson Go of Zamboanga Chong Hua High School, Lord Danly Mafe of Colegio San Agustin-Biñan, Jose Ignacio Locsin of St. John's Institute.

Bon Leif Amalla of Colegio San Agustin-Biñan, Emmanuel Paulo Santos of Colegio San Agustin-Biñan, Adam Christopher Chan of Grace Christian College, Jami Mae Ching of Jubilee Christian Academy, Jan Joshua Cruz of Pasig Catholic College, Elijamin Wolfgang Claveria of Elizabeth Seton School-South, Albert Neil Dulay of Integrated Montessori Center, Luis Salvador Diy of Xavier School, Hans Markson Tan of St. Stephen's High School, Andrea Jaba of St. Jude Catholic School, Alyssa Guevara of De La Salle Santiago Zobel School Ayala.

Cary Albert Chan of St. Jude Catholic School, Mark Christopher Uy of Xavier School, Christopher Banzon of Nemesio I. Yabut Elementary School, Juan Mario Luis Esplana of Elizabeth Seton School-South, Kelsey Lim Tiong Soon of Jubilee Christian Academy, Vincent Jaime Benitez of Philippine Science High School-Western Visayas, Dave Laurence Juntilla of Philippine Science High School Southern Mindanao, Himig Marcos of Philippine Cultural College, Sterling Alvin Tiu of St. Stephen's High School, Timothy James Tan of Trinity Christian School, Stephen Laohoo of Grace Christian College and Jeremy Vance Yap of Grace Christian College.

In addition, the bronze medalists are Vincent Angelo Suarez of De La Salle Lipa, Patricia Ina Tañada of Pembo Elementary School, Joan Lyn Fadri of San Beda College-Alabang, Aubrey Beatrice Carnaje of SPED-Integrated School for Exceptional Child, Richlyn Joy Villalobos of Doane Brilliant Child Learning Haven, Thomas Spencer Balete of St. Stephen's High School, Amyll Angelin Uy of Davao Christian High School.

Cheska Marina Hufano of Mother Goose Special School System, Luke Matthew Bernardo of Philadelphia High School, Kenneth Shi of Philippine Cultural College-Main, Vicente Raphael Chan of Zamboanga Chong Hua High School, Robert Diel Abdao of Integrated Montessori Center, John Aries Ceazar Hingan of San Beda College-Alabang, Andrew Vince Lee of Xavier School, Lou Irish Gonzales of Pasig Catholic College, Kyle Garret Lee Uy of Xavier School, Josh Thomas Clement of West Visayas State University, Adrian Nathaniel Chua of Xavier School, Brendan Cale Coseto of Xavier School.

Matthew Johann Uy of Xavier School, Almira Beatrice Uy of PACE Academy, Bryan Pocholo Miguel Illana of Divine Light Academy-Molino, Jes David Adriel Buaron of Statesfield School, Angelo Miguel Eduarte of City Central Cagayan de Oro, Royce Val Malalis of City Central Cagayan Oro, Jan Kendrick Ong of Chiang Kai Shek College, Janina Navarra of Colegio de San Agustin, Agnes Robang of PAREF Woodrose School, Dominique Sy of Grace Christian College, Leo Emmanuel Sombiro of Solomon Integrated School of Iloilo.

Nadine Macalalad of St. Paul College-Pasig, Akkiara Symonn May Sawali of St. Augustine's School, Vince Roi Alvarez of Colegio San Agustin-Biñan, Yusaine Maon of Falcon Learning Center, Marx Vincent Cobol of Philippine Science High School Southern Mindanao, Caisa Subia of San Beda College-Alabang, Carissa Andrea Lim of St. Jude Catholic School, Mark Vincent Tan of Ateneo de Manila High School, Anchelle Grace Ho of Silliman University, Nathaniel Ryan Ang of Xavier School, Karli Ang of Philippine Institute of Quezon City, Dielle Tio of St. Stephen's High School, Martin Lewis Koa of St. Jude Catholic School, Hans Bryan Geremy Ong of Grace Christian College, Wilford Jason Julio of St. Jude Catholic School.

Lu Christian Ong of Grace Christian College, Casey Oliver Turingan of San Beda College-Alabang, Hannah Elyse Tee of Immaculate Conception Academy, Charles Emerson Ngo of Leyte Progressive High School, Andrew Cua of Philippine Cultural College, Kyle Justin Meguizo of St. Jude Catholic School, John Cedric Laohoo of Grace Christian College, Emmanuel Gerard Chiu of Siliman University High School and Ann Michelle Siao of Zamboanga Chong Hua High School.

Students who got merit awards are Yusaira Maon of Falcon Learning Center, Justin Baes of Dee Hwa Liong Academy, Justin Matthew Lapastora of St. Paul College of Ilocos Sur, Maxim Grace Sorongon of Children's Integrated School of Alta Tierra, Frenz Evander Cabison of Mother Goose Special School System Inc., Lorenz Matthew Tech of Pasig Catholic College, Janella Umbina of Special Education Center for the Gifted.

Cristiana Marie Calderon of Falcon Learning Center, Emmanuel Maminta of Iligan City East Central School, Patrick Allen Tañada of Pembo Elementary School, Azel Amada of Silliman University, Justin Adriel Zent Togonon of Children's Integrated School of Alta Tierra, Nathaniel Dinsay of Young Shepherds School, Albert Jason Olaya of Morning Star Montessori School, Thamania Keith Gumilao of Pasig Catholic College, Lorenzo Magnaye of De La Salle Canlubang, Karljan Kotah of Philippine Cultural College-Main, Sabrina Rae Chan of Zamboanga Chong Hua High School, Benoni Perez of Dee Hwa Liong Academy, Neil Marc Dasas of Solomon Intg. School.

John Lester Tan of Dee Hwa Liong Academy, Patricia Marie Yap of Iloilo Central Commercial High School, King James Fetalvero of Philippine Science High School Southern Mind, Christina Marie Moneda of Blessed Lights International Christian Academy, Jasmine Marie Gamboa of Grace Christian College, Royce Dy of Kong Hua School, Gail Denise Destura of La Salle Academy, Abigail Laureen Sy of St. Jude Catholic School, James Daniel Cordon of Philippine Science High School-Main, Darren Anthony Khow of St. Jude Catholic School, Aaron Jevon Anthony Dy of Xavier School, Edgar Laurrence Osis of Colegio San Agustin - Biñan.

Samuel Wong of Grace Christian College, Jeska Brenot Belonio of Xavier University High School-Ateneo de Cagayan, Beatriz Michelle Go of Immaculate Conception Academy, Peter Nicholas Onglao of Xavier School, Joelle Sophia Peña of Philippine Science High School - Main, Carlo Luis Benitez of Ateneo de Iloilo-Sta. Maria Catholic School, Daniel Ratilla of Philippine Institute of Quezon City, Kennichi Tan of Zamboanga Chong Hua High School, Regine Joy Perania of Iloilo Central Commercial High School, Kerwin Edfrey Utanes of Philippine Science High School-Main, Ian Chesterson Lim of Zamboanga Chong Hua High School and Carlo Patrick Tan of Zamboanga Chong Hua High School.