Pinoy math wizards harvest more medals in int'l tilts

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino math wizards again harvested two silver medals and five bronze medals in two prestigious math competitions recently held in China.

Dr. Simon Chua, president of the Mathematics Trainers Guild-Philippines, hailed the consistent performance of Filipino students in international math contests, especially in math-conscious China.

Adrian Reginald Sy of St. Jude Catholic School won a silver medal, ending the two-year drought for the Philippines since it last won a silver in 2009, in the prestigious China Southeast Mathematical Olympiad (CSMO) held last July 28 to 30 in Putian City in Fujian, China.

Austin Edrich Chua of St. Jude Catholic School and Angelo Sevilleno of Valenzuela City Science High School each won bronze medals.

Merit awards went to Gen Mark Tanno of Southville International School and Colleges, Jervis Chua of Philippine Cultural College and Alexander Sarino of Valenzuela City Science High School.

On the other hand, all four Filipino delegates won medals in the 2012 China Girls’ Mathematics Olympiad (CGMO) that was held last Aug. 18 to 21 in Guangzhou, China.

Ma. Czarina Lao of St. Jude Catholic School won a silver medal, the second for the country since 2008.

Kelsey Lim Tiong Soon of Grace Christian College, Reine Jiana Reynoso of Philippine Science High School-Main and Mikaela Angelina Uy of St. Jude Catholic School all won bronze medals.

Chua noted that this was the first time that all Filipino delegates won medals in the contest since the Philippines started joining the CGMO in 2003.

Lao’s sister, Carmela Antoinette, was the first Filipino to win a gold medal in the contest in 2009.

“These are two of the toughest math contests,” explained Chua.

The CSMO drew more than 240 contestants from China, Hong Kong, Macau, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.

It was organized by the Southeast Mathematical Olympiad Organizing Committee and sponsored by the Mathematical Society of Fujian province and Bureau of Education of Putian City.