RP hauls silver, 48 bronzes in China math olympiad

HUBEI, China – While a medal remains elusive for the Philippines in the Olympic Games in Beijing, a team of 49 Filipino math wizards all bagged honors here, winning one silver and 48 bronze medals in the China Primary Math Olympiad.

Michael Brodeth, a student of Colegio de San Agustin in Makati City, won second honor in the tournament held last Monday and Tuesday at the Yichang No. 20 Middle School in Yichang City, 300 kilometers from Wuhan, both in Hubei province.

The 48 other members of the team, composed of elementary students from private and public elementary schools in the Philippines, each managed to earn third-honor recognition from what is dubbed by the Mathematics Trainers Guild-Philippines (MTG) as the second hardest math tournament in the world.

This year’s Team Philippines was not comprised of students from Chinese schools, as had been the case in previous math Olympiads.

Dr. Eduardo dela Cruz, MTG vice president who accompanied the 49-student Philippine delegation, said that the performance of the young team was “unexpected” but was a great achievement considering that all the members each won an honor.

“The team was very, very impressive,” Dela Cruz said.

“This tournament is known to be a very tough one and we have only managed to win one gold medal here since we started to send participants in 2003. Usually, we only win a few silver or a few bronze each year in previous years. But now we have 49 honors and all our representatives each won an honor for the country,” Dela Cruz told The STAR.

Among the winners of third honor equivalent to a bronze finish were Jiles Ramos of Rosa L. Susano Elementary School, Dennis Andrew de Chavez of Parañaque Science High School, Georemie Arrienne Concepcion of Philippine Science High School, and Romelie Chelsea Escobia of Negros Occidental Science High School.

The other bronze winners were Dennis Betito Jr., and Lara Andrea Montales of Colegio de San Agustin; Beatriz Michelle Go of Immaculate Concepcion Academy; Jegine Joy Perania of Iloilo Central Commercial High School; James Daniel Cordon and Juancho Miguel Morales of PAREF Southridge School; Nigel Zildjan Limsiy of Chiang Kai Shek College, Francis Concepcion of Philippine Cultural College, John Alexander Co of Xavier School, Mark John Dy of Mother Goose School, and Dominic Ursicimus Ong and Seline Irabel Cua  of St. Jude Catholic School.

The other bronze winners were Deanne Rochelle Abdao and Janine Caryl Bisnar, both of the Integrated Montessori Center; Paradau Laarnie Valerio of Star Montessori School; Katrina Isabel Elicano of De La Salle-Zobel School; Casey Oliver Turingan and Danielle Alexandrine Madriaga of San Beda College-Alabang; Ma. Christina Guillermo of OB Montessori Center-Greenhills; Bea Gian Carla Lapitan of Morning Star Montessori School; Jasmine Marie Gamboa of St. John’s Institute; Fae Nicole Serrano and Gerard Domingo of Young Shepherd’s School; Jerome Vincent Tagaro of St. Jerome Integrated School of Cabuyao; Arvin Paul Castillo and Marven Xaviery Manzano of St. Francis of Assisi College; Paul Ryan Ong of Uno High School; Anna Loraine Ansong of St. Scholastica’s College-Westgrove; Daniel Ratilla of Philippine Institute of Quezon City; Roberto Mari Bontia of Manresa School; Leandre Noel Kiu of Pace Academy; Prince Michael Balanay of Colegio de San Agustin-Biñan, Kimberly Alyza Tee of Oro Christian Grace School; Carlo Patrick Tan, Kinnichi Tan, Laureen Eden Saavedra, and Matt Levin Tan of Zamboanga Chong Hua High School; Jose Agerico Bacal of Rosevale School-Cagayan de Oro; Tatyana Marie Gonzaga of Universidad de Santa Isabel; Royce Dy of Kong Hua School; Ray Cesar Malundo of Don Bosco Technical Institute; Yvonne Gaile Molina of Blessed Light International Christian Academy; Timothy James Tan of Trinity Christian School; and Akkiara Symon May Sawali.

Dr. Simon Chua, MTG Philippines president, said the consistent impressive performance highlighted the fact that Filipinos can excel in mathematics.

“We should promote this interest, this love for mathematics not just to win trophies and medals in international tournaments but to pave the way for students to go into engineering and science and technology courses. Our country needs engineers and scientists,” Chua said.