Young Filipino math wizards successfully bagged a total of 28 medals and 16 awards at the Indonesia International Mathematics Competition (IIMC).
The 39-member Philippine team won three golds, seven silvers, 18 bronze medals, and 16 merit awards in the 30-nation online competition held last July 27 to 31.
Chelsea Kristanna Tan, a Grade 6 student of the Davao Christian High School, is the sole gold medalist from the team. The two other gold medals came from the team contests.
Garnering the country's silver medals were Mohammad Nur Casib of Philippine Science High School (PSHS) Central Mindanao Campus; Lance Gabriel Madrazo of Zamboanga Chong Hua High School; Ellison Matthew Ang and Kate Dominique Siaco, both from St. Jude Catholic School; Benjamin Jacob and John David Magnaye, both from PSHS-Main Campus, and Ervin Joshua Bautista of Southville International School.
The bronze medalists were Jared Ng of Grace Christian College; Tracy Lauren Lei, Walsh Nico Letran, Alvan Paredes Dy, and Claire Mitzi Acosta, all from St. Jude Catholic School; Jia Ruth Condino of Integrated Montessori Center Taguig; Shaun Lawrence Poh Leung of St. Stephen's High School; Zion Earl Carmelo Uy of Ateneo de Manila; Feivel Pulusan of Hope Christian High School; Jan Francis Tamanu of St. Edward School Imus Campus; Jance Enrico de la Fuente of Philippine Science High School Main Campus; Luke Sebastin Sy of Grace Christian College; Christopher James Yap of St. John's Institute Bacolod City; Erich Paredes of International School Manila; and Neo Gatlabayan of British School Manila.
The other team members who earned merit awards were Caitlin Lopingco of St. John's Institute; Shaun Jacob Cua of Xavier School San Juan; Alexander Peter Benedict Lomibao of Ateneo de Manila; Brent Anderson Ping of Tarlac Living Faith Academy; Adrienne Geraldine Co of Immaculate Conception Academy San Juan; Maria Samantha Cristobal of Ateneo de Iloilo; Grian Abiel Bautista of St. Mary's College Valenzuela; Justin Aaron Co, Alexandria Brianne Gochian, and Adrian Soriaga of St. Jude Catholic School; Gabriel Bonifacio of St. Louis College Valenzuela; Paul Vincent Navarro of Stonyhurst Southville International School; Maricier Carambas of Morning Star Montessori School Calamba City; Bert Jacob Tropicales and Armea Helena Dimayacyac of PSHS- Main Campus; and Mark Justin Villafuerte of Manila Science High School.
The Philippine delegation was headed by team leaders Arvie Ubarro, Minerva Bianca Avecilla, Kerish Villegas, and Joel Edward Cardinal.
Topping the IIMC's Key Stage II or elementary level was China, followed by Vietnam, and the Philippines.
In the Key Stage III or high school level, Bulgaria won the first place, followed by Singapore and Taiwan.
Other participating countries were the US, Russia, Australia, United Arab Emirates, Ghana, Hong Kong, India, Mexico, Malaysia, Romania, Thailand, South Korea, South Africa, Bolivia, and Iran.
The Philippine team are all wards of the non-government Mathematics Trainers’ Guild Phils. (MTG), an organization aiming to promote excellence in math education and training in the country and meet international standards since 1995.
Dr. Simon Chua, MTG co-founder and CEO, lauded the young math wizards for giving their best shot in the competition, adding "they made not just their families and schools proud but also the country."
Last year, MTG-trained math wizards also took home a total of 1,789 medals, including 230 golds, in 14 foreign contests.