Filipino students won six medals at the prestigious 64th International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), which is being held in Chiba, Japan from July 2-13.
Based on official results released by the IMO and the Go for Gold: Philippine IMO Team Facebook page, the Filipino students bagged three silver and three bronze medals.
DOST-SEI Director Dr. Josette Biyo (2nd from left) and deputy leader Kerish Villegas (extreme left) with Filipino contestants (from left) Raphael Dylan Dalida of the Philippine Science High School-Main Campus, Alvann Walter Paredes Dy of Saint Jude Catholic School, Rickson Caleb Tan of the MGC New Life Christian Academy, Filbert Ephraim Wu of Victory Christian International School, Mohammad Nur Casib of the Philippine Science High School-Central Mindanao Campus in Lanao del Norte and Jerome Austin Te of Jubilee Christian Academy (Photo from Go for Gold: Philippine IMO team Facebook page)
Winning medals for the Philippines at the 64th IMO in Japan are (from left) Mohammad Nur Casib of the Philippine Science High School-Central Mindanao Campus in Lanao del Norte, , Alvann Walter Paredes Dy of Saint Jude Catholic School, Rickson Caleb Tan of the MGC New Life Christian Academy, Filbert Ephraim Wu of Victory Christian International School, Raphael Dylan Dalida of the Philippine Science High School-Main Campus and Jerome Austin Te of Jubilee Christian Academy (Photo from Go for Gold: Philippine IMO team Facebook page)
The Philippine team to the 64th IMO in Japan (Photo from Go for Gold: Philippine IMO team Facebook page)
Winning silver medals for the country are Jerome Austin Te of Jubilee Christian Academy, Raphael Dylan Dalida of the Philippine Science High School-Main Campus and Filbert Ephraim Wu of Victory Christian International School.
Bagging bronze medals are Rickson Caleb Tan of the MGC New Life Christian Academy in Taguig, Mohammad Nur Casib of the Philippine Science High School-Central Mindanao Campus in Lanao del Norte and Alvann Walter Paredes Dy of Saint Jude Catholic School.
The six students representing the country were announced in May.
The medals they won lifted the Philippines’ overall ranking to 25th this year among 112 participating countries and regions from 55th last year in the 63rd IMO held in Oslo, Norway.
In the 63rd IMO in Oslo, Norway last year, the Philippines won two bronze medals and four honorable mentions.
This is Te’s first time to participate as a contestant to the IMO and fourth time for Dalida, who has now accumulated two silver and two bronze medals from 2020 to 2023 at the IMO.
This is the second year of Wu’s participation. Last year, he won an honorable mention at the IMO.
“Winning an IMO silver medal felt surreal - years of hard work and dedication materialized into a proud achievement for the Philippines. Through countless hours of training, with the guidance of the trainers at the Mathematical Olympiad Summer Camp (MOSC) and the unwavering support and trust of DOST-SEI and Mathematical Society of the Philippines together with the rest of the Filipino Mathematics communities, I have finally brought home an IMO medal for my country,” Wu told Manila Bulletin.
Including last year, Tan has now won a bronze medal and an honorable mention at the IMO.
“It felt amazing to hear about not only me winning a medal but the entire Philippine team bringing back medals. We’ve all put in so much time and work into this and it felt great to win a medal along the way. This may be the end of the journey for me but not for my teammates and I hope they can do the very best they can,” said Tan.
According to bronze medal winner Paredes Dy, "This award came a very pleasant and big surprise to me, because I know how difficult the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) is. I am absolutely delighted and honored to win the bronze award."
"This is a great pride not just for me, but also for my family, my school, my team mates, and most of all my country the Philippines. I share this glory with our mentors, trainers and leaders. I also thank the Ateneo Math faculty, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), our sponsors and everyone who have provided unconditional, unbelievable support to the IMO Philippine team members. Backed by them , backed by my country, we have achieved this remarkable feat at the 64th IMO competition. Thank you all, once again," he added.
Including last year, Casib has won two bronze medals at the contest while this is Paredes Dy’s first time to join as a contestant.
Director Dr. Josette Biyo of the Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) went to Japan to give support to the Philippine team.
The team was accompanied by leader Hazel Joy Shi, deputy leader: Kerish Villegas, and trainer Russelle Guadalupe.
The Philippines’ participation in the IMO was a collaborative effort by the Mathematical Society of the Philippines and the DOST-SEI.