Young Filipino math aces made the country proud again by taking home 19 medals from the just-concluded 21st International Mathematics and Science Olympiad (IMSO) in China.
The Philippine "mathletes," all students from various public and private schools across the country, won 1 gold, 10 silver and 8 bronze medals in the 18-nation competition.
The IMSO was held from Oct. 1 to 6 at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences in the port city of Wenzhou in Zhejiang province. Wenzhou is about 1,570 kms. south of Beijing.
Close to 300 math-gifted students from the following countries took part in the contest: Botswana, Bulgaria, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong and host China.
Dr. Simon Chua, head of Mathematics Trainers' Guild Phils. (MTG) which mentored the Filipino math wizards, named the team's lone gold medalist as Heal Job Esio, a Grade 6 student of Pangasinan Universal Institute in Dagupan City.
The silver medalists are Elizur Daniel Anabieza of Divine Light Academy Bacoor; Bianca Jayne Ong and Annette Tiffany Yu of St. John's Institute Bacolod; Ezekiel Anton Tan, Mishael Oikos Chan and Yingqi Lu of St. Jude Catholic School; Steve Jacob Yu of Xavier School; Leonard Vash Cay of Xavier School Nuvali; Savannah Lucia Sabeen de Guzman of St. Paul College Pasig and Sophia Yzabel Tiu of Special Education Center for the Gifted.
The bronze medal winners are Eunice Gaerlan of BHC Institution; Erin Leighton Go and Carlo Aceret of St. Jude Catholic School; Kaylee Nichole Tan of Pangasinan Universal Institute; Miguel Yee of St. John's Institute Bacolod; Issaiah Sean Escobido of Iloilo Scholastic Academy; Alexander Gabriel Ho of Paco Citizen Academy and Anne Dorothy Madrazo of Timoteo Paez Elementary School.
The math team leaders are Renard Eric Chua and Minerva Bianca Avecilla while Ivan Aguilar, Jay Gabata and Jonabel Quintana led the science squad.
MTG-trained math aces have bagged 242 medals so far this year at several tilts abroad, bringing their 5-year haul to 6,556 medals.
"Our mathletes continue to make the nation, as well as their respective schools, families and other support groups proud with their string of contest victories," Chua noted.
MTG, established in October 1995 and currently running 60-plus training centers nationwide, aims to institutionalize math education and training in the country.