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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PH math aces compete online after pricey air fares prevent them from going to Canada for the tilt

PH math aces compete online after pricey air fares prevent them from going to Canada for the tilt

Published Aug 25, 2025 12:00 pm
Some of the Filipino primary students during the Spirit of Math National Round on March 1.
Some of the Filipino primary students during the Spirit of Math National Round on March 1.
Nearly 950 math-gifted Filipino students have qualified to participate in the Global Round of the Spirit of Math (SOM) international contest in Toronto, Canada.
However, expensive air fares prevented them from going to the Ontario city and competing in person in the SOM.
Worse, SOM organizers allowed only 100-plus Filipino "mathletes" to take part in the contest online from the Philippines.
Other contestants from countries like Pakistan, Turkey, Indonesia, Colombia and Myanmar were given the same condition, said Dr. Simon Chua, head of the Mathematics Trainers' Guild Phils. (MTG) which mentors the Philippine students.
On the other hand, Canadian students were scheduled to participate in the Global Round on August 28.
Last March, a total of 3,268 Grades 1 to 6 Filipino students took the SOM National Round. 2,115 of them are from public schools while 1,153 come from private ones.
Up to 947 of the students qualified for the Global Round. But only 158 registered for the Toronto competition, according to MTG.
During the National Round, the primary school contestants secured a total of 157 awards, 117 of which were courtesy of private schools and 40 by public schools.
An MTG official noted it "underscores the depth of mathematical talent flourishing in the country.''
The SOM event aims to "foster critical thinking and mathematical problem-solving skills among Grades to 6 students on a global scale."
SOM organizers asserted it is "more than just a contest. It is a celebration of brilliance, cultural exchange, a shared passion for learning, as well as creating a global community of young mathematicians."
The contest also "aims to unlock the genius in every child," they added.
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