MANILA - A group of young Filipino numbers and science whizzes have done the country proud by winning a total of 18 medals in the just-concluded 2009 Indonesia International Math and Science Olympiad (IMSO) for Primary Schools.
Dr. Simon Chua, president of the Mathematics Trainers' Guild of Philippines who headed the Philippine delegation to the annual 10-nation tournament that ended last Friday in Jogjakarta said the one gold, five silver and six 6 bronze medals the Philippine team bagged were good for a respectable fourth place finish in the Math division.
The team got an additional three silver and three bronze medals in the Science division.
Host Indonesia topped the Math competition for elementary students, winning 16 medals, including four golds. Singapore came in second with nine medals, including three golds.
Taiwan took third place with two gold, one silver and five bronze medals.
The other finishers were Thailand, with nine medals, including one gold medal; Hong Kong, three silver and one bronze medals; and South Africa, one bronze medal.
The Indian and Brunei teams went home empty-handed.
In the Math contest, the Filipinos' gold medal came courtesy of Adrian Reginald Sy from St. Jude Catholic School in Manila.
The silver medalists were Jason Joseph Fernandez from San Beda College-Alabang; Prince Michael Balanay from Colegio San Agustin-Biñan; Andrew Lawrence Sy from St. Jude Catholic School; and John Thomas Chuatak and Nathaniel Lawrence Sy, both from St. Stephen's High School.
The bronze medalists were Farrel Eldrian Wu from MGC New Life Christian Academy; Benedict Ryan Chua Tiu from St. Stephen's High School; Emman Joshua Busto from Juan Sumulong Elementary School; Jasper Amadeus Opulencia from North Central School in Tanauan, Batangas; Andrei Triz Patupat from Old Rosary College in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, and Franz Patrick Villamor from Central Elementary School in Cagayan de Oro.
The silver medalists in the theoretical and experimental Science division contest were Diego Nathaniel Mina from Holy Rosary College; Allan Cedrick Donno from San Beda College-Alabang; and Caireen Tuppil from Placido del Mundo Elementary School in Quezon City.
The bronze medalists were Gabriel Estampador from San Beda College-Alabang; Sarah Jane Macuja from Kidapawan Elementary School in North Cotabato; and Paul Carlo Diamond Salise from Cagayan de Oro Elementary School.
Education Secretary Jesli A. Lapus cited the DepEd-backed Philippine team for a job well done.
"Kudos to the young champs, their parents and the DepEd schools and parents," said Lapus in a text message to the Inquirer.
According to the DepEd head, "this is another feat which confirms marked improvements in the National Achievement Tests in Math and Science since 2007."
Our efforts are paying off," Lapus added.
During the 2008 edition of the IMSO, held in Lombok Island, the Philippines took home 14 medals.
Most of the Philippine team members are wards of the Mathematics Trainers' Guild-Philippines, which groups Math teachers committed to develop and promote excellence in Math education and training in the country.
MTG, founded in 1995 by Chua, "institutionalizes excellence in Math education and training in an effort to upgrade the discipline to meet international standards."
Chua congratulated the medalists for "proving once more the winning spirit of Filipino Math and Science wizards."
During the first 10 months of 2009 alone, MTG trainees won nearly 250 medals, including 22 golds, from at least eight Math competitions in China, Singapore, South Africa and India, among others.
MTG is busy preparing for the Philippine International Math Competitions scheduled later this month in Iloilo City.
At least 22 countries have confirmed their participation in the tournament which the country last hosted in 2005 in Bohol.
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