Filipino students win left and right in Int'l Math competitions

By Mediatrix P. Cristobal

MANILA, Jul 7 (PNA) -- An official of the Science Education Institute lauded students who excel in Mathematics competitions, especially those who compete overseas and bring honor to the country.

“I urge our dear students to put into good use the foundation they get in joining this kind of competition by taking up science-related courses. We need you to help us pursue our development goals through research and development geared towards building our capacity to innovate our industries and improve our economy,” Dr. Ester B. Ogena, Director of DOST-Science Education Institute said.

Filipino students are winning left and right, garnering medals, trophies and special awards, truly a refreshing news amidst political noise hogging the headlines.

Last April, a group Filipino students harvested 18 Gold, 12 Silver and 10 Bronze Certificates from Fryer, Galois and Hypatia Contests, during the Canadian Mathematics Competition.

The tilt was hosted by the Center for Education in Mathematics and Computing of the University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada and participated by over a hundred schools worldwide.

Meanwhile, Zheng Rong Wu, a 4th year student of Zamboanga Chong Hua High School bested other equally best math wizards in the competition at the International Regions Math League (IRML) held last May at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, United States.

He snatched the gold medal by being the top scorer in the individual round. Furthermore, the Philippines was slated third place in the team competition.

Another set of honors were brought home by Filipino students after garnering 6 gold, 12 silver and 21 bronze medals, bagging along 56 certificates of distinction, 81 certificates of honors and 65 certificates of merits at the 24th Annual Contest of the American Mathematics Competitions (AMC).

The Philippine Team also won bronze medals at the recently concluded 21st Asia Pacific Mathematics Olympiad (APMO) held last March 10, 2009 at the Ateneo de Manila University.

The DoST is sending four high school students from different schools in Metro Manila to compete at the 50th International Mathematics Olympiad (IMO) to be held in Bremen, Germany on July 10 to 22.

Ogena challenged other high school students to step up for the country by excelling in mathematics.

Mathematics need not be a difficult subject given the substantial training and knowledge from grade school to secondary level,” she said.

Ogena said excellence in mathematics, as well as in science, should translate into careers in science, technology and engineering that could help catapult the Philippines to becoming a developed country. (PNA)