THE Philippines won 39 medals, including two gold medals in the 2008 International Mathematics Competition
(IMC) held in Chiang Mai, Thailand from October 25 to 31.

Thailand Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat and Education Minister Srimuang Charoensiri opened the competition on October 26, underscoring the importance of the contest, which drew 25 countries including math powerhouse China.

Dr. Simon Chua, president of the Mathematics Trainers Guild-Philippines and head of the delegation, said Filipino students hauled two gold medals, 15 silvers and 22 bronze medals. The first gold was won by Ma. Czarina Angela Lao of St. Jude Catholic School, the lone gold medalist from the country in the elementary individual competition.



FILIPINO students at the awarding ceremony with their coaches and trainers led by Dr. Simon Chua (back row, 3rd from left).

The other gold was won by Philippine Team A composed of Geraldine Baniqued of St. Paul College Pasig, Carmela Antoinette Lao of St. Jude Catholic School, Aileen Giselle Chua of Grace Christian High School and Jillian Kristel Sy of Chiang Kai Shek College.

“Our contestants rose above the challenge and proved that they can compete with other students from other countries. We at the Mathematics Trainers Guild-Philippines are very happy with their outstanding performance,” Dr. Chua said.

Philippine Team A in the elementary bagged a silver medal in the team competition. The team is composed of Austin Edrich Chua, Ma. Czarina Angela Lao all of St. Jude Catholic School, John Thomas Chuatak of St. Stephen’s High School and Aldrich Aldwin Mayoralgo of Makati Science High School. Likewise the same team won the bronze medals in the group category.

The silver medalists from the Philippines in the elementary individual contest are Dielle Tio of St. Stephen’s High School, Hubert Yao of Iloilo Central Commercial High School, Sean Timothy Cheng of Grace Christian High School and Aldrich Aldwin Mayoralgo of Makati Science High School.

In the secondary division, the individual silver medalists are Carlo Francisco Adajar of PAREF Southridge in Alabang, Vance Eldric Go of St. Jude Catholic School, Ricci Ryan Rojo of Zamboanga Chong Hua High School, Geraldine Baniqued of St. Paul College Pasig, John Russell Virata of Gideon Academy and Jillian Kristel Sy of Chiang Kai Shek College.

Philippine Team E in the high school composed of Ricci Ryan Rojo, Ervin Fredrick Dy, John Russel Virata and Carlo Francisco Adajar won bronze medals in the group category.

The bronze medalists in the individual contest in the IMC are Philip Lizarda of San Beda College Alabang, Austin Edrich Chua of St. Jude Catholic School, Andrew Joelle Caguntas of Bangkal Elementary School, Jakov Ivan Dumbrique of St. Paul College of Ilocos Sur, Martin Lewis Koa of St. Jude Catholic School, Richard Milante of Legazpi Hope Christian School, Jason Allan Tan of Jubilee Christian Academy, Arnold Lindros Lau of Xavier School, Mary Kryslette Bunyi of San Beda College Alabang, Regina Paz Onglao of St. Paul College Pasig, Carmela Antoinette Lao of St. Jude Catholic School, Evan Niccolo Lao of Xavier School, Alvin Uy Lim of Quezon City Science High School, Ervin Fredrick Dy of Chiang Kai Shek College, Elvis Jeremy Ayroso of Philippine Science High School, Arielle Elise Chua of St. Jude Catholic School, Aileen Giselle Chua of Grace Christian High School, Charles Rainier Belga of Taguig Science High School, Joel Edward Cardinal of Makati Science High School, Sterling Alvin Tiu of St. Stephen’s High School, John Thomas Chuatak of St. Stephen’s High School, Aileen Jennifer Cu of UNO High School, Joelle Sophia Peña of Saint Pedro Poveda College and Sarah Jane Cua of Pangasinan Universal Institute, who is the youngest contestant in the Philippine Team in the high school division.

The Philippines placed fourth among 25 countries with math powerhouse China topping the contest with 51 medals, followed by host Thailand with 49 and Indonesia, 41. Trailing the Philippines are Taiwan, 37; Bulgaria, 25; Hong Kong, 23; Singapore, 16; Malaysia, 10; and South Korea, 10.

Other participants who had contributed much for the success of the Philippine teams were Bennyvic joyce Esguerra of Camarines Sur National High School, Lorenzo Carlos Bacquiran of Jaro I Elementary School, Leiko Armand Ravelo of Ateneo de Davao University, John Angel Aranas of Maximon Estrella Elementary School and Jone Zelita Orlina of West City Science Elementary School of Dumaguete City.

The trainers and coaches of the students are Dr. Eduardo de la Cruz, dean of the School of Education and Normal of Arellano University; Dr. Isidro Aguilar, supervisor of DepEd Taguig City; Mrs. Priscilla de Sagun, assistant schools division superintendent of Makati; Mrs. Levita Portugal of the Science Education Institute of the Department of Science and Technology; Mr. Roberto Degolacion, Mr. Manuel Kotah and Mr. Jonathan Glorial, all team and deputy team leaders.

You can read some related news regarding the 2008 IMC on the following links:

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/
http://www.mb.com.ph/archive_pages.php?url=http://www.mb.com.ph/issues/2008/11/02/MAIN20081102139711.html