It’s the four-member team from Senator Renato Cayetano Memorial Science and Technology High School in Taguig City that emerged as champion of the 3rd SHARP-MTG Math Trail and Problem Solving Competition Final Round held on March 6, 2011at SM North EDSA in Quezon City.
The winning team composed of Carl Rey Maximo, Joshua Cuballes, Glaiza Marie Lipato and Aljan Balbuena showed how strategy and teamwork could be factors of besting the 96 participants from 24 other high schools in the National Capital Region and nearby provinces. They brought home Php 12,000 cash prize, a trophy, medals and Sharp Calculators.
The 1st runner-up was Philippine Science High School Main Campus composed of James Daniel Cordon, Michael Brodeth, Miguel Sebastian Santos, and Amiel Sy. They won Php10,000 cash, medals and gift packs and other prizes. The 2nd runner-up bringing home Php8,000 cash, medals and gift packs was a team from Philippine Cultural College, a private school in Manila, composed of Francis Concepcion, Jervis Chua, Andrew Cu, and Lean Franz Yao.
The other winners were as followed: 3rd Runner-Up - Valenzuela City Science High School, 4th Runner-Up - Elizabeth Seton School, Las Piñas, 5th Runner-Up - Grace Christian College, Quezon City, 6th Runner-Up - St. Jude Catholic School, Manila, 7th Runner-Up - Philippine Institute of Quezon City, 8th Runner-Up - Ateneo de Manila High School, Quezon City, 9th Runner-Up - Canossa Academy, Calamba, Laguna and 10th Runner-Up - St. Francis of Assisi College - Bacoor, Cavite and Xavier School, San Juan.
The thrill of trailing the cues and clues from the 7 checkpoints had added to the excitement of the mathematical adventure as participants rushed from one station to another to gather data needed to solve the 7 mindboggling problems in 80 minutes.
The competition which contained hard math problems and used simulated and real props had not only enhanced the participants' mathematical skills but also had provided them different explorative experiences. The 25 teams knew their goal, made a plan and pulled the trigger as they led each other, shoulder to shoulder, to the last minute at the problem solving area. They obviously consulted each other before writing the final answer.
The contest was aimed at providing students an in-depth experience to learn mathematics in a collaborative manner; developing their speed and precision in data gathering, measurement and following instructions; and improving their higher order thinking skills through games and problem solving.
No less than the Department of Education through the NCR OIC Regional Director, Dr. Elena R. Ruiz, in a Regional Letter No. 60 had encouraged schools division superintendents to support this activity. Contributing to the big success of the Math Trail had been SM North, Gardenia Bakeries Philippines Inc, Pythotera Inc. for the Memory Plus for the teenagers, Sun Cellular, Filstar Distribution Corp for the Bic Ballpens, Hallmark for the scrapbooking materials, Lupel Marketing for the Uni writing Ballpens and Collins International Corporation for the cash gifts and major prizes.
Dr. Simon Chua, MTG president expressed his deep gratitude to Sharp calculator for the partnership in bringing back the math trail and problem solving competition. He gave his warm congratulations to the winners, finalists, coaches, parents, school administrators and superintendents for their involvement and contribution to the success of this year’s SHARP-MTG Math Trail and Problem Solving Competition.