2018 was another "banner year" for Mathematics Trainers' Guild Phils. (MTG) and its student wards who brought home a total of 803 medals last year from 18 foreign math contests.

     Aside from their haul of 110 golds, 249 silver and 444 bronze medals, the young numbers aces also garnered 444 merit certificates in the same competitions.

     Dr. Simon Chua, MTG co-founder and COO, was overwhelmed with joy, noting the math wizards "did not only make themselves and their respective families and schools proud, but also their country."

     "We're really proud of their accomplishments," said the math icon.

     Last year, MTG medalists emerged as among the top finishers in numbers tilts like the International Math Wizards Challenge, winning 237 medals; International Math Competition in Singapore, with 195 medals; China Primary Math Olympiad, with 85 medals, and the Hong Kong International Math Competition, with 83 medals.

     They also bagged medals in similar contests in India, Thailand, Vietnam, Greece, and Bulgaria, among other nations.

     In 2017, MTG kids were also triumphant, taking home 1,056 medals, including 145 golds, from over a dozen competitions worldwide.

     The medalists came from the MTG's 200-plus partner public and private elementary and secondary schools nationwide, including St. Jude Catholic School, Zamboanga Chong Hua High School, Philippine Science High School (main and other campuses), Makati Science High School, Sen. Rene Cayetano Memorial and Science Technology High School, St. Paul College-Pasig, Taguig Science High School, Xavier School, Chiang Kai Shek College, De La Salle-Santiago Zobel, Philippine Cultural College, Grace Christian College, Philippine Academy of Sakya, St. Stephen's High School, Hope Christian High School, San Beda College-Alabang, Jubilee Christian Academy, Colegio San Agustin Makati, Colegio San Agustin Biñan, MGC New Life Christian Academy, Ateneo de Manila High School, British School Manila, Colegio San Juan de Letran, University of Santo Tomas Legazpi, St. Bridget College Batangas City, Ateneo de Iloilo SMCS, Hua Siong College of Iloilo, Solomon Integrated School de Iloilo, Stonyhurst Southville International School, Bayanihan Institute, Palawan Hope Christian School, De La Salle-Lipa, St. John's Institute Bacolod, Manila Science High School, Pasig Catholic College, Valenzuela City School of Mathematics and Science, De la Salle University Integrated School, Notre Dame of Greater Manila, Integrated Montessori Center, and Pangasinan Universal Institute, among others.

     Members of the MTG training team are looking forward to the institution's annual intensive in-house training program for prospective members of math teams who will compete in various math contests this year.

     The program will be conducted anew this summer in Metro Manila and other parts of the country.

     Established in 1995, MTG "remains committed to its mandate," according to its president Dr. Isidro Aguilar and vice president Dr. Eduardo Dela Cruz. That is, "promoting excellence in math education and training in the Philippines to upgrade the disciplines so they could meet high international standards."

     Like Aguilar and Dela Cruz, other MTG officials and staff like Joseph Wee, Roberto Degolacion, Manuel Kotah, Myrna Agtarap, Eugenia Guerra, Renard Eric Chua, Aldwin Sahirul, Minerva Bianca Avecilla, Angeline  Orosco, Dolores Reyes, Enerio Sagusay, Concesa Rapacon, Alfred Orosco, and Jonathan Glorial, expressed optimism that 2019 will be "another great year" for MTG, as well as other  groups such as Mathematics Development Academy of the Philippines and Philippine Brain Power Society.