Zamboanga math wizard bags gold in Bali olympiad

BALI, Indonesia — The Philippines won a gold, a silver and several bronze medals in the International Math Competition held here from July 18 until yesterday.

Taking home a gold medal from the math tilt was Gene Go, Jr. from the Zamboanga Chong Hua High School, who started joining international math contests only this year.

Errol John Suarez, a Grade 5 student of Bicol University-Legaspi City, took home a silver medal. He also won a gold medal in the Singapore International Math Competition last year.  

Ma. Czarina Angela Lao of High School Team A won a bronze medal while her teammates Daniel Young of Jubillee Christian Academy, Austin Edrich Chua of St. Jude Catholic School, and Kaye Janelle Yao of Grace Christian College each won a Merit Award. 

Jason Joseph Fernandez of Philippine Science High School – Main Campus in Quezon City and Charles Kenneth Dee Lui of St. Jude Catholic School of High School Team B won a bronze medal each while their teammates Hans Bryan Geremy Ong of Grace Christian College and Aldreich Aldwin Aberilla Mayoralgo of Xavier School won a Merit Award each.

Karli Ang of Philippine Institute of Quezon City, Francis Concepcion of Philippine Cultural College, Lu Christian Ong of Grace Christian College, and Dielle Tan Tio of St. Stephen’s High School, all of High School Team C, won a bronze medal each.

Charles Emerson Ngo of Leyte Progressive High School and Ethan Riley Chan of Zamboanga Chong Hua High School of High School Team D won a bronze medal each while their teammates Mikel Jason Allas of Valenzuela City Science High School and Arthur Christian Cabatingan of Zamboanga City High School-Main won a Merit Award each.

Raenell Ean Ngo of Chiang Kai Shek College who joined the ASEAN All-Girls Team won a bronze medal.

Raymond Joseph Fadri of San Beda College-Alabang of Elementary Team D won a bronze medal while his teammates Gabriel Angelo Estampador of San Beda College-Alabang and Albert Jason Olaya of Morning Star Montessori each won a Merit Award.  

John Aries Ceazar Hingan of San Beda College-Alabang of Elementary Team A won a bronze medal while his teammates Cary Albert Chan of St. Jude Catholic School, and Miguel Lorenzo Ildesa of Westbridge School of Iloilo won Merit Awards.  

Hans Markson Tan and Miko Johnson Co of Sr. Stephen’s High School and Jan Kendrick Ong of Chiang Kai Shek College, of Philippine Elementary Team B all won Merit Awards. 

Anna Sofia Serrano of Philippine Science High School-Main Campus Quezon City of Elementary Team C won a Merit Award.

Also participating in the math competition were Mark Davidson Cua of Pangasinan Universal Institute, Luke Matthews Bernardo of Philadelphia High School, Josh Thomas Clement of West Visayas State University of Iloiolo, Christiana Marie Calderon of Falcon School. The delegates were trained by the Math Trainers Guild (MTG)-Philippines. 

Simon Chua, head of the Philippine delegation and president of MTG-Philippines, said the medal haul in this year’s competition was a respectable performance.

Representatives of 30 other countries participated in this year’s tournament. These are Australia, Brunei, Bulgaria, China, Canada, Cyprus, Hong Kong, Iran, Macau, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Nepal, Netherlands, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand, Russia, South Africa, USA, Nigeria, India, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Bangladesh, South Africa, Korea, Vietnam, Zimbabwe, and host country Indonesia.

Chua said Go and Suarez are new talents of the MTG who are expected to win more medals for the Philippines.

“We can see that we are successfully developing more new talents who can replace our veteran medal winners who are graduating from high school and going into college, taking up engineering and science courses,” he said.