Pinoy whiz kids make good in int’l math olympiad

Filipinos’ proficiency in mathematics may be sliding, but occasionally the country still manages to shine.

A group of young Filipino students recently bested Korean, Chinese and Hong Kong counterparts in an international math competition.

The group of four young high school kids — Aileen Giselle Chua, 13; Vance Mikhail Uy, 13; Carmela Antoinette Lao, 12; and Ervin Frederick Dy, 12 — finished in the top 10 at the "I Love China Summer Olympiad" held in Shandong, China.

Some 184 teams were sent to compete in the math tournament held from Aug. 8 to 14, where the Filipino team was able to outsmart, out-calculate and out-solve contenders from China, Hong Kong and South Korea.

The top four Filipino student achievers, who for the first time in 18 years ranked first under the team category and in the individual category for calculation skills, were joined by others who placed second and third.

It’s a story that could restore one’s faith in the Filipino’s ability to excel among its Asian neighbors. When these talented kids came home to accept awards in Makati City yesterday, they credited some of their success to serious preparation under the Mathematics Trainer’s Guild (MTG) of the Philippines.

Science Education Institute director Ester Ogena proudly presented the team members to the media, and awarded them with certificates from China and another from the SEI which operates under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

Ogena congratulated the students whose grade levels range from Grade Four to First Year High School for their outstanding achievement.

She noted these very intelligent kids worked hard to excel and, at their age, it is clear they will be very productive members of society.

"Celebrate being Pinoy and celebrate your achievements," Ogena said in a short speech. "Mathematics is the real measure of intelligence."

Not Ordinary Kids

Some kids love to play, go to the mall or just hang out with other children. But for these young achievers, there’s more to life than chilling out.

Aileen, a freshman at the Grace Christian High School, looks like any ordinary girl; she’s still very much a kid in appearance.

But a chat with this young mathematics whiz will convince you there’s more than movies, malls and gimmicks filling her brain. When asked if she finds time for play, considering the serious and continuous training she undergoes at the MTG, she told The STAR: "Wala na pong oras eh (There’s no more time)."

But Aileen, her smile revealing she’s a very happy kid, does find time to play volleyball and badminton — although she does this, not as a hobby, but because they’re required school subjects under Physical Education.

At home, there’s little time to play, goof off or surf the Internet. It’s all about mathematics.

She explains why Math is her favorite subject: unlike English or History, Math doesn’t require you to memorize a lot.

"Kasi kapag Math, titingnan mo na yang tapos sasagutan mo na, solve mo na lang (Because when it’s math, you only have to look at the problem, solve it and you’re finished)," the young teen says with a shrug, as if she were simply telling you that the world is round.

Aileen, the youngest and the only girl in the Chua family, was named valedictorian when she finished her elementary education last March.

She says she is a "mommy’s girl" who wants to be a teacher or mathematician someday. She says she expects to finish a Bachelor of Science degree in Math when she’s old enough for college.

Serious Training + Hard Work = Rewards

Aileen and the other students who did the country proud in China did not just enter the competition hoping to get lucky.

There were long hours of training, grueling drills and preparation before these young minds were ready for the "I Love China Summer Olympiad."

MTG President Dr. Simon Chua, who led the Philippine delegation in China, said the students sacrificed a lot.

According to him, the training involved more than a year of learning, through Saturday study sessions, in-house training for three to five days a week, and summer training as well, which meant more math from Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Ogena and Chua said the students deserve all they have achieved and that the DOST, the SEI and the whole country are proud of them.

"Talent is nurtured by a favorable environment with the correct elements," Ogena told The STAR.

She added these math geniuses are very good role models for Filipino youth, for they prove that Filipino kids can do it — compete internationally, and bring home honor and glory to themselves and the Philippines.