Filipina bags silver in International Math Olympiad

MANILA, Philippines - A Filipina student bagged the silver medal in the 51st International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) held recently in Kazakhstan.

Carmela Antoinette Lao, a fourth year student from St. Jude Catholic School in Manila, obtained a total score of 21 points which earned her a silver medal. 

Lao also won bronze medal in the 50th IMO held last year in Bremen, Germany. 

Philippine delegation to the IMO team leader Dr. Ian June Garces of the Mathematical Society of the Philippines (MSP) said Lao’s team mates, Henry Jefferson Morco of Chiang Kai Shek College and Zheng Rong Wu of Zamboanga Chong Hua High School, got honorable mentions in the same contest.

“The last time we had a silver was in 1989, courtesy of Jerome Khohayting. For the first time, all members of the Philippine team are bringing home honors,” Garces said.

The Philippines ranks 74th out of 96 countries participating in the IMO, an improvement from last year’s 78th.

“The gold, silver, and bronze medalists are the top half of the participants, and they are in the ratio 1:2:3. The cut-off score for gold is 27, for silver is 21, and for bronze is 15. There are 517 participants from 96 countries and territories,” he added.

Science Education Institute Director Ester Ogena expressed elation over the Philippines’ recent victory at the IMO.

“We are very proud of our students who brought home honor for our country. They are our precious resources which we will continue to nurture through our various programs,” she said.