Phl memory team captures bronze in London world tilt

London, United Kingdom–The Philippine Memory Team captured the bronze medal in the team competition at last Sunday’s conclusion of the 21st World ‘Olympic’ Memory Championship (WMC) at the Lilian Baylis Technology School, here.

The Philippine Memory Team was composed of 11 year-old Jamyla Domingo Lambunao, Roberto Racasa, Christopher Carandang, Mark Anthony Castaneda, Erwin Balines, Axelyancy Cowan Tabernilla, Ian Roi Spencer Betiong, Cristine Barao, Anne Bernadette Bonita, Princess Grace Mendoza, Blessie Mae Ayalde and deputy chief of mission/team captain Almario Marlon Bernardino Jr.

“This is our early Christmas gift to the Filipino people worldwide. We hope this victory will unite all the Filipinos and support the memory games,” said Bernardino.

“This proves once again that the Filipino can be at par with the world’s best memory athletes. We believe that memory games is what the Filipino needs to have a better quality of education. And finally we are very optimistic that memory games will bring honor again to our country in future international competitions,” added Racasa.

Powerhouse Germany took home the gold medal while Sweden bagged the silver medal.

The top five countries in the team competition are: 1. Germany, 2. Sweden, 3. Philippines, 4. India and 5. USA.

Some of the standout results included:

– 11-year-old whiz kid Jamyla Domingo Lambunao of Marikina City  topped the Hour Cards and Spoken Numbers event, finished second in the 30-minute binary numbers, 5-minute speed numbers and 15-minute random words and landed in third place in the 15-minute names and faces and 5-minute historic dates category  to come away with two golds, three silvers and two bronzes in the Kids Category (12-and-under).

– Mark Anthony Castaneda from Mandaluyong became the first Filipino double Grandmaster of Memory. The 24-year-oldBS ECE graduate memorized 193 numbers to top the Spoken Numbers event.

-Erwin Balines also from Mandaluyong City won his third and final GM norms. The 24-year-old PUP-Manila BS ECE graduate memorized sixteen (16) decks of cards in an hour en route to his third grandmaster (GM) norm. Balines is the second Filipino Grandmaster of Memory after Castaneda.