More Pinoy math aces bring home medals

Two young Filipino numbers aces brought home bronze medals from the just-concluded 2011 China Girls Mathematics Olympiad (CGMO) held recently in Zhenzhen, Guangdong province.

The medals were won by Camille Tyrene Dee and Mikaela Angela Uy, high school students of Immaculate Conception Academy in San Juan City and St. Jude Catholic School in Manila, respectively, said Dr. Simon Chua, president of the Mathematics Trainers’ Guild Philippines (MTG) said in an e-mail to the Inquirer.

Dee and Uy, who were among four of the country’s representatives to the annual contest, are both wards of MTG, a nongovernment organization that aims to promote excellence in math training and education.

The two other members of the team were Reine Jiana Reynoso of Philippine Science High School-Main in Quezon City and Jeska Brent Belonio of Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro City.

With 10 gold medals, host China topped this year’s CGMO, followed by Japan and Singapore with two golds and one gold, respectively.

Other countries that took part in the contest included Russia, Hong Kong, Macau and the United States.

Meanwhile, Timothy James Tan, a second year high school student of Trinity Christian School in Bacolod City and currently the country’s sudoku champion, won a bronze medal in the seven-nation 8th China Southeast Math Competition in Ningbo City, a four-hour train ride from Xiamen.

Eight other members of the Philippine math team brought home merit awards in the contest ruled by China. They are Nathaniel Ryan Ang, Brendon Go and Aaron Jevon Dy, all from Xavier School; Brandon Chan of Philippine Cultural College; Michael Brodeth of Philippine Science High School-Main; Deany Hendrick Cheng and Sean Timothy Cheng of Grace Christian College; and Julius Vincent Sy of St. Stephen’s High School.

In a related development, at least 17 countries have so far confirmed their participation in the 2011 International Mathematics and Science Olympiad (IMSO), which the Philippines is hosting early next month, according to Chua.

Expected to compete in the September 2 to 6 contest in Naga City  are Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nepal, Nigeria, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam and Zimbabwe.

Last year’s IMSO, where the Philippines bagged 19 medals and ended up in third place behind Thailand and Indonesia, was held in Bali.