Metro manila students win 14 medals in India math competition

A group of young Filipino numbers aces, mostly elementary and high school students from Metro Manila, took home 14 medals—including six golds—in the just-concluded 2011 Wizards at Mathematics International Competition (Wizmic) held in Lucknow, India.

The Philippine math team also bagged four silvers and four bronzes in the nine-nation contest, which was topped by Thailand with seven gold, seven silver and two bronze medals.

Indonesia won third place honors at the finals held on Monday, with two golds and five silvers, according to Dr. Simon Chua, president of the Mathematics Trainers Guild-Philippines and head of the Philippine delegation.

Other countries which took part in the contest  included China, Bangladesh, Nepal, South Africa, Sri Lanka and the host country, India.

In an e-mail to the Inquirer, Chua said the team’s gold medals were given to Raphael Villaluz of San Beda College-Alabang, Cary Albert Chan, St. Jude Catholic School; Jasper John Segismundo, Pasig Catholic School; Miko Johnson Ong Co, St. Stephen’s High School; and Gene Go Jr. and Xavier Jefferson Ray Go, both from  Zamboanga Chong Hua High School.

The silver medalists were Terence Brian Tsai of Chiang Kai Shek College; Mikhaela Marie Diaz, Special Education Center for the Gifted; Cristiana Marie Calderon of Falcon Learning Center; and Ezekiel Young, Jubilee Christian Academy.

The bronze medal winners were Lou Irish Gonzales, Pasig Catholic School; Anica Clarice Antonella Galano, St. Paul College-Pasig; Angelika Joie Tagupa,Colegio San Agustin-Makati; and Andrew Vince Lee, Xavier School.

In the Wizmic’s team rankings, the Philippines Team B placed second to Indonesia Team D.

Members of the team are Xavier Jefferson Ray Go, Miko Johnson Ong Co, Jasper John Segismundo and Cristiana Marie Calderon.