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MANILA, Philippines ? We are the champions.
With a 100-medal haul, a group of young Filipino numbers aces topped the 20-nation 2009 Philippine International Mathematics Competitions, held during the past two days in Iloilo City.
The Philippine team garnered a total of 24 gold, 32 silver, and 44 bronze medals in the contest, which the country last hosted in 2005, according to Dr. Simon Chua, president of Mathematics Trainers' Guild-Philippines, which hosted the PIMC.
Thailand came in second with 48 medals, including 20 golds, while Taiwan was third with 46, including 14 gold medals.
Despite bagging 42 medals, defending champion China only placed fifth. It was edged out of fourth place by Hong Kong, which took home three gold medals, one more than the Chinese team.
The other top finishers were Indonesia, 39; South Korea, 22; Malaysia, 17; Bulgaria 10; and Singapore, 6.
The math teams from Brunei Darussalam, India, Iran, Nepal, and South Africa went home empty-handed.
Chua hailed the Philippine math team for "another job well done."
"Their performance in both the individual and team contests exceeded our expectations," Chua told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
Last week, Chua predicted a "Top 5 finish" for the country's math wizards.
The Filipinos' individual gold medals came courtesy Amiel Sy from Philippine Science High School; John Russell Virata from Gideon Academy; Aldric Cristoval Reyes from Chiang Kai Shek College; Alvin Uy Lim from Quezon City Science High School; Justin Edric Yturzaeta from Jubillee Christian Academy; Deany Hedrick Cheng from Grace Christian College; Sterling Alvin Tiu and Dielle Tiu from St. Stephen's High School; Timothy James Tan from Trinity Christian School; and Carmela Antoinette Lao, Vance Eldric Go, Mikaela Angela Uy, Czarina Angela Lao, Seanne Daphne Ng, Adrian Reginald Sy, and Austin Edrich Chua, all from St. Jude Catholic School.
Of the country's 24 gold medals, eight came from the team contests.
The individual contests in both PEMIC and AITMO were composed of 15 questions each and answerable in 90 minutes and 120 minutes, respectively.
Taiwanese Professor Sun Wen Hsien, president of the International Math Competitions, chaired the PIMC board of jurors with Dr. Pramote Kajornpai of Thailand as vice chairman.
The silver medalists include Geraldine Baniqued, Elvis Jeremy Ayroso, Zheng Rong Wu, Martin Lewis Koa, John Thomas Chuatak, and James Daniel Cordon.
The other silver medalists are Henry Jefferson Morco, Kenneth Co, Miguel Sebastian Santos, Neil Chua Goy, Samuel Christian Ong, Arielle Elise Chua, Adrian Raphael Co, Michael Brodeth, Gisel Ong, Marquis Alexandre Tan, Hubert Yao, Andrew Joelle Caguintas, Ana Karenina Batungbakal, John Thomas Chuatak, Prince Michael Balanay, Jason Joseph Fernandez, Jason Allan Tan, Aljan Balbuena, Daniel Christian Ong, and Karli Ang.
Among the bronze medal winners were Wilford Jason Julio, Sarah Jane Cua, Trisha Nicole Aman, Andrew Lawrence Sy, Matthew Chris Chan, and Angelo Gabriel Llamas.
The other bronze medalists are Matthew Chris Chan, Kate Andrea Bonamy, Audrey Celine Lao, Camille Tyrene Dee, Brendon Matthew Go, Julius Vincent Sy, Jerome Claude Palaganas, Lawrence Tiu, Joelle Sophia Pena (n with enye), Paolo Manuel Iyulores, Casey Olivar Turingan, Aaron Christopher Agtarap, Aldrich Aldwin Mayoralgo, Alvin Ian Chan, Raenelle Ean Ngo, Jason Carlo Carranceja, Steve Ng, Ma. Christiana Guillermo, Reine Jiana Renoso, Allen Cedrick Domingo, Abigail Sy, Benson Tan, Andrew Brandon Ong, Jean Leonardo Abagat, and Deanne Rochelle Abdao.
The medalists were trained by MTG-Phils., a non-stock, non-profit organization that aims to promote excellence in math education and training.
Last week, at least six countries pulled out from the contest, saying they worried for the safety of their math teams due to the November 23 Maguindanao massacre, among other reasons ? Russia, Vietnam, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, and The Netherlands.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo earlier cited the country's hosting of the PIMC, saying it was a "recognition that our young mathematicians are among the best in the world."
The President urged the Philippine math team to "give all your best in the contest and continue to hone your mathematical abilities."
Education Secretary Jesli Lapus said, "Through this academic competition, I am certain that more children will be challenged to learn and understand math better."
Science and Technology Secretary Estrella Alabastro cited MTG for its "initiatives and unwavering commitment to develop and promote excellence in math education in the country."
Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, also MTG honorary chairman, called for the holding of similar contests to "promote a deeper appreciation of the importance of math in our lives."
Chua called the PIMC an "opportunity for some of the world's best mathematical minds to be creative and analytic" as he also vowed to make MTG "steadfast in its goal to bring math into new frontiers and new heights."
Over 200 math aces participated in the PIMC's Asia Inter-cities Teenagers Math Olympiad (AITMO) while 200 others competed in the Philippine Elementary Math International Contest (PEMIC).
Another 400 took part in the parallel all-Filipino math competitions.
South Korea will host next year's international math contest.
