Filipino math aces top Singapore tilt with 23 golds, 45 silvers, 93 bronzes

MANILA, Philippines—With a medal haul of 23 golds, 45 silvers and 93 bronzes, a group of young Filipino numbers aces—mostly elementary and high school students from Metro Manila—topped the just-ended 2013 Singapore International Mathematics Contest, held on August 4 at the Global Indian International School in the so-called “Lion City.”

The good news was relayed to the Philippine Daily Inquirer by Dr. Simon Chua, president of the non-government Mathematics Trainers’ Guild-Philippines (MTG) and head of the Philippine delegation, on Monday night upon their arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

China placed second in the 10-nation competition, winning a total of 22 gold, 44 silver and 67 bronze medals, while host Singapore got 20 golds, 39 silvers and 67 bronzes.

Taiwan collected 17 gold medals, followed by Indonesia, South Korea and Thailand with 12 golds each, while Hong Kong and Iran each got two gold medals. India did not win any gold, but took home three bronzes.

Jan Kendrick Ong, a sophomore high school student of the Chiang Kai Shek College in Manila and one of the Philippines’ gold medalists, was named top scorer in his division, Chua said.

The country’s other gold medals came courtesy of Naomi Anne King from St. Jude Catholic School in Manila; Bryce Ainsley Sanchez and Min Chan Jeong, all from Grace Christian College in Quezon City; Ryan Jericho Sy and Terence Bryan Tsai, both from Chiang Kai Shek College; Robert Gerard Uy from St. John’s Institute in Quezon City; Lou Irish Gonzales and Lorenz Matthew Teh, both from Pasig Catholic College in Pasig City; Mark Uy from Xavier School in San Juan City; Kyle Patrick Dulay, Justine John Serdoncillo, Raphael Villaluz, Alyssa Guevarra, and Rafael Jose Santiago, all from the Philippine Science High School (Main) in Quezon City.

Angelika Joie Tagupa from Colegio San Agustin in Makati City; Ann Kaila Recio from Philippine Institute of Quezon City; Hans Markson Tan and Miko Johnson Co, both from St. Stephen’s High School in Manila; Almira Beatrice Uy from Pace Academy in Quezon City; Mark Davidson Cua from Pangasinan Universal Institute; and Albert John Patupat and Vince Jan Torres from Holy Rosary College and Sta. Rosa Science and Technology High School, respectively, both in Laguna.

Chua commended the Filipino math wizards for a “job well done.” The MTG trained the team members.

During the 2012 edition of the SIMC, the Philippines took home a total of 96 medals, including 19 golds.

This year’s SIMC awarding ceremonies were held on Monday, at the D’Marquee Downtown East complex.