By Jonathan Hicap

Filipino students again emerged victorious in an international math competition, bringing home 35 awards from South Africa.

The 26-member Philippine team won 1 gold, 5 silver and 15 bronze medals, and 5 merit awards in the individual competitions, and 2 first runners-up and 7 second runners-up trophies in the team and group contests in the 2019 South Africa International Mathematics Competition (SAIMC) held from Aug. 1 to 7 in Durban City.

According to the Mathematics Trainers Guild-Philippines (MTG), more than 500 participants took part in the contest from 28 countries and regions.

Filbert Ephraim Wu, 13, a resident of Taguig and a student of Victory Christian International School, won the gold medal in the individual contest, and also got first runner-up in the team contest and second runner-up in the group contest.

He told Manila Bulletin that he “prepared for this contest by reviewing the past years’ contest papers found online and studying them carefully to familiarize myself with the nature of the questions. It was a bit challenging because solutions were not made available, so I had to be patient to resolve the problems myself. The weekly Saturday trainings provided by MTG further solidified my contest preparation.”

Wu said one question in the contest, which he was able to make significant progress, “was hard enough to be in the International Mathematical Olympiad” that bolstered his confidence “that my next goal which is to win gold at the IMO is within my reach.”

“In addition, historically about half of IMC gold medalists eventually win a gold or silver medal at the IMO, so I am positive about this contest’s indication about my chances of achieving this further goal,” he said.

Winning individual silver medals are Mohammad Nur Casib, My Precious Learning Center; Neo Angelo Gatlabayan, British School Manila; Adrian Guanson Soriaga, St. Jude Catholic School; Luke Sebastian Sy, Grace Christian College; and Raphael Adrian Galang, Manila Science High School.

The bronze medalists are Cassidy Kyler Tan, Davao Christian High School; Ervin Joshua Bautista, Southville International Schools and Colleges; Tracy Lauren Lei, St. Jude Catholic School; Miguel Cayetano, Tuguegarao West Elementary School; Gadriel Symone Dalangin, Stonyhurst Southville International School-Malarayat; Anika Gayle Tan, Zamboanga Chong Hua High School; Patric Xamwell Legaspi, Vel Maris School; Andrei Lenard Chan, Zamboanga Chong Hua High School; Keean Nathaniel Tang, Uno High School; Matthew Eugene Chua, British School Manila; Lance Chrysler de Jesus, Caloocan National Science and Technology High School; James Martin Young, Philippine Science High School-Western Visayas; Enzo Rafael Chan, Bayanihan Institute; Sean Matthew Tan, Jubilee Christian Academy; and Kristen Steffi Teh, Grace Christian College.

Receiving merit awards are Muhammad-Farouk Tan II, Silangan Elementary School; Casey Lauren Bernardo, St. Jude Catholic School; Franze Micah Castañeda, St. Jude Catholic School; Francis Rafael Flor, Silangan Elementary School; and Noel Stephen Dequito, Xavier School-Nuvali.

The Filipino contestants were accompanied by Usec. for Regional Operations Brenda Nazareth-Manzano of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Pasig City Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Dominico Idanan, and MTG officers Dr. Simon Chua, Dr. Isidro Aguilar, Robert Degolacion, Minerva Bianca Avecilla, Joel Edward Cardinal, Aldwin Sahirul and Renard Eric Chua.

This year’s SAIMC was participated in by students from Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Cyprus, Ghana, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Macau, Malaysia, Mexico, Nepal, Philippines, Romania, South Africa, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tunisia, United States, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Zimbabwe.