Young Pinays shine in China math Olympiad

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino students continued to shine in international math competitions as the 4-member Philippine delegation hauled 8 medals and awards at the 13th China Girls Mathematical Olympiad (CGMO) from August 10 to 14.

Kelsey Lim Tiong Soon of Grace Christian College and Andrea Jessica Jaba of St Jude Catholic School won silver medals, while Isabel Jocyn Villanueva of PAREF Woodrose School and Isabella Mae Tan of St Jude Catholic School won bronze medals at the math Olympiad held in Zhongshan City in Guangdong, China.

Dr Simon Chua, president of the Mathematics Trainers Guild-Philippines (MTG), said participants at this year’s CGMO included 38 teams from the United States, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Macau, Thailand, Malaysia, Bulgaria, North Korea, Iran, the United Kingdom, and China.

The Philippine team showed that they had other talents as well and bested other teams at a side event of the math Olympiad – an aerobics dancing contest – where they won first prize, Best in Creativity Award, Best in Cooperation Award, and Best in Stage Style Award.

It was the latest in a series of wins for Philippine students in international math contests.

In July, the same team won prizes at a math competition in South Korea.  Lim Tiong Soon and Jaba won bronze medals, while Tan and Villanueva received merit awards at the Korea International Mathematics Competition (KIMC) in Daejeon City.

Last month, the Philippines’ Adrian Reginald Sy of St Jude Catholic School won the country’s first gold medal at the prestigious China Southeast Mathematical Olympiad. (READ: Pinoy math whiz bags PH first medal in China olympiad) 

The Philippines also placed second overall at the recent 2014 International Mathematics Contest (IMC) in Singapore. – Rappler.com