Public school math team wins Sharp Calculators-MTG math competition

MANILA, Philippines - A four-man math whiz team from the Sen. Renato Compañero Cayetano Memorial Science and Technology High School of Taguig City, bested their counterparts from 24 science high schools and private high schools, to bag the championship in the prestigious 3rd Sharp Calculators-MTG Math Trail and Problem Solving Competition held recently.

The quartet, composed of Joshua Cubales, Aljan Balbuena, Glaiza Marie Lipato and Carl Rey Maximo, took home a cash prize of P12,000, and the championship trophy of the tournament in awarding ceremonies after the finals held at the SM City North EDSA in Quezon City last March 6.

First runner-up was Philippine Science High School-Main in Quezon City composed of James Daniel Cordon, Michael Brodeth, Miguel Sebastian Santos and Ariel Sy who won P10,000.

The second runner-up was Philippine Cultural College-Main in Tondo, Manila, composed of Julius Christopher Doolittle, Brandon Chan, Maynard Chiong and Bhing Bhing Ko, who took home P8,000.

Valenzuela City Science High School placed third with students Joshua Cedric Taguinod, Judy Ann Donato, Ruselle Guadalupe and Jeffrey Alvarina, who took home their cash prize of P6,000.

Elizabeth Seton School in Las Pinas emerged as fourth runner-up and got P4,000. The team was composed of Paolo Allan Azucena, Fatima Vista, Austin Fernandez and Korina Castro.

The unique math competition, organized by the Mathematics Trainers Guild-Philippines, SHARP Calculator and supported by the Department of Education-National Capital Region (DepEd-NCR) and SM City North EDSA, took participants on a predetermined route in a trail with numerous stations where they completed mathematical tasks using calculators.

Completing the top 12 schools are Grace Christian College in Quezon City, St. Jude Catholic School in Manila, Philippine Institute of Quezon City, Ateneo de Manila High School in Quezon City, Canossa Academy of Calamba, Laguna, St. Francis of Assisi College in Bacoor, Cavite, and Xavier School in San Juan.

Gracing the final contest were DepEd-NCR Supervisor Juanita Ferido, vice president for marketing Lucero Ong of SHARP Calculators, and MTG officers Dr. Simon Chua, president; Dr. Rechilda Villame, executive vice president; Dr. Eduardo dela Cruz, vice president and dean of the School of Education of Arellano University; and Lucy Sia, vice president for internal affairs. 

“We need to promote math among our students, and teach them not to be afraid of numbers so they can grow up and go into college, taking up engineering and science studies,” Chua said.