Metrobank Math Challenge 2014 national winners awarded

MANILA, Philippines - The country’s math geniuses competed during the national finals of the 2014 Metrobank-MTAP-DepEd Math Challenge (MMC) held last March 8, 2014 at the Metrobank Plaza Auditorium in Makati City.

The national finals showcased the mathematical competence of Grade 6 and 4th Year students who competed in their respective levels in individual and team categories. The challenge consisted of solving complex mathematical problems within 15 seconds using mental calculation and another round of 30-second and one-minute questions wherein, for the first time in MMC history, tablet computers were used instead of the traditional pen and paper. The questionnaires were also posted real-time on MMC’s Facebook page to engage online users during the conduct of the competition.

A total of 521,376 students participated in the nationwide eliminations and eventually 51 students in the regional finals successfully met the “hurdle rate” in their scores to advance in the final leg of the said competition.

This year’s national finalists came from 30 schools composed of 15 public and 15 private schools. Out of the 30 schools, 10 were first-time qualifiers. These were: Lagro High School (Quezon City); Ateneo de Manila Grade School (Quezon City); British School Manila (Taguig City); Small World Christian School Foundation (Baguio City); Saint Louis College (San Fernando City, La Union); Dasmariñas National High School (Dasmariñas City, Cavite); Greenpark Montessori Learning Center (Cainta, Rizal); Cajidiocan Central Elementary School (Cajidiocan, Romblon); Bulan National High School (Bulan, Sorsogon); and Hua Siong College of Iloilo (Iloilo City).

Winners were awarded by Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Undersecretary for Scientific and Technological Services Fortunato Dela Peña, Metrobank Foundation president Aniceto Sobrepeña, First Metro Investment Corp. (FMIC) senior vice president and group head of Investment Banking Justino Juan Ocampo, Mathematics Teachers Association of the Philippines (MTAP) vice president Dr. Joel Torrecampo, and Metrobank Foundation executive vice president Elvira Ong-Chan.

 Stefan Marcus Ong of St. Jude Catholic School (Manila) was the first placer in the Grade 6 Individual Competition, while Patrick Niño Policarpio of Greenpark Montessori Learning Center (Cainta, Rizal), and Marjana Ysabella Montañez of Hen. Pio del Pilar Elementary School (Makati City) were second and third placers, respectively.

For the Grade 6 Team Competition, Dion Stephan Ong and Jermil Andrei Gelbolingo of Ateneo de Manila Grade School were the 1st placers. Gabriel Soriano and Andrhea Angelina Therese San Gabriel of Small World Christian School Foundation (Baguio City) placed 2nd and Doun Lee and Jedric Ivor Zafra of Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (Mandaue City) were 3rd.

For the 4th Year Individual Competition, Harvey Eaton Ong Uy of British School Manila (Taguig City) was the first placer, while Ethan Riley Chan of Zamboanga Chong Hua High School (Zamboanga City) settled at second, and John Mark Guimba of Dasmariñas National High School (Dasmariñas City, Cavite) placed 3rd.

In the 4th Year Team Competition, Jonn Angel Aranas and John Morris Fabros of Makati Science High School (Makati City) were 1st placers, while Mark Benjar Bartolome and Philip Jhurell Pati of the Philippine Science High School-CAR (Baguio City) were 2nd placers, and Mikhael Glen Lataza and Syrum Joseph Quinto of Science and Technology Education Center (Lapu-Lapu City) placed 3rd.

National winners received trophies, medals, and cash prizes of P25,000 for the 1st placer, P20,000 for the 2nd placer, and P15,000 for the 3rd placer for the elementary level, while P50,000 for the 1st placer, P40,000 for the 2nd placer, and P30,000 for the 3rd placer for the fourth year level amounting to a total of P540,000 worth of cash prizes. Half of the cash prize received by the winners has allowed them to open an account through the Metrobank Fun Savers Club -- a special savings account designed for kids 17 years and below. Fun activities and gift items being offered by the product encourage young members to save.

Now on its 13th year, the annual math competition is organized by the Metrobank Foundation, Inc., the Mathematics Teachers Association of the Philippines (MTAP) and the Department of Education (DepEd).

First Metro Investment Corp. (FMIC), a subsidiary of the Metrobank Group, served as a major partner of this year’s MMC. “We at FMIC strongly advocate financial literacy among the vast majority of Filipinos in order for them to have a better quality of life," said FMIC senior vice president and group head of Investment Banking Justino Juan Ocampo.

"FMIC certainly hopes it was able to help unleash the potential of these contestants, who we hope pursue careers requiring math skills needed in investment banking, treasury, insurance and commercial banking,” Ocampo added.