Math geniuses shine in Metrobank Math Challenge

MANILA, Philippines - The country’s math geniuses competed during the national finals of the 2014 Metrobank-MTAP-DepEd Math Challenge (MMC) held recently 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.

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

This year’s national finalists came from 30 schools, 15 public and 15 private schools. Out of the 30 schools, 10 were first-time qualifiers.

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) SVP Justino Juan Ocampo, Mathematics Teachers Association of the Philippines (MTAP) vice president Joel Torrecampo, and Metrobank Foundation EVP Elvira Ong-Chan.

Stefan Marcus Ong of St. Jude Catholic School (Manila) topped the Grade 6 Individual Competition, while Patrick Niño Policarpio of Greenpark Montessori Learning Center 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 won, followed by Gabriel Soriano and Andrhea Angelina Therese San Gabriel of Small World Christian School Foundation (Baguio City) and Doun Lee and Jedric Ivor Zafra of Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (Mandaue City).

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) was 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.

The annual Math Challenge produces national winners who get to compete and eventually win in international competitions.

Among them is Farrell Eldrian S. Wu, first placer in the Individual Category for Grade 6 of the 2012 Metrobank Math Challenge, who got a perfect score in the 2012 Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC) participated by around 500,000 contestants from over 30 countries worldwide. Carmela S. Lao, 1st placer in the Individual Category for 4th Year of the 2011 Metrobank Math Challenge, also reaped a silver medal in the 51st International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), becoming the first Filipina to do so and the country’s second silver medal after 20 years.