32 Pinoy students win awards in China math olympiad

Thirty-two young Filipino students did the country proud by winning over 50 awards in a recent international mathematics Olympiad. The 32 high school students arrived in Manila close to midnight Wednesday after participating in the Junior Secondary Mathematics Olympiad in China. The Philippine delegation, composed of 11 teams, brought home two silver awards and 55 bronze awards, according to Ian Cruz’s report in GMA News’ “24 Oras" Thursday. One group won a trophy for the Merit Team Award, the report said.

The 11 Philippine teams competed against 69 other groups from different secondary schools in China, including Hong Kong. The Filipino students said they did not expect to win the awards, noting how Chinese nationals are known for their mathematical skills. “It was very difficult. I did not know the answers in some of the questions but I tried my best to answer them," said silver awardee Julie Ann Co in the “24 Oras" report. “I felt better because I was quite nervous before the announcement of the winners," said Justin Bryan Ching, also a silver awardee. About 40 percent of the Filipino delegation came from high schools in Metro Manila, while the rest were from various provinces in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The students underwent training from the Mathematics Trainers Guild in preparation for the competition. The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) praised the students for proving that Filipinos can also do well in mathematics. “Kaya nilang labanan maski na ang China na talagang kilala sa mathematics (They can compete even with Chinese students who are known to be good in mathematics)," said Ruby Lania, an observer from the DOST. The students urged others not to fear mathematics, saying just like in other subjects, one would only need to spend more time mastering it. “Wag niyo isipin 'yun. Basta i-try niyo muna saka pray lang kayo (Don't think negatively about mathematics. Try it first and pray). Don’t lose hope," said Janine Caryl Bisnar, who earned a bronze award. - KBK, GMANews.TV