Thirty-nine public school students in Makati City bagged numerous awards, including three gold medals, seven silver medals, and 14 bronze medals, during the 13th International Mathematics Contest held in Singapore from Aug. 4 to 7.
The Philippines also ranked first in the competition, which included participants from China, Thailand, Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Hong Kong, Iran, South Korea, Australia, and India.
Mayor Abigail Binay congratulated the students and reiterated the city’s continuing commitment to providing “quality and relevant education for all.”
“My warmest congratulations to our young achievers from Makati’s public schools who have once again brought honor to our city. Thank you for reciprocating our investments in your education. Your achievements fuel our resolve to develop globally competitive Makatizens through unlimited access to quality and relevant education,” she said.
The three students from Makati Science High School (MSHS) who won gold medals were Al Patrick Castro, Deanne Gabrielle Algenio, and Reighne Clarence Evangelista.
MSHS students reaping silver medals were Mark Andrei Elpedes, Miguel Angelo Gomez, Jan Paul Aplacador, Riana Francine Tario, Albert Timothy Go, and Shazel Catherine Policarpio, together with a student of San Antonio National High School, Rafael Oliveros.
Fourteen students from public schools in Makati brought home bronze medals, including MSHS students Joseph Benedict Gatmen, Leidovic Keth Gellang, Angelo Josh Cuaresma, John Robbie Laurio, Jarek Taberdo, Miguel Carlos Yapan, Lesmon Andres Saluta and Russell Lei Padayao.
Other bronze medalists included Leoj Phoebe Esquierdo (Bangkal High School) and five elementary students, namely, Michael Angelo Saluta (Pembo Elementary School); Laurence Hapin (Rizal ES); John Clarence Cruzado (West Rembo ES); Allainah Jade Pahunang (Comembo ES); and Jaoine Elinah Raguro (Bangkal ES Main).
Moreover, 15 delegates from the city’s public schools also received merit awards. Among them were Jaycee Sarza and Cody Arris Saloma of East Rembo ES; Vivien Shane Lozano, Pembo ES; Mark Stephen Beloro, South Cembo ES; Katrina Day Jimenez, Benigno ‘Ninoy’ Aquino High School; Zaira Mae Penoliar and Jesper Chris Tiongson, Gen. Pio del Pilar National High School.
Other merit awardees were MSHS students Reynald Karl Vidal, Chelsea Jemimah Gupo, Clarence Jay Tamaca, Trisha Denise Castillo, Czyril Hieras, Joshua Miguel Omugtong, Niño Philip Ramones and Sophia Isabel Algenio.
The city government provides free school supplies to all Makati public school students under its Project FREE (Free Relevant and Excellent Education). In addition to this, students at Makati Science High School receive a P1,500 monthly stipend.
Last February, 16 students of Makati City Science High School were also among the 821 students in the country who received the prestigious Youth Excellence in Science (YES) medal from the Department of Science and Technology.
The YES medal is an institutional award of the DOST given to Filipino students for their exemplary achievements in international individual or team competitions in Mathematics and Science in the past year. The said competitions have been duly registered with DOST Science Education Institute.
The 16 awardees included five Grade 7 students: Josh Kelvin Aguda, Joshua Clarke Bautista, Reighne Clarence Evangelista, Mark Andrei Elpedes and Lesmon Saluta. The two Grade 8 awardees were Al Patrick Castro and Paul Samson Topacio.
Other YES medal awardees from the school included eight Grade 9 students: Jan Paul Aplacador, Trisha Denise Castillo, Albert Timothy Go, Miguel Gomez, Josua Padua, Kenneth Gabriel Rojas, Nathaniel Franz Rustia, and Patricia Ina Tañada, and Christopher Banzon, Grade 11.
Meanwhile, a Math teacher at Makati High School was named the official representative of the National Capital Region in the ASEAN Bridge Program which was launched recently by the Australian government in partnership with the Department of Education.
Owen Ombid is one of four Filipino teachers who qualified for the program after undergoing a series of interviews and demo teachings related to Information and Communication Technology (ICT). He is set to leave for Australia on August 12 together with three other teachers from schools in the Visayas and Mindanao.
Designed for teachers, the program is aimed at building intercultural relationships through ICT, giving them the opportunity to enhance their knowledge and skills in ICT. It will send Filipino teachers to Australia, and send teachers from Australia to the Philippines, for ICT training and cultural immersion.