•This year, six students will represent the Philippines at the 61st International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), which will be an online event.
•Originally scheduled to happen in July 2020 in Russia, the online competition will take place September 19—28, 2020.
•The Philippine team ranked 31st out of 112 countries last year, bringing home a silver and five bronzes—the second time all Pinoy IMO team members won a medal.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, we’ve all been forced to either cancel planned events and trips or turn to digital means to get around the limitations of physical distancing. Unsurprisingly, the world’s toughest mathematics competition has found a way to push through with its 61st installment. Instead of taking place in St. Petersburg, Russia as originally planned, this year’s International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) will happen online. Originally slated for July 2020, the IMO will be held on September 19 through 28, 2020.
This year, six young Pinoy math whizzes will represent the country in the prestigious international tilt. The Mathematical Society of the Philippines (MSP) has officially revealed the roster of the national team:
1. Immanuel Josiah Balete from St. Stephen’s High School
2. Sarji Elijah Bona from De La Salle University Integrated School Manila / Palawan Hope Christian School
3. Raphael Dylan Dalida from Philippine Science High School Main Campus
4. Vincent Dela Cruz from Valenzuela School of Mathematics and Science
5. Andres Rico Gonzales III from De La Salle University Integrated School Manila
6. Bryce Ainsley Sanchez from Grace Christian College
The six students will participate with support and guidance from Team Leader Christian Paul Chan Shio (Ateneo de Manila University) and Deputy Team Leader Carlo Francisco Adajar (University of the Philippines Diliman).
Preparing for the toughest online math olympiad
The national team members were selected after the recently concluded online Mathematical Olympiad Summer Camp (MOSC). This rigorous training program also serves as the selection phase among the national finalists and winners of the Philippine Mathematical Olympiad (PMO).
In January 2020, Sanchez, Balete and Dalida becames the PMO’s Champion, 1st Runner-up, and 2nd Runner-up, respectively.
All six team members participated in the first-ever Cyberspace Mathematical Competition (CMC), which took place on July 13 and 14. Dalida, Dela Cruz, Gonzales III, and Sanchez won bronze medals, while Balete received an Honorable Mention. Organized by the American Mathematics Competitions alongside Art of Problem Solving, the competition became a preparatory test of sorts for the team as well.
Sanchez, Balete, and Gonzales III also participated in last year’s IMO, where they each won a bronze medal. The Philippine team brought home a total of 6 medals, and ranked 31st out of 112 participating countries.
Math-tibay
“We congratulate our national team for the 61st IMO. Although we’re living in very challenging times, your constant pursuit of excellence inspires us to do the same. We wish you all the best in the coming competition,” said Dr. Josette Biyo, Director of the Department of Science and Technology – Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI).
The Philippine team’s participation in this year’s IMO is a project of MSP and DOST-SEI, supported by major sponsors Hyundai Asia Resources Inc. (HARI) Foundation, Manulife Business Processing Services, Foundation for Upgrading the Standard of Education, Inc. (FUSE), Sharp Philippines Corporation, and C&E Publishing.
References
- Official DOST-SEI press release
Author: Mikael Angelo Francisco
Bitten by the science writing bug, Mikael has years of writing and editorial experience under his belt. As the editor-in-chief of FlipScience, Mikael has sworn to help make science more fun and interesting for geeky readers and casual audiences alike.
