Taguig students win big again in int’l Math tilt

Seventeen (17) Taguig students proved yet again that they do eat numbers for breakfast after winning medals and receiving recognition in the 13th International Mathematics Contest held in Singapore from Aug. 4 to 7.

Patrick Welsh P. Patco, John Albert L. Mariano, Luis Joseph A. Flores, Leira Mari P. Vinarao, Mark Andrei T. Mallillin, Andrea Monique B. Bermonte, Derick Timothy Jalando-on, and Micah Bless B. Requierro from Taguig Science High School (TSHS); Ed Cedrick T. Julian and Wally H. Santos from Sen. Renato Compañero Cayetano Memorial Science and Technology High School (SRCCMSTHS); and Jeremiah Daniel Regalario from Signal Village National High School (SVNHS); have made Taguig proud once again after winning bronze medals and besting hundreds of students from 12 other countries in the prestigious competition organized by the International Mathematics Contest Union.

Nazka L. Leosala and Jed Riel M. Balatan from TSHS; and Eisen Shaine Mabborang, Ma. Cecilia Mendoza, Haryana Iris Flores and Izra Myca Uldama from SRCCMSTHS also received merit awards.

Earlier, these young Math whizzes were already given recognition by the local government, after they made it to the Philippine team that would compete in the contest.

The Philippine contingent went on to win a whopping 245 medals (33 gold, 66 silver and 146 bronze) and 111 merit awards, making it the country with the most number of recognitions received. There were 14 other participating countries. China and Thailand ranked second and third, respectively.

“For me, I wanted to improve and develop my Math skills for my future endeavors and of course, to give honor for my parents,” said Julian, a Grade 8 student.

Mallillin, a Grade 9 student, recalled how they prepared for the competition, which he said indeed tested his Math skills.

Each participant was, after all, only given 90 minutes to answer a challenging 18-item Math examination equivalent to 100 points.

“We had qualifying exams (from the) Mathematics Trainers’ Guild (MTG) Philippines. Once qualified, we had to train for 12 Saturdays, four-day in-house training in Tagaytay, another one month training in Manila from Mondays to Saturdays then finally, we had to train every Saturday one month,” he said.

Second-timers Jalando-on, a Grade 7 student, and Santos, a Grade 11 student, are but thankful to their trainers and coordinators, who they said sacrificed a lot to help them reach their goals.

But SRCCMSTHS Mathematics Department Head Ms. Maricel Masalay and TSHS Mathematics Coordinator Ms. Rhonna Dela Cruz said the more-than-satisfying results were because the children had also done their work.

They expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the city government, which they said has been ever-supportive of the students and conscious of honing their talents through its programs.

The Taguig City government sponsored all the expenses of the students from the in-house and intensive summer trainings to their plane tickets and hotel accommodation in Singapore.

Mayor Lani Cayetano assured that the city government would continue to extend its support and “nurture the children because we believe that they are the future.”

“The city is very proud of these students for showcasing to the world that Taguig is filled with bright and talented minds,” Cayetano said.

Last December, three groups of students from Taguig public schools won gold and silver medals at an international science and invention design exposition held in Taiwan. The students were recognized for inventing low-cost and eco-friendly products from recycled materials.

The city government proves that education remains its top priority as it continues to provide free education in its own city-run Taguig City University. Moreover, free school supplies for students are also distributed every year among 23 public elementary and 13 secondary schools in Taguig before the official opening of classes.

On top of these, the city’s scholarship programs — Lifeline Assistance for Neighbors In-need (LANI) and Taguig Learners’ Certificate (TLC) — has also increased the allowances of its scholars last July.

Because of this investment for education, Taguig City claimed the top spot in the National Achievement Test (NAT) for elementary and high school level for two consecutive years (2014-2015). In 2014, Taguig ranked first in the Big Schools Cluster and in 2015, the city was the overall No. 1 both in the Grade 6 and 4th-year levels in the National Capital Region. ###

FILIPINO VERSION

17 estudyante ng Taguig wagi muli sa int’l Math contest

Labingpitong estudyante mula sa lungsod ng Taguig ang masayang nag-uwi ng mga medalya at karangalan matapos magwaging muli sa patimpalak na 13th International Mathematics Contest sa Singapore simula Aug. 4 hanggang 7.

Kinilala ang mga estudyante na sina Patrick Welsh P. Patco, John Albert L. Mariano, Luis Joseph A. Flores, Leira Mari P. Vinarao, Mark Andrei T. Mallillin, Andrea Monique B. Bermonte, Derick Timothy Jalando-on, at Micah Bless B. Requierro na pawang mga taga Taguig Science High School (TSHS); Ed Cedrick T. Julian at Wally H. Santos ng Sen. Renato Compañero Cayetano Memorial Science and Technology High School (SRCCMSTHS); at Jeremiah Daniel Regalario mula sa Signal Village National High School (SVNHS).

Bukod sa kanilang eskwelahan, nagbigay rin sila ng karangalan sa syudad ng Taguig matapos magwagi ng bronze medals nang talunin ang ilang daang estudyante mula sa 12 iba’t-ibang bansa.

Ang Math contest ay inorganisa ng International Mathematics Contest Union.

Sina Nazka L. Leosala at Jed Riel M. Balatan ng TSHS; at Eisen Shaine Mabborang, Ma. Cecilia Mendoza, Haryana Iris Flores at Izra Myca Uldama mula sa SRCCMSTHS ay nakatanggap din ng merit awards.

Kamakailan lamang ay nabigyan rin ng pagkilala ng lokal na pamahalaan ng Taguig ang mga estudyanteng ito matapos makasali sa Philippine team na lalaban sa nasabing patimpalak.

Ang grupo ng Pilipinas ay nagwagi ng 245 medalya (33 gold, 66 silver at 146 bronze) at mahigit na 111 merit awards, na masasabing may pinakamaraming nauwing recognition. Ang bansang China ay pumapangalawa lamang habang ang Thailand ay pumapangatlo.

“Para sa akin ay talagang nais ko pang mahasa ang kakayanan ko sa Math para sa mga susunod pang mga Math contest upang mabigyan ko ng karangalan ang aking mga magulang,” wika pa ni Julian, isang Grade 8 student.

Si Mallillin, na nasa Grade 9, ay naalala na lamang kung papaano siya naghanda para sa patimpalak kung saan nahasa siya ng masyado.

Sa contest na ito, binigyan lamang ng 90 minuto ang bawat kasali upang sagutin ang 18 na item sa isang Math examination na may katumbas na 100 points.

“Meron kaming qualifying exams para sa Mathematics Trainers’ Guild (MTG) Philippines. Kapag nasali ka ay sasailalim ka ng 12 Sabado na training ng apat na araw sa Tagaytay, isang buwan sa Manila Lunes hanggang Biyernes at isang buwan ng merong Sabado,” aniya.

Ang mga second-timers na sina Jalando-on, isang Grade 7 student, at Santos, isang Grade 11 student, ay nagpapasalamat din sa kanilang mga trainers at coordinators na tumulong sa kanila.

Para naman kay SRCCMSTHS Mathematics Department Head na si Ms. Maricel Masalay at TSHS Mathematics Coordinator na si Ms. Rhonna Dela Cruz, nakakataba ng puso na makita ang resulta ng pinaghirapan ng mga estudyante at guro.

Natutuwa at nagpapasalamat sila sa Taguig City government sa pagbibigay ng suporta at tulong sa kanilang lahat.

Ang Taguig City government ang nag-sponsor ng lahat ng ginastos ng mga estudyante para sa in-house at intensive summer trainings pati na rin ang plane tickets at hotel accommodation ng mga kalahok na delegado sa Singapore.

Siniguro naman ni Mayor Lani Cayetano na patuloy ang tulong na ibibigay ng pamahalaang lungsod upang lalong mahasa ang galing ng mga Taguigenyo.

“Ako’y nagagalak na makilala ang mga estudyante ng Taguig sa international na contest na ito at makapag-uwi ng karangalan para sa ating lahat,” wika pa ni Mayor Lani.

Noong Disyembre ay nanalo rin ng gold at silver medals ang tatlong grupo ng estudyante mula sa mga Taguig public schools na lumaban sa international science and invention design exposition sa Taiwan. Nakilala ang mga estudyante sa pag-imbento ng low-cost at eco-friendly na produkto mula sa recycled materials.

Ang Taguig City ay pinapahalagahan ang kapakanan ng mga estudyante sa patuloy na pagbigay ng libreng edukasyon lalo na sa Taguig City University. Meron din palaging libreng school supplies para sa mga estudyante sa 23 public elementary at 13 secondary schools sa Taguig taun-taon.

Ito ay kaakibat ng scholarship programs sa ilalim ng Lifeline Assistance for Neighbors In-need (LANI) at Taguig Learners’ Certificate (TLC).

Dahil sa mga programa ng Taguig para sa edukasyon, nakuha ng lungsod ang No. 1 ranking sa National Achievement Test (NAT) para sa elementary at high school level ng dalawang magkasunod na taon (2014-2015). Noong 2014, una ang Taguig sa Big Schools Cluster at noon namang 2015 ay No. 1 ito sa Grade 6 at 4th year level sa National Capital Region. ###