The year 2004 turned out to be a memorable one for the Mathematics Trainers’ Guild with its successful participation in seven international mathematics competitions this year, even bringing home gold medals from four of those competitions, three of which were the first times that the country has won a gold medal in those contests. In all, the MTG has sent more than a hundred students from the primary and secondary levels to five different venues all over Asia, from India to Indonesia, and from China to its territories.

The Philippine campaign to international mathematics competitions kicked off with its participation in the Po Leung Kuk 8th Primary Mathematics World Competition (PMWC) in Hong Kong, China last July 16 to 20. Four teams, comprised of sixteen students coming from the primary level represented the country. These students did not disappoint by delivering a respectable performance, bringing home two 2nd Honors and two 3rd Honors awards in the individual competition, and two merit awards in the team competition. Paul Julian Hao from Chiang Kai Shek College and John Bernard Ong from Grace Christian High School led all Philippine delegates with their 2nd Honors performances in the individual contest.

Next up for the MTG delegation was the 5th Invitational World Youth Mathematics Intercity Competition (IWYMIC) in Macau, China last August 2 to 6. This time around, five teams comprised of twenty students from the secondary level represented the country and brought home a harvest of one gold, five silver, and eleven bronze medals as well as a 2nd place and a 3rd place finish by two of the teams in their respective brackets in the team competition. John Henry Ma of Trinity Christian School in Bacolod City won the gold medal in the individual contest for the Philippines, after placing second over-all out of the 108 participants coming from eight countries.

Held less than a week apart from each other, the China Junior High School Mathematics Olympiad (CJHMO) and the China Primary Mathematics Olympiad (CPMO) were the next stop for the MTG. Both Olympiads were held in Shenzhen, China, with the CJHMO being held from August 6 to 8, while the CPMO was held from August 9 to 13. In what could be one of the biggest Philippine contingents ever to an international mathematics competition, the MTG delegation was composed of more than seventy students from the primary and secondary levels combined. In the CJHMO, the Philippines earned two 2nd Honors and twenty-eight 3rd Honors awards. The second honors came courtesy of Francisco Lee of Zamboanga Chung Hua High School and Emanuel Lance Plan of Ateneo de Manila High School. Meanwhile in the CPMO, the students brought home four 2nd Honors and thirty 3rd Honors in the Calculation Skills Contest while in the Problem Solving Contest, the students bagged one 2nd Honors and thirty-one 3rd Honors awards. John Bernard Ong won 2nd Honors in both contests.

The fifth international mathematics competition participated in by the MTG for the year was the 2nd Elementary Mathematics Intercity Competition (EMIC) held in Lucknow, India from September 7 to 11. Seven teams comprised of twenty-eight primary level students wore the country’s colors in the MTG’s farthest destination in this year. Banking on the excellent performance of the Philippine representatives during the contest’s inaugural year in 2004, this year’s batch did even better, bringing home a loot of two gold, seven silver, and thirteen bronze medals from the individual competition, as well as four silver and two bronze medals in the team competition. Rafael Angelo Perea from Camarin Elementary School and Paul Julian Hao brought home the country’s first-ever gold medals in this contest.

Nearly two months after its Lucknow stint, the MTG campaign picked up where it left off with its participation in the 2nd International Science and Mathematics Olympiad for Primary Schools (ISMOPS) in Jakarta, Indonesia last November 29 to December 3. The MTG was in charge of the students participating in the math part of the contest, sending a six-member contingent of primary level students. For the second consecutive competition, the country bagged its first-ever gold along with one silver and one bronze medal. The gold came courtesy of Carmela Antoinette Lao from St. Jude Catholic School.

Finally, for its last competition in the year 2004, the MTG went back to Lucknow, India to participate in the 1st International Young Mathematicians’ Competition (IYMC) last December 5 to 9. Eighteen secondary level students, divided into six teams, represented the country. From this contest, the country brought home a total of three gold, four silver, and five bronze medals from the individual competition, one gold and two bronzes from the team competition, and one gold and one bronze from the relay team competition. Naturally, since this is the first time that the competition was held, the gold medals that our delegates have reaped are also a first for our country. They came courtesy of Charles William Ang from Chiang Kai Shek College, John Garret Go from St. Stephen’s College, and Elvis Chua from Zamboanga Chung Hua High School.

Overall, the country’s campaign in 2004 has been a very successful one. With more competitions, including the 3rd Elementary Mathematics Intercity Competition, which shall be held in our home turf, in 2005, things are indeed shaping for the better. Hopefully, with the combined unceasing efforts of the MTG officers, trainers, trainees and parents, the Mathematics Trainers’ Guild shall continue showcasing the ability of the Filipino student to the rest of the world.