My life as an MTG trainer - the Editor

Hello there and welcome to Training Day, the newest section of MTG Kids Online!

For those who don't know me, I am Carlo Brian Angelo S. Nerecena, and I am the editor of this wonderful website (one of the perks of being the editor is that I could use any adjectives that I want freely in my articles...as long as they are decent, of course). I was an MTG Kid during my elementary and high school years, and right now, I work as one of the trainers for the MTG. MTG training is my part-time job while pursuing my college degree. I am in 3rd year college, taking up Management Engineering in the Ateneo de Manila.

Okay. I think that short intro would do for now. Don't worry though, as I would get to tell you more about myself as I write more articles in this site.

So now, "what is Training Day all about?", you might ask. Well, when I put up MTG Kids Online last New Year, one of the things that I've been raring to put in here was my own column, where I get to write about my experiences as an MTG trainer. However, finding time to write proved to be difficult because of my schedule, so I had to put that idea on hold for a while. Anyway, for this semester, I was able to arrange my class schedule so that I would get to take some of my classse at night. That gave me some free time during the day, where my mind is more active. So there. I could finally write Training Day.

Since introductions seem to be the prevalent theme in this entry, I think I would spend the rest of this entry (and actually my next one as well) on introducing you first to the whole training and selection process undergone here in the MTG. All students who wish to represent the country in international mathematics competitions must go through this whole process.

There are four stages that one must overcome in order to become part of one of the MTG delegations abroad. In the first three stages, there is an elimination. Thus, every stage would have considerably less students to work with than the preceding one. The four stages are the entrance examinations, the Saturday training, the in-house training, and the summer training. I actually only gave you the shortened names of the four stages. But don't worry, we'll get into their actual names as we move on. But for now, I would only talk about (and advertise) the first of the four stages.

The first hurdle one must overcome to become an MTG Kid is the MTG Qualifying Examination. It determines whether the aspirant has what it takes to withstand the challenges that he or she might face during the MTG's rigorous training program. Each year, thousands of students around the archipelago take the qualifying exams to earn one of the limited slots in this special training program. That means this early, the competition is already tough.

The MTG Qualifying Examinations are held simultaneously in all MTG training centers in the country, around late July of every year . This year, it would be held on July 23. It is open to students from Grade 3 in elementary to 4th year high school. However, their birth dates should fall within the eligibility range for that year. For this year, elementary applicants must be born on or after September 1, 1992. Meanwhile, high school applicants must be born on or after August 15, 1989.

Those who pass the MTG Qualifying Examinations would then be given an invitation to join the next stage of the MTG's selction and training process, the MTG Mathematics Challenge for Filipino Kids Training Program. This is a special training program held for twelve Saturdays during the entire school year. I would not delve about this stage any further, as I will write about it on my next Training Day article.

Joining the MTG allows you to become part of its unique mathematics training program, and to possibly represent the Philippines in international competitions and be recognized for it!

So now, do you think you have what it takes to become an MTG Kid and to become a Philippine representative to an international mathematics competition? Then click on this link and just follow the directions to register yourself for the MTG Qualifying Examinations. Welcome to the MTG, my friend.

I would like to end this article by sending my best wishes to the MTG Kids that would comprise the Philippine delegation to the 2nd Southeast China Mathematical Olympiad, to be held this weekend in Fuzhou, China. The members of this four-member squad are Jhay Ralph Alaban (4th year, Zamboanga City High School), Miguel Isidro Carino (3rd year, Ateneo de Manila High School), John Carlos Clerigo (4th year, San Beda College, Alabang), and Leo Patrick Tolosa (4th year, San Beda College, Alabang). Good luck and I hope you make the country proud!