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by: Carlo Brian Angelo S. Nerecena July 8, 2006 Mathematics Trainers' Guild (MTG) President Dr. Simon L. Chua's acceptance of one of mathematics' most prestigious international awards is just one of several major events lined up this July for the MTG. The world's largest international mathematics competition is also happening later this month, along with another two international math contests to be held abroad. And finally, the hunt for the newest batch of MTG Kids begins anew, with the MTG Qualifying Examinations. Dr. Chua takes centerstage In the 5th World Federation of National Mathematics Competitions (WFNMC) Conference from July 22 to 28, in Cambridge, Cambrdige, England, Dr. Simon L. Chua takes centerstage for being a recepient of the coveted Paul Erdos Award. This award, given to individuals who have contributed greatly to the field of math competitions, is handed out to three winners every two years. The other two recepients of this award for 2006 are Ali Rejali of Iran and Alexander Soifer of the United States. Dr. Chua joins an elite cast of twenty-four previous Paul Erdos Awardees, and is the first-ever recepient coming from Southeast Asia. He joins an elite cast of mathematicians, which includes many pioneers of the most popular math competitions that we have right now. This includes Nikolay Konstantinov of Russia's Tournament of Towns, Walter Mientka of the American Mathematics Competition, and, and Peter Taylor of the Australian Mathematics Competition. World's Largest International Math Competition Speaking of the Australian Mathematics Competition, the 2006 edition of the world's largest international mathematics competition happens later this month, on July 27. More than 2000 MTG Kids are expeceted to duke it out with more than 600,000 of their counterparts from Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, and Taiwan, among others. This contest is done thorugh correspendence, meaning that participants don't have to go all the way to Australia in order to compete. Instead, the questionnaires are sent here to be answered, and then sent back to the contest's home-base (in this case, Australia) for the results to be processed. The MTG had its heyday in the AMC during last year's contest, racking up several major awards. Elementary students Immanuel Encarnacion of Colegio San Agustin - Binan, Aldric Cristoval Reyes of Chiang Kai Shek College, and Amiel Sy of Jubilee Christian Academy, became the first Filipino BH Neumann Certifate recipients, for achieving a perfect score in the contest. Also, high school students Stephanie Anne Oliveros of Philippine Science High School, Emmanuel Lance Christopher Plan VI of the Ateneo de Manila, and Marquis Alexander Tan of Xavier School, bagged AMC Medals, for ranking in the top 0.01% of all participants worldwide. Two More International Contests Two more international contests are in the offing this July, both of which are going to be held abroad. The first one is the Wenzhou 7th Invitational World Youth Mathematics Intercity Competition (IWYMIC) in Wenzhou, China from July 10 to 16. The MTG is going to send 20 members of its secondary level roster to compete with participants from the likes of China, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, and Taiwan, among other countries. This would also be the seventh time that the country would be sending a delegation to the IWYMIC. Last year, the Philippines brought home two bronze medals from the individual competition in this event. They came courtesy of Emmanuel Plan VI of Ateneo and Mark Benedict Tan of Xavier School. PMWC Celebrates 10th Year Right after the 7th IWYMIC is the Po Leung Kuk 10th Primary Mathematics World Competition (PMWC) from July 17 to 21. Through the years, the PMWC has steadily grown to be one of the premiere international math contests in the primary level and is now celebrating its decade-long existence. Representing our country here are 16 members of the MTG's primary level roster, who will compete with participants from more than 10 countries, such as Australia, Bulgaria, China, Japan, Singapore, and the United States. This will also be the 10th time that the Philippines is competing in the PMWC. Last year's Po Leung Kuk squad bagged one 2nd Honors and six 3rd Honors certificates from the individual competition, and one 1st Runner-up Trophy and one Merit Award from the team competition. Carmela Antoinette Lao of St. Jude Catholic School brought home 2nd Honors from the individual competition, while Team Metro Manila - composed of Lao, Aldric Reyes of Chiang Kai Shek, Aileen Giselle Chua of Grace Christian High School, and Vance Mikhail Uy of St. Jude - won the 1st Runner-up trophy from the team competition. Lao and Reyes are once again part of this year's delegation to the contest. The Search is on! And finally, while the MTG Kids of Batch 2006 aren't still finished competing in the international arena, the search for the members of MTG's Batch 2007 is on, with the MTG Qualifying Examinations. The qualifying exams open yet another year-long search for the brightest young mathematical minds that the country could offer to represent it in international math competitions. The MTG Qualifying Examinations are happening in MTG Training Centers across the country this July 29. With many major happenings in July, expect this to be a whilwind month for the MTG. And while the search for next year's batch of MTG Kids is just around the corner, the MTG Kids of the current batch are still out to find out if their labors from last year bears fruit. Hopefully, the commendable performances from the same contests last year, coupled with Dr. Chua winning the Paul Erdos Award, would inspire our representatives this year and propel them into giving memorable performances in the upcoming international competitions. |
