August 30, 2024 - Six Filipino students brought home four medals and two honorable mentions from the prestigious 65th International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) held in Bath, United Kingdom. Their dedication, hard work, and perseverance paid off as they represented the Philippines with pride.
Jerome Austin Te, a Grade 11 STEM student from Jubilee Christian Academy, who bagged a silver medal, expressed his honor in representing the country in such a prestigious competition. "It is a great opportunity to bring honor to the country, especially since the IMO is the equivalent of the Olympics in mathematics. It is like being an ambassador of the Philippines," said Jerome.
Luke Sebastian Sy, a Grade 12 STEM student from Grace Christian College, shared his initial nervousness upon seeing the other contestants, knowing that each one was a top-performing student from their respective countries. Despite this, he managed to secure a bronze medal. "While I initially thought the waiting period between the two-day exam and the announcement of results would be the hardest part, it turned out to be enjoyable," Luke said.
Ervin Joshua Bautista, a Year 2 IB learner from Southville International School and Colleges, who received an Honorable Mention, shared his experience, saying, "Although I found the exams challenging and the results were not in my favor, I am still grateful for the opportunity to participate."
The other members of the Philippine team include Filbert Ephraim Wu of Victory Christian International School (Bronze Medal), Alvann Walter Paredes Dy of Saint Jude Catholic School (Bronze Medal), and Mohammad Nur Casib of Philippine Science High School - Central Mindanao Campus (Honorable Mention). They were guided by team leader Ms. Hazel Joy Shi of the University of the Philippines-Diliman (UP Diliman) and deputy team leader Mr. Kerish Villegas of Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU).
"The most important thing for working on the Olympiad is consistent practice. By doing problems over and over again, you hone your problem-solving skills that will help in the actual IMO," Jerome emphasized.
Recently, the Philippine team paid a courtesy call to Education Secretary Sonny Angara to share their experiences.