Math Wizzards in Bulgaria

Filipino students dominate Mathematics Without Borders tournament in Bulgaria



Merlina Hernando-Malipot 
Manila Bulletin
04 July 2019


A team composed of Filipino learners dominated an international Math tournament held in Bulgaria participated by over 1,000 students from 14 countries including the Philippines.

(AMSLI Philippines)

The Asian MathSci League, Inc. (AMSLI), in a statement, announced that “it was such a remarkable finish” for the eight Pinoy wiz-kids who traveled thousands of miles from Manila to be able to join the Mathematics Without Borders (MWB) Tournament Finals held at Nessebar, Bulgaria from June 28 to July 1, 2019.

The team dominated the awards in the final event of the tournament participated by 1,192 students from Azerbaijan , Bulgaria, Kyrgyzstan , Kazakhstan , Iran, Malta, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and the Philippines. The delegation was led by DOST-SEI Deputy Director Engr. Albert Mariño and the officials of the AMSLI, Rechilda Villame and Dennis Dimaala.

The awards garnered by the Philippine Team dubbed as “Magic 8” are as follows: Zion Skye Earl Carmelo Uy, Ateneo de Manila Grade School (Age Group 2) – Gold Medal (Individual Contest), Gold Medal (Team Contest) and MWB Silver Cup; Rohan Gerald Herrera, Ateneo de Manila Grade School (Age Group 2) – Gold Medal (Individual Contest), Gold Medal (Team Contest), and MWB Bronze Cup; Harry Gerald Perez, De La Salle Lipa Integrated School (Age Group 2) – Gold Medal (Team Contest), Bronze Medal (Individual Contest), and MWB Bronze Cup; Renzterton Sibal, Lourdes School of Mandaluyong (Age Group 5) – Gold Medal (Individual Contest), Silver Medal (Team Contest), and MWB Gold Cup; Christian Gendrano, De La Salle Zobel School (Age Group 6) – Absolute Winner of the Tournament, Math Star of the Tournament, Gold Medal (Individual Contest), Bronze Medal (Team Contest), and MWB Gold Cup; Mi Jung Pak, Philippine Science High School (Age Group 7) – Gold Medal (Team Contest), Bronzed Medal (Individual Contest), and MWB Gold Cup; Beatriz Lucia Rodriguez, Southville International School and Colleges (Age Group 7) – Gold Medal (Team Contest), Silver Medal (Individual Contest), and MWB Silver Cup; and John Henry Marquez, Philippine Science High School (Age Group 9) – Gold Medal (Individual Contest), Gold Medal (Team Contest), and MWB Gold Cup.

In the Individual and Team Awards, AMSLI explained that the top 20% of the total number of the finalists from each age group receive gold, silver and bronze medals. “The ranking is carried out according to the number of solved problems or points earned,” AMSLI said. “In the case of an equal number of solved problems, the higher ranked participant/team is the one that has spent less time solving the problems,” it added.

Meanwhile, AMSLI explained that the ranking for the MWB Cups is “determined based on the sum of the two best results of the three remote rounds (Autumn,Winter and Spring Rounds) and the doubled result of the final competition.” Given this, the “three most successful students from each age group and country are included in the ranking for the Tournament Cups”

“The participants who hold first place in each age group receives the Mathematics without Borders Golden Cup, those who hold second place receives the Mathematics without Borders Silver Cup and those who hold third place receives the Mathematics without Borders Bronze Cup,” AMSLI said.

The “Math Star of the Tournament,” on the other hand, is among the “special prizes and the title Math Star of the Tournament is received by each country’s most successful contestant.” The “Absolute Winner of the Tournament” is given by the Mayor of Nessebar who is also a patron of the tournament. The award is given to the “most successful contestant and the teacher with the biggest contribution to the tournament.”

AMSLI identifies itself a non-stock non-profit organization of “math and science enthusiasts” registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) since April, 2017. Among the objectives of AMSLI is to “establish a world class academic organization aimed to develop and improve mathematics and science skills of Filipino teachers and students through mentoring, scholarships and various activities connected” and “inculcate, promote, foster and develop interest and awareness among the Filipino teachers and students about international math and science activities such as competitions, educational programs, enrichment workshops, conferences, courses and training programs, exhibits and seminars and other related events.”

The organization also aims to “promote math and science competitions here in the Philippines and/or outside the country and develop and educate an understanding of global competitiveness”; to “recognize and award outstanding students in mathematics and/or science”; and to “promote and encourage organized research and to disseminate the useful results of such research.”

Given the remarkable feat of the Filipino learners in the recent MWB tournament, Villame – who also serves as the AMSLI President and Philippine Team Leader – received the Mayor of Nessebar’s Teacher Award. Meanwhile, Dimaala – who served as Deputy Team Leader – received the MWB Organization’s Teacher Award.