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.

Louganis loves El Nido

Louganis in love with El Nido


Abac Cordero
Philippine Star
13 April 2019

EL NIDO, Palawan, Philippines — The greatest diver in history was smitten by the beauty of the surroundings here.

“It’s just a spectacular background,” said Greg Louganis, the four-time Olympic champion from the United States.

 

Louganis, 59, is here as sports director of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series, which was to kick off its 11th season yesterday.

Twenty-four of the world’s best cliff divers are in this picturesque island of amazing geologic formations and pristine waters with corals and marine mammal life.

Louganis, who wore his Olympic ring on his right hand during the interview, said the event couldn’t find a better spot.

“Such an incredible backdrop,” he said of the site.

Two platforms of 20 meters (70 feet) for women and 27 meters (90 feet) for men were constructed on a towering limestone formation in Miniloc island.

The competitors from the US, Great Britain, Canada, Mexico, Belarus, Romania, Poland, Ukraine and the Czech Republic will jump off a cliff with sharp, jagged rocks from as high as 90 feet. It takes them three to four seconds to hit the waters at a speed of 70 to 80 kph.

It’s heart-stopping to watch.

“I’m just in awe,” said Louganis, winner of two Olympic gold medals (platform and springboard) in the 1984 and 1988 Olympics.

“And I’m always asked, ‘What’s your favorite spot?’ I have to say it’s Oman and the Philippines. They’re neck-to-neck,” he said.

“But here you really feel you’re embraced by nature. And that’s what cliff diving is all about. It’s the backdrop. The gorgeous clear waters. It’s stunning,” he said of the El Nido site.

From here, the series moves to Ireland in May, Italy in June, Portugal in June, Lebanon in July, Bosnia and Herzegovina in August then Spain in September.

Louganis, winner of five world championships, has never tried cliff diving.

Not yet. One day, he will.

“I really want to experience what the divers experience. The impact. But you don’t know until you do it yourself,” said Louganis.

“But if I’d dive, I’d do it here,” he said.

Louganis is in love with El Nido.

Pinay in X-Factor Romania

Pinay singer advances to live shows in 'X Factor Romania'

Jackie de Vega
ABS-CBN Europe
02 December 2018

On Friday night, Filipina singer Bella Santiago continues to advance "The X Factor Romania" Season 8.

In her bid to stay on Delia's Over 24s, the 29-year old belted out the 1983 hit "Total Eclipse of the Heart" by Bonnie Tyler, outshining Christian Sanda in the Duel round, making her the first Filipina to reach the live shows of "The X Factor Romania."

“Bella is a complete package, has an amazing voice, her stage presence... I am speechless. She knows her body very well,” Sanda said.

Their mentor, Delia Matache, confided that she had difficulty choosing between them -- and the judges agreed.

"It was fantastic. I have no words!" she said.

“Applause for both contestants. That is what I call a duel! You chose two well-known pieces and my favorite ones. It was a risk for you, Cristian. The difference is you've shown a different side of you. Bella showed a different kind of artistry. You have two extremely competitive contestants,” said judge Stefan Banica.

The Caviteña remains a crowd favorite this season with her performances among the most streamed on the show's YouTube channel. She raked more than 4 million views for her audition clip and 1.6 million views for the 4-chair challenge.

Santiago is one of the 8 contestants to advance to the live show on December 9.

Miss International 2018 runner-up

Ahtisa Manalo is Ms International 2018 1st runner-up

Robert R. Requintina
Manila Bulletin
10 November 2018

Miss Philippines Ma. Ahtisa Manalo finished second in the Miss International 2018 beauty pageant in Tokyo, Japan Friday afternoon.

This is the first time that the Philippines won first runner-up in the 58-year history of the prestigious beauty contest.

Miss Philippines Athisa Manalo

Mariem Velazco of Venezuela was crowned Miss International 2018. Other winners were South Africa, 2nd runner-up; Romania, 3rd runner-up; and Colombia,4th runner-up.

In her speech, Manalo said: “If I will be lucky enough to be chosen as Miss International 2018, I will continue to be the voice of the youth and let them know that nothing is impossible with hard work and determination.”

Earlier, Filipino pageant fans went wild as soon as Manalo made it to the Top 15 of the contest, making the Miss International pageant one of the trending topics on social media on Friday afternoon.

Supporters of the 21-year-old beauty queen also cheered when Manalo confidently paraded in her national costume, swimsuit, and evening gown.

Other delegates who made it to the Top 15 were Romania, Mexico, Ecuador, Thailand, Australia, Paraguay, Japan, Indonesia, Ukraine, Spain and Madagascar.

From 15, Manalo made the cut to the Top 8 along with Japan, Romania, Ecuador, Colombia, Spain, South Africa, and Venezuela.

A total of 77 candidates competed in this year’s Miss International pageant.

The Philippines already won six times in the beauty tilt. Other Filipina winners were Gemma Cruz (1964), Aurora Pijuan (1970), Melanie Marquez (1979), Precious Lara Quigaman (2005), Bea Rose Santiago (2013) and Kylie Verzosa (2016).

A big fan of crime-busting television series “Charlie’s Angels,” Manalo says she wanted to become a police officer when she was young but her parents did not approve of it.

Instead, she earned a degree in accountancy from the Manuel S. Enverga University in Candelaria, Quezon. In 2016, she was crowned Binibining Niyogyugan.

Manalo said her favorite beauty queen is 2005 Miss International Precious Lara Quigaman.