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.

PH to become 18th largest economy by 2037

Philippines to become 18th largest economy by 2037 — report

Philippine Star | 11 December 2018

This Nov. 9, 2018 file photo shows the Mandaluyong-Makati skyline. The Philippines is set to become the 18th largest economy in the world over the next twenty years, Capital Economics reported, citing the Southeast Asian nation’s young workforce.

The STAR/Michael Varcas

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is expected to become the 18th largest economy in the world over the next twenty years, Capital Economics reported, citing the Southeast Asian nation’s young workforce.

In its “Long-Term Global Economic Outlook” report released last week, the London-based economic research consultancy forecasts the Philippines’ nominal gross domestic product to hit $1.414 trillion by 2037.

Thirty economies were tracked in the report. In 2017, the Philippines was ranked 25th in terms of nominal GDP.

According to Capital Economics, the Philippine economy will likely outgrow Turkey, Poland, Thailand, UAE, Egypt, Colombia, South Africa, Argentina, Czech Republic, Angola, Morocco and Kenya two decades from now.

By 2037, Capital Economics sees the US dominating the top 17 economies based on nominal GDP, followed by China, India, Japan, Germany, the UK, France, Mexico, South Korea, Brazil, Canada, Australia, Italy, Indonesia, Russia, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, respectively.

“Growth in Emerging Asia is likely to slow over the coming decades due to a combination of less favourable demographics and reduced scope for catch-up,” the consultancy said.

“Meanwhile, working age populations will still grow at a fairly rapid pace in countries such as the Philippines, Malaysia and India,” it added.

The Philippines had enjoyed uninterrupted growth in the past quarters, thanks to benign inflation in the previous years that had given the central bank enough room to keep interest rates low.

In the same report, Capital Economics flagged weakening investor appetite in the Philippines due to President Rodrigo Duterte’s leadership style.

“There are signs that the election of President Duterte in the Philippines is scaring off foreign investors and the situation is unlikely to improve when he is gone,” it said.

“The country has a poor history when it comes to electing competent governments,” it added. — Ian Nicolas Cigaral

Top Globalization Destination

Philippines is world's second top globalization destination: index

Arianne Merez

Abs-CBN News
20 Oct 2018

Business process outsourcing is an economic lifeline in the Philippines with over 1.15 million Filipinos working in the industry. File photo

MANILA - The Philippines is the second top globalization destination in the world this year, according to global strategic advisory firm Tholons.

The 2018 Services Globalization Index saw the Philippines rising to the second spot of the "Top 50 Digital Nations" after placing third last year.

India continues to dominate the list while Brazil follows the Philippines at third place.

Other countries in the top 10 are the United States, Mexico, Canada, Russia, Vietnam, Colombia, and South Africa.

"Most of the services will get commoditized for the biggest leaders in services globalization like US, UK, Canada, Europe, India, Philippines, East Europe, and Latin America," the index report stated.

Business process outsourcing is an economic lifeline in the Philippines with over 1.15 million Filipinos working in the industry.

The industry, along with remittances from overseas workers, remains one of the top 2 earners of foreign exchange for the Philippines.

SUPER CITIES

Six cities from the Philippines, meanwhile, made it to the "Top 100 Super Cities," with Manila placing second to Bengaluru in India.

The Philippine capital, which ranked fourth in 2017, is followed by the Indian city of Mumbai, which ranked third.

The rest of the Philippine cities included in the list all saw an improvement in their respective rankings.

Close to the top 10 is Cebu City, which ranked 11th from 12th last year, while President Rodrigo Duterte's hometown Davao City went 10 notches higher to the 75th spot from 85th last year.

Santa Rosa City in Laguna rose to the 87th spot from 100th last year while Bacolod City climbed to the 89th spot from 97th in 2017.

The Visayan city of Iloilo, meanwhile, is a newcomer to the list, landing at the 92nd spot.

The index evaluates and ranks countries and cities based on availability and quality of talent in the area, business catalyst or the level of industry-related activity and organizational support, cost of doing business, infrastructure, innovation, and risk and quality of life among others.