TUMAUINI, Isabela-Two Isabela students represented the Philippines in the recent online International Math Olympiad final round in Thailand and won awards, earning accolades from school leaders and peers here.
Jay Lord Ugaddan was gold medalist while Richdayne Earth Dwight Tumamao was silver medalist. The 17-year-old students are both graduating Grade 12 students of the Regional Science High School in Arcon village here.
Competition records said the Thailand International Mathematical Olympiad (TIMO) is an annual international Olympiad competition jointly organized by OCEC from Hong Kong and Thailand Mathematics Society and participated in by 14 countries and administrative regions such as Hong Kong, China, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Ukraine, Philippines, Kyrgyzstan, Iran, Taiwan, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia and other Asian countries.
The competitors had competed in logical thinking, algebra, number theory, geometry and combinatorics.
Ugaddan told this correspondent in an exclusive recent interview that their victories are products of “both hard work and luck.”
Tumamao said they did not expect to win as “no math trainings for international competition are available in Cagayan Valley region.”
Before the final round, both Ugaddan and Tumamao won silvers in the heat round, qualifying them for the final competition. Those who won gold, Silver and bronze awards or with high distinction, distinction or high credit in depth of knowledge assessment had competed for the final round.
“The winning students are laudable for their academic excellence in Mathematics and the school is proud for their feats,” school principal Evelyn Bumanglag said.
“It is a platform to stimulate and foster young people’s interest in learning mathematics, to strengthen the ability of their creative thinking, to widen their international perspective, and to promote the development of primary and secondary education and exchange of educational cultures throughout countries or regions, the organizers added.
Due to the pandemic, the Olympiad—touted as one of the most respected and desirable competitions in the world–was held online.#