2 young Pinoy math aces win gold, bronze in China

Two more names have been added to the growing list of Filipino students who have won in international math competitions after securing gold and bronze medals in a recently concluded olympiad in China.

Clyde Wesley Ang of Chiang Kai Shek College and Albert John Patupat of Holy Rosary College won gold and bronze medals respectively in China Western Mathematics Invitational (CWMI) held in Chongqing City, China, last August 14 to 19.

Ang's win marked the first time the Philippines won the gold in the competition.

“This is the first time that the Philippines has won a gold medal in the contest. According to the juror, this year’s contest questions were the most difficult in the past 12 years,” said team leader Dr. Simon Chua, president of the Mathematics Trainers Guild-Philippines.

Before this, Ang has won gold medals in the Bulgaria International Mathematics Competition held in July last year and in the Asia Inter-Cities Teenagers Mathematics Olympiad (AITMO).

Patupat, on the other hand, had also won gold in the 2013 International Mathematics Contest in Singapore.

Over 210 contestants from China, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia participated in the competition.

Two previous groups of students have already won big in other math tournaments earlier in August and July.

Four girls from different schools won a total of eight medals and awards at the recently concluded 13th China Girls Mathematical Olympiad in Zhongshan City in Guangdong, China, and also won several awards in its dance side-event.

Before that, the Philippines broke its nine-year gold medal drought with a win by a senior high school student in the 11th China Southeast Mathematical Olympiad (CSMO), in Fuyang City in Zhejiang, China. —Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News