Dedikasyon, pagsisikap, at pagpupursigi ng anim na mga estudyanteng Pinoy ang naging susi sa pagtamo ng tagumpay sa 2024 International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) sa Bath, United Kingdom noong Hulyo 2024 kung saan naiuwi nila ang apat na medalya at dalawang honorable mention.

Matapos masungkit ang silver medal para sa Pilipinas, ibinahagi ni Jerome Austin Te, Grade 11 STEM learner ng Jubilee Christian Academy, na malaking karangalan para sa kanya na mai-representa ang bansa sa naturang international mathematics competition.

“It is a great opportunity to bring honor to the country, especially since the IMO is the equivalent of the Olympics in mathematics. It is like being an ambassador of the Philippines: not only do I represent the Philippines in the competition, I also represent the Philippines in the social interactions with other contestants,” ani Jerome.

Nakaramdam naman ng kaba si Luke Sebastian Sy, isang Grade 12 STEM learner ng Grace Christian College, dahil ito ang kauna-unahang pagkakataon na nakasama siya sa IMO na kung saan 609 na kabataan mula sa 108 bansa ang naglaban-laban sa prestihiyosong kompetisyon.

“Seeing the other contestants in the hall was overwhelming, knowing that each one represented the top six in their country. While I initially thought the waiting period between the two-day exam and the announcement of results would be the hardest part, it turned out to be enjoyable,” wika ni Luke na nakakuha ng bronze medal.

Ayon naman kay Ervin Joshua Bautista, Year 2 IB learner ng Southville International School and Colleges at nagtamo ng Honorable Mention sa IMO, bagaman nahirapan siya at hindi naging pabor sa kanya ang resulta ng mga pagsusulit, naging masaya naman siya sa kanyang sinalihan.

Kasama rin sa naturang kumpetisyon sina Filbert Ephraim Wu ng Victory Christian International School (Bronze Medal), Alvann Walter Paredes Dy ng Saint Jude Catholic School (Bronze Medalist); at Mohammad Nur Casib ng Philippine Science High School – Central Mindanao Campus (Honorable Mention). Sila ay ginabayan ni team leader Bb. Hazel Joy Shi ng University of the Philippines-Diliman (UP Diliman) at deputy team leader G. Kerish Villegas ng Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU).

“The most important thing for working on the Olympiad is consistent practice. By doing problems over and over again, you hone your problem-solving skills that will help in the actual IMO [International Mathematical Olympiad],” ani Jerome.

Bumisita kamakailan ang kinatawan ng Philippine Team sa 65th IMO na pinangunahan nila Bb. Shi at ni G. Villegas para sa isang courtesy call ni Education Secretary Sonny Angara sa kanyang tanggapan sa Kagawaran.

Mga larawan galing sa Philippine IMO Team at Jessica Wang Photography.