A six-man national team is bound for Hong Kong early next week to represent the Philippines in the prestigious 57th International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO).
Last year?s IMO winners headline this year?s national team led by Clyde Wesley S. Ang of Chiang Kai Shek College, Farrell Eldrian S. Wu of MGC New Life Christian Academy, Albert John Patupat of Holy Rosary College, and Kyle Patrick F. Dulay of Philippine Science High School ? Main Campus.
They are joined by Shaquille Wyan Que of Grace Christian College and Vince Jan Torres of Sta. Rosa Science and Technology High School.
The team will be guided by team leader Richard Eden and deputy team leader Louie John Vallejo, both of the Mathematical Society of the Philippines (MSP).
The 57th IMO will be held in Hong Kong on July 6-16, 2016.
In a send-off program held at the University of the Philippines Diliman, supporters from the government, private, and academic sectors expressed well wishes to boost the team?s spirit in time for their departure on July 9 for the competition.
Josette Biyo, director of the Department of Science and Technology ? Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI), thanked the MSP ?for its untiring and brilliant leadership in bringing the best out of our students and fielding the best that we have.?
?The training and guidance you constantly give our bets show your passion for Philippine mathematics and in honing our youth in this highly critical field. If this would be our year in terms of bringing home the gold, much credit should be bestowed in you,? said Biyo.
She highlighted that the winning trend in the past years, especially in 2015, when the country brought home two silvers and two bronzes along with an honorable mention, could be a sign that the elusive gold medal is ?very much within reach.?
?When we dream of that gold medal, it represents the progress we achieve in this field. It signifies hope; one that grows each time prove something to the world,? she said.
The DOST-SEI and MSP jointly organize the selection and training of the Philippine team to the IMO. Other sponsoring entities include the University of the Philippines? Institute of Mathematics, Foundation for Upgrading the Standards of Education, and the Social Security System.