HANS UY WINS GOLD: 2 Naga Math wizards shine in USA contest

QUEZON CITY --- At least two of the members of the Philippine team that received gold medals in the International Regions Mathematics League (IRML) competition held at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, USA, are young students from Naga City. They are Hans Mackenzie Uy of St. Joseph School in Naga City and Dominic Olivan Villegas of Naga City Montessori School. Both Uy and Villegas are among this year’s mayoral recognition awardees for winning gold, silver, and bronze medals last year in various Math competitions in China, Singapore, and Bangkok. The Philippine team, which ranked 3rd in the Nevada international math contest held June 1 to 2 in Las Vegas, was composed of 22 students from different high schools across the country. China and Macau ranked first and second place, respectively. The Philippines’ final score was one point higher than South Korea, which placed 4th. Mackenzie Uy of St Joseph School in Naga City said while the training was both “mentally and emotionally draining,” bonding with his teammates and his supportive coaches helped him withstand the challenges he faced. “Winning the award was an accomplishment for me because it shows that my efforts have paid off, but the real reward here is the unforgettable memories and the great friends you gain in the event. To me, this victory was a team victory, and whatever I accomplished in this event, it was for my team. Mathletes don’t collect medals, they collect memories,” Uy said. IRML is an international contest where students solve several math problems in different formats. It is an extension of the American Regions Mathematics League, where student teams from various states of the United States compete with one another. Students are given the chance to compete individually and in teams in different parts of the competition. Teams go through 4 rounds in the IRML: Team Round, Power Round, Individual Round, and Relay Round. Scores from each round are tallied for the teams’ final ranking. The participation of the Philippine team was made possible by training from the Asian MathSci League, Incorporated, under its president, Rechilda P. Villame. The students were coached by team leaders Ezra Templonuevo and Charles Kyle Mupas. –with report by Gaby Baizas/Rappler.com