Bikolano Studes Named to Elite Group of Young Pinoy Math Wizards

Legazpi City (16 April) -- Errol John Suarez, a Grade 4 pupil of the Bicol University Integrated Laboratory School (BUILS), has qualified, along with some 122 qualifiers and 137 alternates from different schools nationwide, to represent the country in forthcoming international Math Olympiads.

Suarez was selected from among the 700 elementary math wizards vying for the slots during the 2010 Young Mathematicians' In-house Intensive Training Program (YMIITP) in Balanga City, Bataan March 26-29.

The BUILS pupil is also the lone Bikolano named to the elite qualifier group of young Pinoy math wizards.

Suarez, at his age of nine, also made it to the national limelight in February last year following his feat as the youngest Kumon Math completer in the country.

Meanwhile, five other Bikolanos pupil were named alternates including Edrian M Octavo of BUILS and Sophia Lore Abad of the Blessed Lights International Christian Academy (BLICA) in Naga City for Grade 3; Tatyana Marie Gonzaga of the Unibersidad de Sta. Isabel, also in Naga City, for Grade 5; Danica Mae Berunio and Christina Marie Moneda of BLICA for Grade 6.

The young Pinoy math wizards, who ranged from grade 2 to grade 6, were all determined and confident to crack the mind-boggling math problems within the three straight strenuous days. Both new trainees and "old" yet so young members were not spared by sheets after sheets of math problems which came from session after session.

Suarez along with other 122 qualifiers and 137 alternates managed to grab the spots to represent the country in future international Math Olympiads.

However, those MTG kids who were not able to make it for the 2010 Math Olympiad Summer Training Program (MOSTP) pledged to be back next year for they were challenged not to let go their math skills.

Suarez, along with this year's batch of qualifiers and alternates, were set into another tough training under the MOSTP from April 12 to May 14 at the Deeco Technological Institute in Santolan, Pasig City.

MOSTP is a must for all those qualifiers who wish to participate in the international math contest, wherein they will be exposed to a more rigid training experience by solving really more challenging math problems. (PIA V)