By Jerry E. Esplanada
A “red-letter day.”
     That’s how Dr. Simon Chua, co-founder and COO of the Mathematics Trainers’ Guild Phils. (MTG) aptly referred to last March 14, the day the first Students Excellence Award, or SEA was given by the Department of Education (DepEd) to 576 young numbers aces from over 100 public and private schools in Metro Manila and nearby areas.
     The medal awarding rites, graced by former DFA Secretary Allan Peter Cayetano, also MTG honorary chairman, and DepEd officials, among others, were held at the Samsung Hall of the SM Aura Premier Mall in BGC, Taguig City.
     The student-awardees, all MTG wards, have made the country proud by bringing home 110 gold, 249 silver and 444 bronze medals from 18 international math competitions last year.
     The contests, all covered by DepEd central office-issued advisories and memoranda, were “duly endorsed” by the agency, Chua noted.
     Students who won gold, silver and bronze medals in individual tilts will each get a SEA medal in what is now an annual DepEd commendation exercise, said MTG president Isidro Aguilar.
     “Any Filipino students from Grade 1 to 12 who win in foreign math, science or English contests, are qualified for the honor and entitled to get SEA medals,” he pointed out.
     Aguilar added, “regardless of how many times a student competed in one year and won in contest categories, he or she will receive only one SEA medal.”
     Math wizards from St. Jude Catholic School in Manila topped the list of awardees with 46 medals, followed by their counterparts from Taguig Science High School (36), De La Salle Santiago Zobel (26), Philippine Science High School-Main (25), Sen. Renato Cayetano Memorial Science and Technology High School (25), St. Paul College Pasig (17), Makati Science High School (16), Colegio San Agustin-Binan (16), San Beda College Alabang (16) and Grace Christian College (12).
     The other medalists came from Ateneo De Manila Grade School, Ateneo De Manila Junior High School, Ateneo De Manila Senior High School, Bangkal Elementary School Main, Binuangan Elementary School, British School Manila, Caloocan National Science & Technology HS, Centro Montessori Internationale, Chiang Kai Shek College, Child Development And Guidance Center, Colegio De San Juan De Letran, Colegio De Santa Ana , Colegio San Agustin – Makati, Comembo Elementary School, Dasmarinas II Central School, De La Salle Medical & Health Sciences Institute, De La Salle University – Dasmariñas JHS, De La Salle University – Laguna Campus, De La Salle University Integrated School Calunbang, De La Salle University Intergrated School Senior HS, Divine Light Academy Molino, Dr. Yanga’s Colleges, Inc., East Rembo Elementary School, Elizabeth Seton School – South, Emmanuel Christian School, Espiritu Santo Parochial School Manila, Falcon School, Far Eastern University Senior High School , GCF- International Christian School, Holy Rosary Academy of Las Piñas, Hope Christian High School, Immaculate Conception Academy Greenhills, Immaculate Heart of Mary College Parañaque, Imus National High School, Imus Pilot Elementary School, Integrated Montessori Center Guadalupe, International British Academy, International School For Better Beginnings Lucena, Itaas Elementary School, Jean-Baptiste of Reims College, Jesus Is Lord Colleges Foundation Inc. , Jose Rizal Memorial School, Jubilee Christian Academy, Kapitan Eddie Reyes Integrated School, Kapitan Jose Cardones Memorial Elementary School, Keys School Manila, La Immaculada Concepcion School, La Salle College Antipolo, La Salle Greenhills, Laguna College, Las Piñas City National Science High School, Lourdes School of Quezon City, Malagasang 2 Elementary School, Malinta Elementary School, Manila Science High School, Maria Montessori Holy Christian School Inc., Mariano Ponce National High School, Marymount Professional Colleges, MGC New Life Christian Academy, Miriam College, Quezon City, Montessori House of Learning, Morning Star Montessori School, Inc. – Calamba City, MSA Whiz Kids Academy Inc, Notre Dame Of Greater Manila, Our Lady Of The Holy Rosary School – Gen. Trias, Pace Academy, Parada National High School, PAREF Woodrose, Pasig Catholic College, Pembo Elementary School, PhiLippine Cultural College Caloocan Campus, Phil. Cultural College Main Campus, Philippine Academy of Sakya, Philippine Institute of Quezon City, Project 6 Elementary School Special Science Class, Quezon City Christian Academy, Quezon City Science High School, Ricardo P. Cruz Elementary School, Rizal Elementary School, Sabang Elementary School, Saint Mary’s Academy Pasay, Saint Mary’s College of Meycauayan, Salambao Elementary School, San Antonio Elementary School, San Antonio National High School, San Antonio Village Elementary School, San Juan Elementary School, San Pablo City Science High School, Santa Maria National High School, School of St. Anthony, Signal Village National High School, Silangan Elementary School, South Cembo Elementary School, Southernside Montessori Muntinlupa, Southville International Schools and Colleges, St Jude Catholic School, St. Francis of Assisi College System Molino Campus, St. Jude Catholic School, St. Mary’s Academy Pasay, St. Paul College – Island Park, St. Paul College of Parañaque, St. Paul University Quezon City, St. Pedro Poveda College, St. Stephen’s High School, St. Theresa’s College Quezon City, Sta. Cruz Elementary School, Sta. Rosa Elementary School Central III (SSES), Sta. Rosa Science and Technology High School, SV Montessori, Taguig Integrated School, The Learning Tree Child Growth Center, The Palmridge School, UP Rural High School, University of Perpetual Help – Molino Campus, University of Perpetual Help System Dalta Las Pinas, University of Santo Tomas Jr. HS – Manila, University of Santo Tomas Jr. HS – Manila, University of the Philippines Integrated School, UNO High School, Upper Bicutan Elementary School, Upper Bicutan National High School, Valenzuela City School Of Mathematics & Science, Vel Maris School Inc., Victory Christian International School, West Rembo Elementary School, West Rembo Elementary School, Xavier School, Xavier School – Nuvali, Sta. Rosa among others.
 
    Cayetano, in his remarks, commended Chua for leading MTG in its “noble efforts” to promote excellence in math education and training in the Philippines.
     At the same time, he vowed to raise at least P1 million to help the non-government institution attain its goals.
     For her part, Director Jocelyn Andaya of the DepEd’s Curriculum Development Office – who represented Secretary Leonor Briones – lauded MTG for putting Philippine math education and training on a higher level.
     One of the student-awardees, Wally Santos of the Sen. Renato Cayetano Memorial Science and Technology High School, cited MTG, saying it “has served a great purpose for youth mathematicians of our country to be successful in their chosen fields.”
     MTG has also proven that “social status is never a hindrance if you have the passion and skills to be honed and polished,” he also said, adding “if you want to achieve something, be disciplined and dream big and always believe in the power of your dream for it will illuminate the road to your success.
     Philippine Science High School student John Florence Dizon, called MTG a “catalyst” by helping improve the nation’s math curriculum with its various initiatives.
     He added he was “amazed to see MTG uphold its traditions of promoting math excellence and showing the young Filipinos’ prowess up until now, its 24th year in doing so.”
     Meanwhile, Joseph Wee, one of the program emcees, announced that SEA medals will also be awarded to other math wizards in other parts of the country.
     MTG, he also disclosed, will conduct shortly its annual Young Mathematicians In-House Intensive Training Program, or YMIITP in Laurel, Batangas.