Filipino students won 18 medals, including one gold and eight silvers, in the 6th International Mathematics and Science Olympiad for Primary School (IMSO) held in Jakarta, Indonesia from November 8-14.

Dr. Simon Chua, president of the Mathematics Trainers’ Guild-Philippines (MTG), said Adrian Reginald Sy, a Grade 5 student from Saint Jude Catholic School in San Miguel, Manila, won the country’s lone gold medal in the math division.

He said this year’s performance was better than last year’s when the country won 14 medals in the competition which is organized yearly by the Ministry of National Education of Indonesia.

Rechilda Villame, one of the two math coaches of the RP team, told the Manila Bulletin that all the country’s 12 contestants in the math division each won a medal.

The silver medalists in math are Jason Joseph Fernandez of San Beda College Alabang in Muntinlupa City; Prince Michael Balanay of Colegio San Agustin in Biñan, Laguna; John Thomas Chuatak and Nathanael Joshua Balete of St. Stephen’s High School in Binondo, Manila; and Andrew Lawrence Sy of Saint Jude Catholic School.

The country’s bronze medalists in math are Farrel Eldrian Wu of MGC New Life Christian Academy in Taguig City; Benedict Ryan Chua Tiu of St. Stephen’s High School; Jasper Amadeus Opulencia of North Central School in Tanauan, Batangas; Andrei Triz Patupat of Holy Rosary College in Sta Rosa, Laguna; Franz Patrick Villamor of City Central School in Cagayan de Oro; and Emman Joshua Busto of Juan Sumulong Elementary School in Antipolo, Rizal.

Winners in science are Diego Nathaniel Mina of Holy Rosary College Sta. Rosa, Allan Cedrick Domingo of San Beda College Alabang and Caireen Tuppil of Placido del Mundo Elementary School in Quezon City, who all got silver medals. The bronze medalists are Gabriel Estampador of San Beda College Alabang, Sarah Jane Macuja of Kidapawan Elementary School, and Paul Carlo Diamond Salise from the division of Cagayan de Oro City.

The RP delegation, which arrived in the country yesterday, was headed by Virginia Fernandez together with Villame, Robesa Hilario, Nicolai Christian Vasquez, and Ruthela Payawal.

Besides the Philippines, other countries that joined the IMSO are Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, South Africa, Brunei, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Hongkong, and India.

According to Indonesia’s education ministry, the IMSO was started in 2003 “to foster and improve friendly relationships between the students and improve cooperation in education between officials of participating countries.”