In a phone interview with the Manila Bulletin, Mathematics Trainers’ Guild (MTG), Philippines president Dr. Simon Chua said that 16 elementary students and 24 high school students will strive to win in international math competitions this month.

Chua said 16 elementary students will compete in Hong Kong for the 10th Po Leung Kuk Primary Mathematics World Contest (PMWC) on July 17 to 21.

The PMWC had been participated in the past by countries like China, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Macau, Bulgaria, Cyprus, South Africa, India, Mexico and the United States.

Last year, the Philippines bagged a silver medal and six bronze medals from the competition, which was also held in Hong Kong.

This year, students who will compete for the PMWC include Arvin Alba of San Beda College — Alabang; Elvis Ayroso, Arielle Chua, Vance Go and Carmela Lao of St. Jude Catholic School; Darwin Carrasco of Pamplona Elementary School, Paula Chua of Dee Hwa Liong Academy, Marc Co, Michael Ongkauko and Ryan Yu of Xavier School; Immanuel Encarnacion of Colegio San Agustin — Biñan;

Ma. Kristina Medina of the Rosa L. Susano Nova Elem. School, Matthew Ng and Aldric Reyes of Chiang Kai Shek College; Fred Tupas of West Visayas State University, and Zheng Rong Wu of the Zamboanga Chong Hua High School.

Meanwhile, Chua said selected MTG trainees in high school will compete in three international math contests this year, including two math competitions this month.

"The Philippines will join three international events for high school," Chua said.

The first of the two math tilts this month include the International World Youth Mathematics Intercity Contest, which will be held from July 10 to 15 in China and participated in by 16 students from the Philippines.

The second international math contest for high school students, meanwhile, will also be held in China from July 21 to 25, and will be participated in by graduating high school students, with eight of them coming from the Philippines.

Chua meanwhile said the third international math competition for high school, the Young Mathematician Convention, will be held in India on the first week of December and would be participated in by 12 high school students from the country.

Just last month, MTG trainees Amiel Sy and Audrey Celine Lao bagged gold and silver medal awards, respectively, from the recently concluded Indonesia Elementary Mathematics International Competition (INAEMIC) 2006 held in Bali, Indonesia.

Chua had earlier said that the reason why Filipino students who join international Mathematics competitions still win awards despite the reported dwindling quality in the country’s Math education is because these students have been given proper training all year round.

He however said the government must "consider education as the main problem" for the decline of the quality of Math education in the country, adding that the government plays an important role in improving the students’ ability in the field of Mathematics.

"We cannot do it alone without the help of the government. We are happy with the support given by the Department of Science and Technology (DoST) through the Science Education Institute (SEI)," he said.

Organized in 1995, MTG is a non-stock, non-profit organization of Mathematics teachers "committed to develop and promote excellence in Mathematics education and training in the Philippines."

It has almost 1,000 school-members and 27 training centers nationwide to provide the needed scientific and technological manpower for the country’s education, modernization and industrialization.