DHVSU SHS students bag gold, silver in international math quiz

Two students from the University’s Senior High School department emerged as gold and silver medalists in the Heat Round of the Hong Kong International Mathematical Olympiad (HKIMO) held on June 1 and 2, 2019 at the Division Office of the City of San Fernando, Pampanga.

The awarding ceremony commenced on July 13 at the UP Film Center in the University of the Philippines Diliman in Quezon City.

Mr. Marc Oliver Nababalit, who won gold, and Mr. Jeric Mallari, who won silver, automatically joined the Philippine Team and, through the support of the DHVSU Administration and the University Student Council, are set to compete for the prestigious Olympiad’s final round on August 29 to September 2, 2019 to be held in Hong Kong. They will be accompanied by their coach, Dr. Eddieball P. Layco, Director of the Planning and Development Office.

The gifted mathematicians, no amateurs in the arena, have been joining such competitions since their elementary years. Recently, Mr. Nabalit hung a silver medal under his belt for winning in an international Math Olympiad held in Thailand in April 2019.

Regarding the victory, Mrs. Louie Fe Villanueva, Principal of the Senior High School department, said in an interview, “We are very proud and happy since these awards testify the intelligence and competence of our students not only in local but also in the international arena. We are very positive that this endeavor will push through until the World International Mathematical Olympiad in Tokyo, Japan.” The upcoming Olympiad will be held in December 2019.

According to its official website, HKIMO, which is under the World International Mathematical Olympiad (WIMO) Foundation, was developed by Mr. Wong Tin Chun, former Hong Kong Mathematical Olympiad Team Leader, with the objective of promoting Mathematical Olympiad all over the world. The competition, which makes use of individual examination papers, includes five main topics: Logical Thinking, Arithmetic (Kindergarten / Primary Section) / Algebra (Secondary Section), Number Theory, and Geometry & Combinatorics.