FUSE sees 1st gold for Phl in math Olympiad

The Philippines may bag its first gold medal and surpass the country’s
impressive showing in the math Olympiad as the nucleus of the team
that will be sent to Thailand is composed of experienced and tested
competitors.

The Foundation for Upgrading the Standard of Education (FUSE) said it
sees bright prospects for the squad with Adrian Reginald Sy, Farrell
Eldrian Wu and Kyle Patrick Dulay—medal winners of last year’s
Olympiad, in South Africa—topping anew the recent 17th Philippine
Mathematical Olympiad (PMO), which serves as a qualifier for the tough
international competition.

Sy of St. Jude Catholic School emerged champion, while Wu, MSC New
Life Christian Academy and Dulay, Philippine Science High School,
finished first and second runners-up, respectively.

Sy won a silver, while Wu and Dulay pocketed bronze medals in the
International Mathematical Olympiad, in South Africa, where the
seven-man national team registered its strongest performance in the
annual event, acknowledged as the hardest math competition in the
world.

“With good preparation and training, the team can hold its own and
beat the world’s best mathematicians,” predicted FUSE, an avid
supporter of PMO, organized by the Mathematical Society of the
Philippines and the Department of Science and Technology.

“Your impressive showing or victory, as underscored by our
overachieving national team in the 55th math Olympiad, will make other
countries take further notice that the Philippines’ math and science
education is on the right track and getting better,” said businessman
Lucio C. Tan, one of the founders of FUSE, in his message last January
to the 20 national finalists of PMO, designed to select the best
secondary students in mathematical problem-solving in the country.

Sy, Wu and Dulay have joined the training pool for the Chiang Mai,
Thailand meet, set next July, which has attracted over 100 countries
worldwide.