MANILA, Philippines--They deserve more than accolades for doing the country proud.

A total of 303 elementary and high school students have brought honor to the country by winning over 450 medals in more than a dozen international mathematics and science competitions in 2009.

For their exemplary achievement, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) awarded them medals and installed them in its “roster of honorable young men and women.”

The DOST’s YES medal, short for Youth Excellence in Science, signifies “high regard for excellence and competitiveness through the distinguished achievements of young Filipinos in international science and math contests.”

The young achievers, mostly from private schools in Metro Manila, were feted in simple rites recently at the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology auditorium in Diliman, Quezon City.

DOST Secretary Estrella Alabastro called the math and science wizards an “overflowing deluge of hope for the Philippines.”

“Our generation of scientists, mathematicians and engineers are slowly taking the backseat to give way to fresher faces, fresher ideas who could sustain the gains we have achieved in the science community,” Alabastro said.

The bountiful medal haul came from international competitions, including the 5th Singapore International Math Contest, 8th China Girls Math Olympiad, China Junior High School Math Olympiad, 10th World Youth Invitational Inter-Cities Math Competition in South Africa, Wizards at Math International Competition in India, China Primary Math Olympiad, 1st Robotics International Competition in Hawaii, International Math & Science Olympiad in Indonesia, 3rd International Earth Science Olympiad in Taiwan and the 5th International Junior Science Olympiad in South Korea, among others.

The math aces capped the year by topping the 2009 Philippine International Math Competitions in November 2009 with a harvest of 100 medals, including 24 golds.

Most of the DOST honorees were wards of Mathematics Trainers’ Guild-Philippines, a nonstock, nonprofit organization headed by Dr. Simon Chua.

The group, which aims to promote excellence in math education and training, hosted the Philippine competitions.

St. Jude Catholic School in Manila topped the list of medal winners, with a total of 87 medals, including 28 golds.

Among the multiple medal winners were John Russell Virata from Gideon Academy; Vance Eldric Go, Arielle Elise Chua, Austin Eldrich Chua, Martin Lewis Koa, Wilford Jason Julio, Carmela Antoinette Lao, Czarina Angela Lao, Seanne Daphne Ng, Adrian Reginald Sy, Andrew Lawrence Sy, Keith Brian Yu, Abigail Sy and Mikaela Angela Uy.

Source: inquirer.net