AJHS mathletes Paco Javier and Joaquin Jobog bring home 5 medals from Korea and Singapore contests

Representing the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila Junior High School mathletes Paco Javier (7-Alfonso) and Joaquin Jobog (9-Isore) won multiple medals in the final rounds of two face-to-face competitions held abroad in July.

World Mathematics Invitational (WMI)

In the World Mathematics Invitational (WMI) final round held from July 14-18 in Seoul, South Korea, Paco won a gold medal in the primary 6 division while Joaquin secured a silver in the grade 8 division.

The medals won by Paco and Joaquin contributed to the Philippine delegation’s haul of 143 awards from the WMI final round, which include one Star of the World award, two Legend awards, four Diamond awards, 14 golds, 32 silvers, and 48 bronzes.

The WMI 2023 was held in Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea. The WMI is a prestigious international competition that brings together institutes and organizations from around the globe that are dedicated to promoting and popularizing mathematics. By interacting with fellow math enthusiasts from various nations, students can broaden their worldview, experience diverse cultures, and expand their horizons. WMI 2023 successfully gathered 1,275 participants from 17 countries and territories including Australia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Korea, Laos, Macao, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nigeria, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam.

Singapore International Math Olympiad Challenge (SIMOC)

A few days after the WMI, in the Singapore International Math Olympiad Challenge (SIMOC) final round held in Singapore, Joaquin won two medals: a silver for the Mind Master group competition and a bronze for the Olympiad, an individual event. For his part, Paco won a gold medal in the Olympiad.   

Team Philippines’ 31-strong delegation at SIMOC (which consisted of students from Grades 1 to 10) brought home three trophies from Overall Championships and 42 medals across various categories.

SIMOC was held from July 22 to 25, 2023, at the National University of Singapore. Considered one of the most prestigious math competitions in the world, SIMOC encourages students to explore the fascinating world of numbers while fostering cross-cultural friendships and intellectual exchanges among young minds from diverse backgrounds. SIMOC 2023 attracted 1,633 mathletes from 30 nations who showcased their problem-solving abilities, mathematical acumen, and collaborative skills in the Olympiad and the Math Warriors and Mind Master group events.