SAN JUAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MATH WIZARD WINS BRONZE MEDAL IN IMOYA 2017

It was an experience worth remembering for the lone contestant from San Juan City in the recently concluded 2017 International Mathematics Open for Young Achievers (IMOYA) held in Singapore on September 1-4, 2017.

After months of preparation and intensive training, success came to JOAQUIN ARTHUR VILLAREAL, currently a Grade 4 pupil from San Juan Elementary School, when he competed along with more than a hundred Filipino math wizards in a field of over 450 students from around 8 countries in the ASEAN region. At the United World College of South East Asia – Dover Campus in Singapore, the contestants, under various categories, went through two (2) grueling rounds: the individual and group competition, each of them vying for medals depending on their individual and group scores.

Joaquin competed under the Middle Primary (Grades 3 and 4) category. When asked how the contest went, the boy candidly stated, “mahirap po ang individual test, but I really tried my best; yung group competition naman po, tulong-tulong kami sa pag-solve ng problems; may na-contribute din po ako sa paghanap ng solution.”

During the awarding ceremony, Joaquin was a picture of calmness as names of awardees were being called to accept their medals. When he noticed that members of his group were being gathered together on stage, he knew he had won, and quickly ran up to claim his medal. He and his team mates got the BRONZE MEDAL distinction.

It was a well-deserved victory for this boy from San Juan who dreams of becoming an engineer one day. He is the 9th and youngest child of Alejandro and Rosalina Villareal. He undergoes training under the tutelage of Ms. Belen Dizor at San Juan Elementary School.

Worth mentioning as well is that the achievement in IMOYA 2017 was made possible through the effective partnership between the Schools Division Office headed by the OIC-Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Joel Torrecampo, and the City Government of San Juan lead by Mayor Guia Gomez. Expenses incurred related to the participation of the young achiever and his companions is charged to school/division MOOE and the Special Education Fund/Local Government Fund. Joaquin was accompanied to Singapore by Dr. Nonita Sajo, principal of San Juan Elementary School, Mrs. Helen Acedo, Math Supervisor, and Mrs. Flordelisa Pereyra, OIC-Assistant Schools Division Superintendent.