‘Mathlete’

Earns Golden Cup Award

By Jeb Israel MANILA—Brian Jansen Vallejo,

a 13-year-old student from

Sarrat,

Ilocos Norte, has been making significant waves in the online community and elsewhere.

Philippine International Math Olympiad (PhIMO) and the Hong Kong International Mathematical Olympiad (HKMIO) in 2023.

In an effort to promote a more efficient and easier way of registering and applying for TESDA scholarship programs, part of Secretary Mangudadatu’s agenda is to enhance the online application. Additionally, the agency will work on the promotion of rural enterprise and area development through TVET. This will provide accessibility to TESDA programs for the development of rural areas.

Also, part of Secretary Mangudadatu’s 10-point agenda is Youthpreneurship or youth entrepreneurship. TESDA will have a direct partnership with the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) and other youth organizations in every barangay and locality to develop a process of information dissemination and empower the youth for the development of their skills through TESDA programs and interventions.

The next initiative that Secretary Mangudadatu would like to implement is the TESDA Industry Exchange Program. This will strengthen the partnership in the continuing training of trainers and students between the industry and TESDA.

As the Secretary of TESDA, Mangudadatu will also bring in the HALAL TVET which would open an opportunity to tap the HALAL business world through the introduction and promotion of HALAL TVET.

This, after he lorded it over in the prestigious Golden Cup Award where he wrested gold medals in various international math competitions organized by the Math Olympiads Training League Inc. (MOTLI).

MOTLI is a non-stock, non-profit organization composed of mathematics professionals committed to nurturing the potential of mathematically-inclined Filipino children.

Brian Jansen Vallejo, a Grade 7 student enrolled in the Thales Special Program for Mathematics at Sarrat National High School, is the first recipient of this esteemed award.

He won gold medals in the heat round of the Thailand International Math Olympiad (TIMO) and the Big Bei Bay Math Olympiad (BBB) in 2022, as well as the

“We are thrilled that our hard work has paid off. This is the first time we have a student who has received the golden cup award in TIMO, BBB, PhIMO, and HKIMO,” shared Michael Malvar, one of the head coaches of the SNHS Math Olympians, during an interview.

Together with Brian, seven other “mathletes” named Allen Iver D. Barroga, Natalie Margaret Balisacan, Zyrene Angelica Dulluog, Mar Lean Malvar, Arianne Rasalan, Ma. Cassandra Duque, and Jushiem Barroga have brought honor to Sarrat National High School by securing a total of five gold medals, one silver medal, one bronze medal, and one merit award at the HKIMO held on May 28, 2023.

This achievement propelled Sarrat National High School to the 15th rank among the 495 public and private schools from the Philippines

This was announced by TESDA Secretary Suharto Mangudadatu as he formally assumed office on June 6, 2023, where he also laid down his 10-point agenda for the next five (5) years of his tenure in the skills training agency. The first point on the agenda that he put emphasis on is the TESDA sa Barangay. This, he said, aims to give access to scholarship programs and free training programs among different barangays.

The second item on the agenda is a review of TESDA training regulations. This initiative will focus on the realignment of technicalvocational courses to meet the demand of the industry for local and overseas employment.

Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) has been one of the TESDA programs that benefit marginalized sectors, especially in developing their skills and knowledge in different areas. Secretary Mangudadatu, as his third agenda item, will also prioritize TVET to meet the demand of the industry or the locality of a certain area.

The fourth agenda item is compliance and enhanced monitoring. The agency will also regularly inspect TESDA-accredited schools and learning centers to check on their compliance with the existing requirements of program registration, certification, and facilities.

The last and one of the most important items on the agenda is the strengthening and regeneration of the internal structure of the agency.

The leadership of Mangudadatu will see to it that all departments, divisions, and offices of the agency are reliable and accountable for the management’s trust and confidence in providing the necessary educational needs of students and trainers as well.

With the new set of TESDA officials, the agency assures that it will continue to provide quality programs and projects that will help uplift the lives of the poor people in the country.

The said agenda will be a guide for such an administration in fulfilling its goal of providing adequate education and skills to Filipinos who want to learn and be highly employable skilled workers. (Jeb Israel/PEN) that participated in the competition.

HKIMO is an annual international competition aimed at stimulating and nurturing young people’s interest in mathematics, enhancing their creative thinking abilities, broadening their international perspectives, and promoting the development of primary and secondary education, as well as the exchange of educational cultures across countries and regions. This information was provided in a press statement released by the school.

Invited participants in HKIMO come from Hong Kong, China,

Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Ukraine, Philippines, Kyrgyzstan, Iran, Taiwan, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Cambodia.

“To receive gold awards in all the international math olympiads we participated in is an inspiration to all our students. We hope to train more students like them,” expressed Malvar.

The winners will be honored during the mid-year awarding ceremony at Notre Dame in Caloocan City on July 16, 2023.

(The PEN)