Pinoy wins prestigious international math award

By JONATHAN M. HICAP, The Manila Times Reporter

A Filipino educator who has dedicated his life to improving and promoting mathematics education in the country was selected as one of three winners of the prestigious Paul Erdos Award for 2006, given by the World Federation of National Mathematics Competitions.

Dr. Simon Chua, president of the Mathematics Trainers’ Guild-Philippines and principal of the Zamboanga Chong Hua High School in Zamboanga City, is the first Filipino to win the award.

Chua was recognized for his efforts to promote mathematics education in the country. The guild has, for the last 10 years, trained Filipino students to take part in international math competitions. The so-called "mathletes" have reaped awards in contests here and abroad. Chua is also the author of numerous math books.

The federation hands out the Paul Edros Award and prize money to three individuals every two years "for sustained and distinguished contribution to the enrichment of mathematics education."

Chua told The Manila Times Monday that he has received notification from the federation about his winning.

"I’m very happy that finally, a Filipino has won the much-coveted award," Chua said. He will formally receive the award together, with cowinners Ali Rejali of Iran and Alexander Soifer of the United States, in July next year at the WFNMC Conference at Robinson College of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England, where mathematics experts from around the world will meet.

In its citation, the group said: "In difficult conditions Chua has established the Mathematics Trainers’ Guild of the Philippines which organizes identification of talented students and training them for events such as international competitions. Simon also is an academic contributor, composing problems and for example working on small juries in events, such as the international Junior Olympiad, to which he takes Philippine teams."

Chua said he wants to promote math as an easy subject. "Learning math is supposed to be fun," he said.

Through the guild, Chua encourages slow learners to love math and trains gifted and promising students for international competitions.

Recently, four MTG-trained high-school students won bronze medals in the International Mathematics and Science Olympiad in Jakarta, Indonesia. They are Immanuel Encarnacion of Colegio San Agustin, Biñan; Audrey Celine Lao of Saint Jude Catholic School; and Kenneth Co and Brendon Go of Xavier School.

The federation is an affiliate of the International Commission for Mathematical Instruction founded in 1984. It serves as a resource for the promotion of math through competitions.

The award is named after the Hungarian Paul Erdos, described as "one of the greatest, most prolific, most original and most love-worthy mathematicians of all time."

Until his death in 1996, Erdos had authored and coauthored 1,500 articles and books and had worked with mathematicians. He was credited for the development of the Ramsey theory, probabilistic method, combinatorics and analytic-number theory.