A senator urged young math wizards to develop and hone their skill as it will lead them to a brighter future and help them contribute to the country’s development.

“You are the best of the best. Do not be ashamed of your talent,” Senator Bam Aquino said during the awarding ceremonies of the 2015 Metrobank-MTAP-DepEd Math Challenge held last Saturday at the Metrobank Plaza Auditorium in Makati.

The biggest math competition among elementary and high schools, the contest drew around 500,000 participants from public and private schools in the country.

“If we are ashamed of our talent, we won’t cultivate that innate, God-given gift that we have, which we have honed through practice and hard work. Sayang naman kung hindi niyo ipagpatuloy iyan,” added Sen. Bam, a math competition winner during his high school days in Ateneo.

While he acknowledges that the MVP of the basketball team is more popular than a math wizard in school, Sen. Bam believes that the fruits of their hard work and perseverance will pay off once they reach college and turn professional.

“Maybe that’s true right now, but take it from me, once you get to college, maybe after college, more opportunities will come your way,” said Sen. Bam, Senate chairman on the Committee on Youth.

Sen. Bam emphasized that the biggest and most successful names in today’s business, such as Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, have had a career based on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

“A lot of the innovations these days that fight hunger, that fight climate change, that fight unemployment, that fight inefficiencies, ang mga solusyon po doon marami po riyan ay nanggagaling sa Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics,” Sen. Bam said.

“Iyong bansa po natin, and also the rest of the world, need young people to get into STEM courses and be able to contribute towards society,” he added.

The senator also called on participants to help solve the country’s problem, saying the Philippines needs people who can solve more than just talk.

“We need people who believe that there are answers to our country’s problems,” Sen. Bam stressed.

After his speech, Sen. Bam awarded the medals to the winners in the elementary and high school divisions.

Ezekiel Christian C. Ong of Uno High School topped the 4th year high school individual competition. Highryll CJ E. Tan of Statefields School Inc. placed second and Gene Go Jr. of Zamboanga Chong Hua High School third.

Jan Reggie Dela Cruz and Jade Kathleen Yu Valenzuela City School of Mathematics and Science topped the 4th year high school team competition. Alberto Siton, Jr. and Sherlyn Calangian of Batasan Hills National High School placed second while Bert Joseph Prestoza and Paul Jeremiah Naraval of BHC Educational Institution settled for third.

The partnership of Richmond Louie Lim and Bryce Ainsley Sanchez of Grace Christian College ruled the Grade 6 team competition. Guillermo Andres Refina and Marcus Gene Ancheta of San Beda College-Rizal placed second while Lance Xavier Castro and Trisha Daphney Lim of Philippine Christian Gospel School finished third.