ACM ICPC Philippines Southern Luzon Invitational Programming Contest 2018

For the sixth time in a row, I was a problem setter and judge for an ACM ICPC programming contest held in Ateneo de Naga University.  Last October 7, 2018, twelve teams participated and their performances are shown below.  I guess the low number of participants is due to the two-year absence of new undergraduate students (from 2016 to 2017) due to the addition of two years of senior high school in the Philippine educational system.

I contributed two problems:  Problem C: “Symbolic System” (based on the symbolic system described on page 102 of Wolfram’s “A New Kind of Science”) and Problem E: “Fibonacci Ones digit” (based on Rossi D’Souza’s “Where did/do mathematical concepts come from?” in For the Learning of Mathematics, vol. 36, no. 1, pp. 25-27).  Only two teams attempted problem C; only one team attempted problem E; all three failed to solve the problems.

21st Philippine Mathematical Olympiad (Region 5)

Ateneo de Naga University is the Regional Testing Center for Region V of the 21st Philippine Mathematical Olympiad.

The Philippine Mathematical Olympiad, a nationwide mathematics competition open to all junior and senior high school students of the Philippines, is carried out in three stages.

The qualifying stage (to be held on October 20, 2018, Saturday) consists of a written exam administered in fourteen regional testing sites. The exam consists of fifteen multiple-choice questions worth 2 points each, ten multiple-choice questions worth 3 points each, and five answers-only questions worth 6 points each.

The area stage (to be held on November 24, 2018, Saturday) consists of a written exam administered in testing sites for the four areas (Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, and National Capital Region). The exam consists of twenty answers-only questions and three open-ended questions that require full solutions.

The national stage (to be held on January 26, 2019, Saturday) consists of a written exam and an oral exam administered in Metro Manila. The written exam consists of four open-ended questions that require full solutions to be answered in 4.5 hours. The oral exam (which is open to the public) consists of 30 questions read to the participants and to be answered within a specified time for each item.

Each school may send up to thirty participants (students with a final grade of 88% (or its equivalent) in mathematics in the previous school year). The participants with the top fifty scores in the qualifying stage per area will qualify for the area stage. The participants with the top twenty scores (national ranking) in the area stage will qualify for the national stage. The national finalists will be qualified to join the Mathematical Olympiad Summer Camp (MOSC). The representatives of the country to the International Mathematical Olympiad will be selected from the participants of the MOSC.

2017 ACM-ICPC Philippines Southern Luzon

I was a problem setter and judge for the 2017 ACM-ICPC Philippines Southern Luzon Invitational Programming Contest held last October 1, 2017 at the Ateneo de Naga University. Seven teams from five schools joined, which is much less than the numbers in the previous years (15 teams from 9 schools in 2016, 13 from 6 in 2015, 31 from 13 in 2014, 32 from 15 in 2013). The contest problems and solutions are here. I provided two contest problems: “C” (Sharkovski Successor) and “D” (String Substitution). I was also a problem setter and judge in 2016, 2015, 2014, and 2013.

20th PMO: Area Stage Qualifiers (Region 5)

There were 210 participants who took the 20th Philippine Mathematical Olympiad Qualifying Stage for Region 5. Of these, eight made it to the Area Stage:

• Gabrielle Jackie C. Candano (University of Santo Tomas Legazpi)
• Dale Angelo A. Cortez (Ateneo de Naga University Senior High School)
• Jericho M. Fraginal (Ateneo de Naga University Senior High School)
• Jose C. Ibarrientos (University of Saint Anthony)
• John Angelo O. Oringo (Philippine Science High School Bicol Region Campus)
• Jude Ericsson B. Regorgo (University of Santo Tomas Legazpi)
• Errol John E. Suarez (University of Santo Tomas Legazpi)
• Hans Mackenzie D. Uy (Saint Joseph School)

The list of 50 area stage qualifiers for Luzon (excluding those from the National Capital Region) is here. There were 51 area stage qualifiers from NCR, 55 from Visayas, and 52 from Mindanao.

The Area Stage for Region 5 will be held on November 25, 2017 at room AL411A of the
newly-built Fr. Godofredo Alingal, S.J. Hall in the Bagumbayan campus of Ateneo de Naga University. Registration starts at 12:30 pm (in the same room). Reproduced below is an announcement from the PMO staff:

Reminders for the Coaches and Students (Re: 20th PMO Area Stage)

1. The PMO Area Stage is on November 25, 2017.
2. Confirm the testing venue with the PMO coordinator in your region before the exam date. You may find his/her name, address and contact number at the PMO website (http://pmo.ph). S/he is the same coordinator during the qualifying stage.
3. On November 25, 2017, arrive at the testing center early. Registration will begin at 12:30 pm and the exam will begin promptly at 2:00 pm and end at 5:00 pm. Late examinees will not be given additional time.
4. The student must bring his/her school ID for identification.
5. Each student must bring his/her own blue or black pen for the exam. (All final answers and solutions to the examination must be in blue or black ink.)
6. Students will be allowed to use rulers, protractors and compasses.
7. Calculators will NOT be allowed.
8. The examination will consist of two parts. The first part has 20 questions that require the final answers only and the second part has 3 open-ended questions that require complete solutions.
9. The names of the students who will qualify for the national stage will be released on or before December 20, 2017.
10. The top 3 scorers in each area will be given medals and subsidized fare to attend the National Finals and Awarding Program.

20th PMO: Instructions for Qualifying Stage (Region 5)

The 20th Philippine Mathematical Olympiad Qualifying Stage will be held on the afternoon of Saturday, October 28, 2017.  It is a written exam consisting of fifteen multiple-choice questions worth 2 points each, ten multiple-choice questions worth 3 points each, and five answers-only questions worth 6 points each.

The Regional Testing Center for Region V is Ateneo de Naga University. The qualifying stage will be held at the first two floors of the Pedro Arrupe, S.J. Hall of the ADNU Bagumbayan Campus (Ateneo Avenue, Bagumbayan Sur, Naga City); registration will be done in the same building.  The participants must be in their assigned examination rooms by 1:00 pm.  The exam starts at 2:00 pm and ends at 5:00 pm (even for those who arrived late).

Participants must be at the venue before 12:00 nn to register.  The registration fee of PhP 150 per participant must be paid before the exam starts. An official receipt will be given for each school (and not for each participant).  Applicants who submitted their application forms through e-mail must submit the original application forms to the registration staff during registration. Participants and coaches must bring identification cards that have ID pictures, preferably those issued by their schools.

Scratch papers will be provided during the exam.  The only materials that the participants are allowed to have on their desks immediately before the examination are:  blue or black ballpoint pen, pencil (required), eraser, ruler, compass, and protractor.  All other items such as notes, books, cellular phones, etc. are not allowed on the participants’ desks, but these may be placed in a designated area in the room.  Calculators are not allowed.

Participants are not allowed to leave the examination room during the exam. (Participants who need to use the bathroom must do so before the exam starts.) Participants who leave the room before the exam has ended are considered to have finished the exam; they must submit their questionnaires and answer sheets to the proctor before they leave and they are not allowed to return to continue the exam.

Certificates of appreciation for each student and each coach and certificates of appearance (only for those who explicitly request it) will be distributed to the coaches or school representatives.

20th Philippine Mathematical Olympiad

The Philippine Mathematical Olympiad, a nationwide mathematics competition open to all junior and senior high school students of the Philippines, is carried out in three stages.

The qualifying stage (to be held on October 28, 2017, Saturday) consists of a written exam administered in fifteen (I think) regional testing sites. The exam consists of fifteen multiple-choice questions worth 2 points each, ten multiple-choice questions worth 3 points each, and five answers-only questions worth 6 points each.

The area stage (to be held on November 25, 2017, Saturday) consists of a written exam administered in testing sites for the four areas (Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, and National Capital Region). The exam consists of twenty answers-only questions and three open-ended questions that require full solutions.

The national stage (to be held on January 20, 2018, Saturday) consists of a written exam and an oral exam administered in Metro Manila. The written exam consists of four open-ended questions that require full solutions to be answered in 4.5 hours. The oral exam (which is open to the public) consists of 30 questions read to the participants and to be answered within a specified time for each item.

Each school may send up to thirty participants (students with a final grade of 88% (or its equivalent) in mathematics in the previous school year). The participants with the top fifty scores in the qualifying stage per area will qualify for the area stage. The participants with the top twenty scores (national ranking) in the area stage will qualify for the national stage. The national finalists will be qualified to join the Mathematical Olympiad Summer Camp (MOSC). The representatives of the country to the International Mathematical Olympiad will be selected from the participants of the MOSC.

I am the regional coordinator for Region V (Bicol Region). Schools in Region V that are interested in participating should complete the official application form and submit it to me on or before 12:00 noon of October 6, 2017 (Friday). My contact information can be found in the official brochure.

19th PMO: Area Stage Qualifiers (Region 5)

There were 291 participants who took the 19th Philippine Mathematical Olympiad Qualifying Stage for Region 5. Of these, 11 made it to the Area Stage:

• Candano, Gabrielle Jackie (Aquinas University of Legazpi Science High School)
• Capin, June Lorenz (University of Nueva Caceres)
• Fraginal, Jericho (University of Saint Anthony)
• Gamba, Levi Jhon (Philippine Science High School-Bicol Region Campus)
• Mendez, Eric Fabian Jr (Philippine Science High School-Bicol Region Campus)
• Nataño, John Harold (Vinzons Pilot High School)
• Oringo, John Angelo (Philippine Science High School-Bicol Region Campus)
• Suarez, Errol John (Aquinas University of Legazpi Senior High School)
• Uy, Hans Mackenzie (Saint Joseph School)
• Uy, Jillian Hannah (Saint Joseph School)
• Villegas, Dominic (Saint Joseph School)

The list of 55 area stage qualifiers for Luzon (excluding those from the National Capital Region) is here. There were 50 area stage qualifiers from NCR, 52 from Visayas, and 55 from Mindanao.

The Area Stage for Region 5 will be held on November 19, 2016 at the Ateneo de Naga University (Bagumbayan campus). The exam room is D414 on the fourth floor of the Francis C. Dolan, S.J. Hall; registration will be done on the first floor of the same building. Reproduced below is an announcement from the PMO staff:

Reminders for the Coaches and Students (Re: 19th PMO Area Stage)

1. The PMO Area Stage is on November 19, 2016.
2. Confirm the testing venue with the PMO coordinator in your region before the exam date. You may find his/her name, address and contact number at the PMO website (http://pmo.ph). S/he is the same coordinator during the qualifying stage.
3. On November 19, 2016, arrive at the testing center early. Registration will begin at 1:00 noon and the exam will begin promptly at 2:00 pm and end at 5:00 pm. Late examinees will not be given additional time.
4. The student must bring his/her school ID for identification.
5. Each student must bring his/her own blue or black pen for the exam. (All final answers and solutions to the examination must be in blue or black ink.)
6. Students will be allowed to use rulers, protractors and compasses.
7. Calculators will not be allowed.
8. The examination will consist of two parts. The first part has 20 answers-only questions and the second part has 3 open-ended questions.
9. The names of the students who will qualify for the national stage will be released on or before December 20, 2016.
10. The top 3 scorers in each area will be given medals and subsidized fare to attend the National Finals and Awarding Program.

19th PMO: Instructions for Qualifying Stage (Region 5)

The 19th Philippine Mathematical Olympiad Qualifying Stage for Region V will be held this October 22, 2016, Saturday, at the Ateneo de Naga University, Naga City, Camarines Sur.  The exam rooms are at the second and third floors of the Francis C. Dolan, S.J. Hall; registration will be done in the same building.

If you sent your application forms through e-mail, please bring the original application forms with you and submit them to the registration staff on October 22, 2016, if possible.

Participants and coaches must bring identification cards that have ID pictures, preferably those issued by their schools.

Registration starts at 10:00 am.  Participants should be in their assigned rooms by 1:45 pm.  The exam will start at 2:00 pm and is expected to last 2 hours.  Participants who arrive late must take the exam in a room reserved for late-comers (and not their assigned room) so as not to disturb the other participants who started on time.  The exam ends at 4:00 pm, even for those who arrived late.

Once the exam has started, participants may not leave the room until it has ended.  Participants who need to use the bathroom must do so before the exam starts.

Participants who leave the room before the exam has ended are considered to have finished the exam; they must submit their questionnaires and answer sheets to the proctor before they leave and they are not allowed to return to continue the exam.

The only materials that the students are allowed to have on their desks immediately before the examination are:  blue or black ballpoint pen, pencil, eraser, ruler, compass, and protractor.  All other items such as notes, books, cellular phones, etc. are not allowed on your desks, but these may be placed in a designated area in the room.  Calculators are not allowed.

2016 ACM-ICPC Philippines Southern Luzon

I was a problem setter and judge for the 2016 ACM-ICPC Philippines Southern Luzon Invitational Contest held last October 1, 2016 at the Ateneo de Naga University.

The winning team was from the University of the Philippines, Los Baños. It solved 7 of the 12 problems. (The teams were given 5 hours.) The results are shown below. (The image has been slightly edited.)

If I’m not mistaken, the warm-up problems were the same as last year’s.  The contest problems are here. I provided two contest problems: “C” (Billiard Paths 1) and “H” (Billiard Paths 2).  (My slides explaining my solutions are here and here.) As you can see from the scoreboard below, two teams attempted problem “C” (and both succeeded), and no team attempted problem “H.”

I was also a problem setter and judge in 2015, 2014, and 2013.

19th Philippine Mathematical Olympiad

The Philippine Mathematical Olympiad, a nationwide mathematics competition open to all junior and senior high school students of the Philippines, is carried out in three stages.

The qualifying stage (to be held on October 22, 2016, Saturday) consists of a written exam administered in fourteen (I think) regional testing sites. The exam consists of fifteen multiple-choice questions worth 2 points each, ten multiple-choice questions worth 3 points each, and five answers-only questions worth 6 points each.

The area stage (to be held on November 19, 2016, Saturday) consists of a written exam administered in testing sites for the four areas (Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, and National Capital Region). The exam consists of twenty answers-only questions and three open-ended questions that require full solutions.

The national stage (to be held on January 21, 2017, Saturday) consists of a written exam and an oral exam administered in Metro Manila. The written exam consists of four open-ended questions that require full solutions to be answered in 4.5 hours. The oral exam (which is open to the public) consists of 30 questions read to the participants and to be answered within a specified time for each item.

Each school may send up to twenty participants (students with a final grade of 88% (or its equivalent) in mathematics in the previous school year). The participants with the top fifty scores in the qualifying stage per area will qualify for the area stage. The participants with the top twenty scores (national ranking) in the area stage will qualify for the national stage. The national finalists will be qualified to join the International Mathematical Olympiad Summer Camp (IMOSC). The representatives of the country to the International Mathematical Olympiad will be selected from the participants of the IMOSC.

A copy of the Department of Education Advisory number 244, series of 2016 about the 19th PMO is here.

I am the regional coordinator for Region V (Bicol Region). Schools in Region V that are interested in participating should complete the official application form and submit it to me on or before 12:00 noon of September 23, 2016 (Friday). My contact information can be found in the official brochure.