In recognition of their outstanding performances in various international mathematics contests last year, the Department of Science and Technology – Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) honors eight (8) students from the Valenzuela City School of Mathematics and Science (ValMaSci) and Dalandanan National High School with the 2020 Youth Excellence in Science (YES) Award on October 16, 2020.

The yearly YES Award is given to students who won gold, silver and bronze medals in international competitions in the fields of mathematics and science. Headlining ValMaSci’s Golden Harvest in the 2020 YES Awardees is Vincent U. dela Cruz, the city’s lone representative to the Philippine team, which competed in the 61st International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) Online in September 2020.

He receives the YES Award for being a Silver Medallist of the 8^th International Mathematics Assessment for Schools (IMAS), Bronze Medallist in the International Mathematical Olympiad, and Honourable Mention in the Asia Pacific Mathematics Olympiad (APMO), to name a few.

Also bagging the prestigious YES Awards from ValMaSci are: Ralph Daniel Valdres (High Distinction – 2019 Australian Mathematics Competition), Gabriel Adrian E. Cruz and Eugene U. dela Cruz (Silver Medalists – 15^th International Mathematics Contest in Singapore), Marin Catherine de Leon (Silver Medalist – 2019 Asia International Mathematical Olympiad Open Contest and Bronze Awardee – 2019 World Mathematical Games Open in Taipei, Taiwan), and Mary June Aubrey C. San Jose  and Evitha Jovel E. Viola (Silver and Bronze Medalist, respectively - 2019 International Mathematics Wizard Challenge in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia).

Another Valenzuelano who made it to the list of YES Awardees is Julius Gabriel de Guzman from Dalandanan National High School. De Guzman copped a bronze medal in the 2019 Thailand International Mathematical Olympiad.

Each awardee will receive the much-coveted Secretary’s Medal from the DOST.

The honorees from ValMaSci and Dalandanan National High School join 785 other STEM achievers from the National Capital Region (NCR) to complete the roster of 1,631 YES Awardees for 2020.

DOST-SEI Director Dr. Josette Biyo commended this batch of YES Awardees for setting a new national record in the international arena. “In 2018, we had 1,454... This goes to show that our momentum as an academically-competitive nation, as well as our continuing quest for excellence in the field of science and mathematics is not slowing down. The trend is more than just an upsurge in numbers. What we are more interested is the quality we draw from our students, as well as the values we teach them during training, during the actual competitions, and after reaching the goal.”

Dr. Biyo likewise underscored the role of science during a pandemic saying that “Our goal is to create a culture of science in the Philippines — one where people use science to create decisions and benefit from it.”

Since its establishment in 2003, ValMaSci has been living up to its name as the City’s premiere public science and mathematics high school. It has been reaping accolades both here and abroad and has been producing topnotch graduates now excelling in the many areas of research and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Same as with the other public elementary and high school institutions in the City, Valenzuela has been a very active advocate and a supporter of quality education – investing on comprehensive and multi-faceted programs prioritizing the holistic development of the public education sector.

With the recent YES awarding, the City Government of Valenzuela has been seeing an increased interest in STEM as City Mayor REX Gatchalian hopes that this endeavour “will continually stir the interest of the Valenzuelano youth in math and science” with ValMaSci.

Moreover, Dr. Biyo affirmed DOST-SEI’s support for youth excellence in the areas of STEM saying “We hope that eventually, we can expand this brand of excellence across more young individuals who will serve as a foundation of this country in the future.”