Filipino students win 2 golds, 1 silver at international nuclear science competition

COTABATO, Philippines – Two Filipino secondary-level students won gold medals, and another secured a silver during the 1st International Nuclear Science Olympiad (INSO) at New Clark City in Pampanga from August 1 to 6.

One of the Filipino top prize winners, Mohammad Nur Casib, is an incoming 12th grader at the Philippine Science High School (PSHS) Central Mindanao in Balo-i town, Lanao del Norte.

Casib shone the brightest, emerging as the top scorer in two examinations out of 55 contenders from 14 countries.

He and Neil Kyle Olaer Maniquis of the Manila Science High School brought home gold medals, while another Filipino student from Bohol, Jeremiah Auza of PSHS Central Visayas, won a silver medal.

Casib, Maniquis, and Auza were among junior and senior high school students from different Asia-Pacific countries who competed in the first-ever INSO. The event was organized by the Philippine Nuclear Science Institute, in collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Philippine Nuclear Science Foundation Incorporated, Department of Education (DepEd), and National Research Council of the Philippines.

Casib and Singapore’s Tran Doan Duy Phuc scored the highest in the experimental and theoretical exams, but it was the Filipino who earned the title of “Nuclear Ambassador” for topping the overall tests.

Casib, a Maranao, is now celebrated as a source of pride for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

He comes from a family of scientists. The Mindanao-based Mindanews reported that Casib’s parents are both physicians – a surgeon and a gynecologist at the state-run Amai Pakpak Medical Center in Marawi – and the student has consistently excelled in science and technology competitions both locally and internationally.

Amir Mawalil, a member of the BARMM parliament, said the country should take pride in the achievement of the young Filipino students who won two gold medals and a silver during the competition.

Former Maguindanao governor and representative Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu joined those celebrating Casib’s win and posted on his Facebook page, “Ito ang dapat tularan at ipagmalaki para ma-emulate ng ibang kabataan natin. Dapat