Strength in numbers

Many people regard mathematics as the waterloo in school.

Today, however, learners can enhance their mathematical skills through mental learning.

Ivy Sato, chief executive officer (CEO) of Aloha (Abacus Learning of Higher Education) Mental Arithmetic, was introduced to the program in 2016. She was in Bangladesh, where she initially came across the operations that boost children's arithmetic skills.

«They introduced me to Aloha and took me to a classroom where I witnessed exceptionally talented children,» Sato recalled. «I was truly impressed by their ability to answer questions. It made me wonder why there isn't a similar program like that in the Philippines. Why am I only discovering that now?

»In December 2017, I committed to the Aloha Mental Arithmetic master license and officially commenced operations in March 2018."

During a national academic competition in India in 2017, Sato witnessed firsthand how the events were conducted. She discovered that young Filipinos could unlock their full potentials and make a significant impact in the global arena with Aloha Mental Arithmetic.

Aloha Mental Arithmetic is a holistic brain development program based on the mental arithmetic system that exercises the mental development of young students.

It is a form of training that will enhance a child's ability to calculate without the aid of any instrument — no pen, no paper and definitely, no calculator.

The program is in over 5,500 centers in more than 45 countries.

«We organize healthy competitions in various levels, including regional, national and international contests,» Sato informed. «It was inspiring to see the participants' pride and confidence, especially when they discussed the selection for the international competition.

»Being able to represent our country in the international stage fills us with pride. Additionally, these competitions garner global recognition for the Philippines and instills a strong sense of patriotism among the participating children."

Filipino students recently joined the 2023 Aloha International Competition in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and won medals for the Philippines. Sato took great pride when she saw her students bring honor to the country.

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