ATENEO HAS proven to be a university comprised not only of excellent students but of equally competent faculty members as well. This was evident when Mathematics Associate Professor Jumela Sarmiento was elected as the president of the Mathematics Society of the Philippines (MSP) on July 12.
With the purpose of “promoting interest in and awareness of Mathematics and its applications,” MSP is the main professional organization for mathematicians in the Philippines.
Being one of the nine members of the National Board since 2002 and the Vice President of MSP since 2004, Sarmiento was nominated as president in 2008 but had to decline “because [she] wasn’t ready yet to head the MSP.”
Having known MSP since high school due to the numerous Math competitions it organized, Sarmiento has high regard for the organization and its members. However, she never expected heading it one day.
“It was not something I want or I dream of doing. I never thought of it. I just wanted to be a member. So, given this position, I’ll just try my best [to perform my duties],” she said.
Excellence, leadership, and responsibility
Sarmiento said that one of the reasons why she accepted the position was because it has been quite some time since someone from the Ateneo headed MSP.
University President Fr. Bienvenido Nebres, SJ was the founding president of the organization in 1973. The recent president who came from Ateneo was Jose Marasigan, Ph.D who occupied the position from1983 to 1989.
“For me, taking this position is somewhat a tribute to Fr. Nebres…and I think it’s good for Ateneo to hold key positions in these professional organizations,” said Sarmiento.
Cindy Burdette (BS LM ‘10), one of Sarmiento’s former students, said that Sarmiento getting the position confirms Ateneo’s exceptional choice of professors, “[It] shows that the Ateneo really does have the best line up of educators available in the country.”
Mark Loyola, another former student of Sarmiento who is currently taking a master’s degree in Mathematics, also said that Sarmiento’s presidency proves the university’s excellence in leadership, as well.
A previous student of Sarmiento and now working with her in the organization, Ateneo Mathematics Society (AMS) President Monique Salvo said that Sarmiento being elected as MSP president gives the community the responsibility of promoting mathematics.
Sarmiento is also the AMS moderator.
To the future
Sarmiento said that aside from continuing the projects of MSP such as the teacher-training programs for college and high school teachers, the Philippine Math Olympiad, and supporting the Philippine team to the International Mathematics Olympiad, she also wishes to bring in a lot of new things for MSP.
“I hope to organize conferences on advanced Mathematics for teachers with the help from our colleagues from [other countries], to increase the membership, and organize the database of members throughout the country,” she said.
She said that she would also like to strengthen the links of MSP with government agencies and to work with the industry for joint projects.
‘Not surprised at all’
Junior Francis Garrido recalled Sarmiento as a “perky and fun-to-be with” Calculus professor and said that as president of MSP, she can bring her enthusiasm and passion for Math into a greater level. “With her as president, teachers may also learn how to teach their students in as much as how she teaches hers,” he added.
Joseph Castro (BS LM ‘10) was “not surprised at all” upon hearing the news about his former professor. Castro said that Sarmiento’s “soft touch”, humility, and desire for her students to learn made her an effective teacher and, perhaps, president of MSP.
An interactive discipline
Sarmiento said that people should not view Mathematics as an exclusive area of education. “One should not regard Mathematics as a closed world.
In fact, Math can interact with other disciplines. The more you know Mathematics, the more options you have in the future,” she said.
