A delegation of 20 exceptional Filipino students brought immense pride to the Philippines, capturing 136 awards and clinching the Overall Championship title at the 2026 International Cubes Challenge (ICC), held under the International Academic Pinnacle Summit (IAPS) 2026.
The prestigious event, organized by the IAPS, took place from July 3 to 7, 2026, at the Macau Cultural & Creative Integrated Services Centre. It also featured a global philanthropic initiative alongside the academic competitions.
A multi-dimensional display of academic excellence
The ICC is an innovative global platform designed to celebrate academic excellence across three core disciplines: mathematics, English, and science. Built on the principle that intellectual growth is multi-dimensional, the competition challenges students through two rigorous rounds: the Individual Arena and the Team Synergy Challenge.
The Philippine delegation delivered a dominant performance against competitors from 12 other nations and territories: Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, China, Taiwan, Singapore, Myanmar, Azerbaijan, Jordan, Vietnam, Hong Kong, and Macau.
Several Filipino students achieved the rare distinction of earning perfect scores:
▪️ Ezekiel Anton Ilagan Tan (Pangasinan Universal Institute) – Perfect Score in the Mathematics Cube (Team Round) and the English Cube (Individual Round)
▪️ Nathalie Vian Ang (Pangasinan Universal Institute) – Perfect Score in the Mathematics Cube (Team Round)
▪️ Renvin Michael F. Bernardo (BHC Educational Institution Inc.) – Perfect Score in the English Cube (Individual Round)
In addition to the ICC, the same group of 20 Filipino students competed in the Math Panda Olympiad International Final on July 5. Renvin Michael F. Bernardo again delivered a standout performance, earning another perfect score in the premier global mathematics competition.
The awarding ceremonies for both events were held at Hotel Royal Macau, where the delegates were formally recognized for their outstanding achievements.
Championing compassion and community stewardship
Beyond academic excellence, the 2026 IAPS served as a platform for promoting global compassion. Silvia So, representing the IAPS Committee and the international delegates, announced a charitable donation of US$651 to Hanuman Charity. The amount symbolized US$1 for each of the 651 young scholars from around the world who participated in this year’s competitions.
“Our donation carries a heartfelt mission: to send a powerful, uplifting message to all participants that academic excellence should always walk hand in hand with compassion and community stewardship,” the IAPS Committee stated.
Hanuman Charity was established in 2020 by Naveen Sadhwani (often known as Nick), a Hong Kong-born Indian humanitarian. After witnessing the struggles of homeless individuals in Sham Shui Po during the pandemic, Nick transformed his small apartment into a supply hub, providing warm meals and daily necessities to vulnerable communities. His commitment to offering long-term emotional guidance and career support has inspired volunteers from around the world to support his mission.
In recognition of his grassroots humanitarian work, the IAPS Committee presented Nick and his daughter with a bespoke commemorative plaque, along with the prestigious Global Cross-Cultural Humanitarianism & Community Inclusion Exemplar Award.
The IAPS Committee and its global partners invite educators, parents, and community leaders worldwide to share this story of academic achievement and humanitarian service, passing on a lasting lesson that academic excellence and compassion can go hand in hand to inspire the next generation of global youth.
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