ORIENTAL MINDORO — A 9-year-old and a Grade 4 student from Mindoro has brought pride to the Philippines after being named Absolute Winner in a prestigious international science competition held in the United States of America.
Warren Wade Casuga, a student of Holy Infant Academy, topped the Natural Science category of the VII Copernicus Olympiad Global Round, which was held at Rice University in Houston from January 21 to 25, 2026.
Casuga was not only awarded a Gold Medal but was also proclaimed the Absolute Winner or 1st Place Overall in his category, outperforming young science talents from 16 countries, including the United States, Brazil, Vietnam, China, Taiwan, Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Mexico, Mongolia, Peru, Romania, and Turkey.
It was the first time the Philippines won 1st place in this olympiad.
Aside from medals and certificates, Casuga also received the competition’s grand prize — a brand-new iPad.
Philippine Delegation
The Philippine delegation likewise posted strong results in the Physics and Astronomy category.
Benedict Irvin Drex Rizon, a student of Philippine Science High School – Central Visayas Campus, earned the Silver Medal and was named 2nd Place Winner in Category 1 – Physics & Astronomy.
Another Philippine Science High School delegate, Khiane Lanz Dalut, secured the Bronze Medal in the same category.
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Impact
Casuga’s achievement has already been officially recognized by the Department of Education – Calapan City, the Provincial Government of Oriental Mindoro, the Governor, the Vice Governor, and the City Government of Calapan. The accomplishment has also been widely shared by local government units and public pages across the province.
Education officials said the strong performance of the Philippine delegation highlights Filipino students’ ability to compete and excel on the global stage when given the right support and opportunities.
The victories are expected to inspire young learners nationwide and further draw attention to the growing achievements of Filipino students in international academic competitions.
About Copernicus Olympiad
The Copernicus Olympiad is a highly competitive international academic competition participated in by students from countries around the world, progressing through multiple qualifying rounds before reaching the global finals.
The competition emphasizes scientific reasoning, analytical thinking, and problem-solving skills, challenging participants to apply scientific concepts to complex and unfamiliar situations rather than rely on memorization.
With its rigorous standards and broad international representation, the Copernicus Olympiad is widely regarded as one of the most demanding academic competitions, recognizing only the highest levels of student excellence.