MTAP is a reminder that we once thought we’re good at what we do

Studying in the Philippines means plunging into the world of Mathematics Teachers Association of the Philippines (MTAP) at least once in your life.

Together with the Department of Education, MTAP organizes the longest-running math competition in the country with more than half a million students from both private and public schools participating in the nationwide yearly elimination rounds. In a classroom setting, think of it as a pool of extracurricular activities focused on the most dreaded subject in human existence (don’t you dare object).

But why is MTAP trending all of a sudden on Twitter? People got nostalgic with flashbacks of getting extra baon on weekends, getting officially excused to see friends (and crushes, don’t even deny it), and breaking free from the chains and rigors of schoolwork while earning extra credit. 

But MTAP also reminds us of times past when we thought we’re good at what we do. 

It’s also a memory prompt, like recalling how we acted as if we had those (math) problems all figured out. Or how we enjoyed the excitement and company of friends we got to know along the way. And yet at the regionals and even nationals, we’d discover the limits to our capacity. 

As of writing, many Twitter users are recounting their fondest memories about MTAP. Whether they peaked or have yet to move on from the heyday of their little wins and losses, here are some of their tweets and reactions:

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Art by Yel Sayo