MANILA, Philippines – At just nine years old, Warren Wade Casuga made history by becoming the first Filipino to claim the highest honor in the Copernicus Olympiad, defeating top young minds from around the world.
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| Photo courtesy: Wally Casuga |
The Grade 4 student from Holy Infant Academy (HIA) in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro, was proclaimed Absolute Winner of the VII Copernicus Olympiad Global Round held at Rice University in Houston, Texas, from January 21 to 25, 2026.
Competing in the Natural Science category, he outperformed students from 16 countries: the United States, Brazil, Vietnam, China, Taiwan, Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Mexico, Mongolia, Peru, Romania, and Turkey.
The victory marked a historic milestone for the Philippines, as Casuga became the first Filipino ever to win the Olympiad’s overall top award.
Casuga admitted the moment felt surreal as the winners were called one by one.
“Noong una po, hindi talaga ako makapaniwala… kinakabahan po ako habang tinatawag ang mga winners,” he said in an interview, recalling how bronze and silver passed without his name.
The Copernicus Olympiad challenges students with problems that require deep scientific reasoning, analysis, and problem-solving rather than memorization.
“Ang mga problems po halo-halo, may science concepts, analysis, at computations,” he explained, adding that he finished early within the 75-minute limit to carefully review every answer.
Hours of preparation built the composure he displayed on competition day, as his routine included daily drills and exercises that tested both stamina and focus.
“Nag-review po ako araw-araw at sinanay ko po ang sarili ko sa mahihirap na questions,” he said.
Facing confident competitors from across the globe, he relied on techniques and strategies he practiced repeatedly at home.
Beyond medals and a brand-new iPad, Casuga sees the win as a triumph for the Philippines.
“Pinapakita po nito na kaya po nating mga Pilipino makipagsabayan sa international level sa science,” he said.
The Philippine delegation also posted strong results in the Physics & Astronomy category, with Benedict Irvin Drex Rizon of Philippine Science High School – Central Visayas Campus winning silver, and Khiane Lanz Dalut earning bronze.
Casuga credits his father for nurturing his curiosity from a young age, patiently explaining scientific concepts whenever questions arose.
Now preparing for competitions in London and New York, the soft-spoken champion hopes his story will inspire other Filipino children to embrace science fearlessly.
— The Summit Express“Subukan n’yo lang po nang subukan at huwag matakot matalo, dahil darating din po ang araw na mananalo kayo,” he said, carrying a message as powerful as his historic victory.
