ACM ICPC Regional Manila 2005 - Summary

IMHO, overall, this year ACM ICPC Regional Manila 2005 (held in Ateneo de Manila University) wasn't as good as the previous years (held in University of Asia and the Pacific). This year, they gave bags and t-shirt as souvenirs. The t-shirt quality seems to be improved from the last year but the scheduling and the contest preparations seems worse than last year.

Practice Session. The waiting time between events were too long, the practice session were delayed and shortened (it became too short!) and was not pleasing since they didn't finish judging the runs in the queue when the practice session was over! Also the problem input name was renamed without notification! We kept getting wrong answer. Although it's a practice, it was still very dissapointing!

Contest Proper. Several inconveniences arise during the contest proper:

1. Java Compile Error, they promised that whatever compiled on our machine, will also be successfully compiled on the judge machine, but the fact says otherwise: many teams got penalties for compile error during the contest proper! and they didn't give clarification of why it happens. My team rewrites our Java solution (which get's compile error on Judge machine) to C/C++ solution because of that. The other teams also have the same experience. It's very disappointing.
2. Printing problems, some teams have to use flashdisk to print!
3. The standings, the big projector which displays the teams' rank and their solved problem was MIS-LEADING! The problem name was out of order! For example, problem D is actually problem C on the standings! I think they really need to learn how to configure the PC2! (the online judge system for ICPC).. or.. were they jumble the problem name intentionaly? Anyway, whichever it is, it's unfair.
4. Controversial Problem, there is this Problem C in the problem set, which is controversial! A lot of clarifications were asked for that particular problem, seizing a lot of team's time!
5. Permission to the restroom, We got a hard time to get to the restroom!
6. Seating arrangements, they wanted to make it similar to the world final seating arrangements where all teams compete in a single room. It's nice, but it makes the teams very uncomfortable since we didn't get enough space! They try to fit 98 teams in a not-so-big-theatre. We barely move and we barely put our paper on the table, we put some paper on the floor :o

The awards. Last year all of the team names were mentioned during the awards session (including the honorable mentions) and Top 10 teams were called to the podium. But this year, they only announced best 3 teams overall and best 3 local teams. It seems that they didn't give enough "appreciation" for all teams even for the top 10. It's ridiculous that team ranked 25 could receive award at the podium (because it's one of the best 3 local team) while the top 10 teams (overall) were not even mentioned!

The contest results (some name is truncated to fit), click here for the official result

Rank    Team's Name         University                          Country/Territory   # Solved
1       Fate                The University of Hong Kong         Hong Kong               8
2       eXtreme GNC-4 ...   University of Tokyo                 Japan                   8
3       The Linden BoyZ     Ateneo de Manila University         Philippines             7
4       SNU team2 Ra!       Seoul National University           South Korea             7
5       P.S.P               The University of Hong Kong         Hong Kong               6
6       SNU team3 Goon!     Seoul National University           South Korea             6
7       For Union           Yonsei University                   South Korea             5
8       TJU BliZZard        Tianjin University                  China                   5
9       Pinyin              Zhejing University                  China                   5
10      Vinix               Bina Nusantara University           Indonesia               5
11      K-CUBE              De La Salle University-Manila       Philippines             5
12      Arirang             Yonsei University                   South Korea             4
13      HCMUNS Victory      University of Natural Sciences      Vietnam                 4
14      Smart Bee           Bina Nusantara University           Indonesia               4
15      CS-Unpar            Parahyangan Catholic University     Indonesia               4
16      HKUST1              Hong Kong University                Hong Kong               4
17      Margonda            University of Indonesia             Indonesia               4
18      Avian               Tarumanagara University             Indonesia               3
19      HKUST3              Hong Kong University                Hong Kong               3
20      HKUST2              Hong Kong University                Hong Kong               3
21      Unlimited           Soongsil University                 South Korea             3
22      TeamALK             The University of Hong Kong         Hong Kong               2
23      CUHK_CSE            The Chinese University of Hong Kong Hong Kong               2
24      Thinker Bee         Bina Nusantara University           Indonesia               2
25      Persistence         Ateneo de Manila University         Philippines             2
26      KANG                Soongsil University                 South Korea             2
27      UP Wet              University of the Philippines       Philippines             2
28      UP BisDak           University of the Philippines       Philippines             2
29      Mapua DOTA Boys     Mapua Institute of Technology       Philippines             2
30      Booroonggoo         University of the Philippines       Philippines             2
31      Nara                University of the Philippines       Philippines             2
32      Team Roger          University of the Philippines       Philippines             2
33      KLUGE               De La Salle University-Manila       Philippines             2
34      UP Team of ...      University of the Philippines       Philippines             2
35      Angels              Ateneo de Manila University         Philippines             1
36      Exepxions Team 1    University of Saint Louis Tugegarao Philippines             1
37      Sarutobi            University of the Philippines       Philippines             1
38      Exepxions Team 2    University of Saint Louis Tugegarao Philippines             1
39      Kennon              University of the Philippines       Philippines             1
40      ONE HUNDRED         University of the Philippines       Philippines             1
41      DLSU 1              De La Salle University-Manila       Philippines             1
42      Decided             University of the Philippines       Philippines             1
43      Identical Code ...  Ateneo de Manila University         Philippines             1
44      <G                Ateneo de Manila University         Philippines             1
45      Vitalis Perfacilis  Ateneo de Manila University         Philippines             1
46      Aburame             University of the Philippines       Philippines             1
47      Magisx              Ateneo de Davao University          Philippines             1
47      STIPque coolLITz    STI College Paranaque               Philippines             1
49      Geekettes           University of the Philippines       Philippines             1
50      Uchiha              University of the Philippines       Philippines             1
51      Tulo Laway          FEU - East Asia College             Philippines             1
52      Lark                University of Asia and the Pacific  Philippines             1

The funny thing was that during the awards session, the local teams seems a lot happier than the "champion" (team name: Fate).

For a complete day to day life click on the days below. Note that only Day 3 and Day 4 are related to the contest, the rest of the day are barely documented for the completeness of the trip.

1. Day 1, Take off to Kuala Lumpur (26 Oct 2005)
2. Day 2, Take off to Manila (27 Oct 2005)
3. Day 3, Registration & Practice Session (28 Oct 2005)
4. Day 4, Contest Proper (29 Oct 2005)
5. Day 5, Stay in Richmonde (30 Oct 2005)
6. Day 6, Take off to Kuala Lumpur (31 Oct 2005)
7. Day 7, Wandering Kuala Lumpur (1 Nov 2005)
8. Day 8, Fly back to Jakarta (2 Nov 2005)