Filipino mountaineers Jeno Panganiban, Miguel Mapalad reach summit of Mount Everest
Two Filipino mountaineers Jeno Panganiban and Miguel Mapalad have reached the peak of Mount Everest.
The Philippine 14 Peaks Expedition Team announced that the two had conquered the world's highest peak, measuring 8,849m on May 18.
Their victory comes after another Pinoy mountaineer, Rhisael "Ric" Rabe, reached the summit on May 15.
"But this victory isn’t theirs alone," the Philippine 14 Peaks Expedition Team wrote on Facebook. "Joining them in this monumental feat are two other proud Filipinos Sir Ric Rabe and the late Sir PJ Santiago II, whose unwavering spirit lives on in this triumph. Sir PJ may not have reached the summit, but he gave everything for this dream with love, courage, and pride for the Philippines."
"This climb was never just for them, it was for all Filipinos. To show that we can dream big, rise higher, and endure together," it added, also thanking the Sherpa guides who helped Panganiban and Mapalad.
Their push for the summit began on May 14, Mapalad shared in a Facebook video.
"The long wait is over after almost two months here in the mountain, two rotations, climb preparations, glacier training, ice climbing, ladder, jumar, rappel, puja ceremonies, prayers, cold and sleepless nights, acclimatization," he said before their final hike to the peak.
Meanwhile, Rabe returned safely to Everest Base Camp after he reached the peak on May 17, as per GMA News.
The Himalayan Times reported on May 15 that Philipp "PJ" Santiago II died at Camp 4, dubbed the "Death Zone," while preparing for the summit push in the night.
The local Department of Tourism noted that Santiago's death is the first for a foreign climber in this year's climbing season.
According to The Himalayan Database, eight other Filipinos besides Rabe, Panganiban, and Mapalad have scaled the mountain.
The Philippine STAR reported that Leo Oracion was widely held as the first Filipino to reach the Mount Everest summit on May 17, 2006.
But Dale Abenojar stirred controversy after claiming he had reached the summit via the north face the previous day.
