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Friday, May 19, 2006
Another Pinoy conquers Everest
MANILA -- A second Filipino reached Thursday morning the summit of Mt. Everest, the highest peak in the world straddling the border between Nepal and China.
Erwin "Pastor" Emata, a native of Davao, stepped on the peak at 5:34 a.m. Nepal time (7:34 a.m. in the Philippines), making him the second Filipino after Heracleo "Leo" Oracion to reach the top of the 8,848-meter mountain.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the Senate congratulated Oracion and Emata for their feat.
Oracion had conquered Mt. Everest last Wednesday afternoon. He planted the Philippine flag on the summit at 3:30 p.m. Nepal time (5:30 p.m. Wednesday local time).
Art Valdez, head of the First Philippine Mt. Everest Expedition Team, said Emata radioed to confirm to him that he had reached the mountain's peak. And Emata's first words to confirm that he was already atop Mt. Everest were: "Sobrang lamig dito (it's so cold here)."
Valdez said although Emata was just second to Oracion, he was the fastest climber among the 60 participants who scaled the mountain Thursday.
He said from their base in Camp 4, Emata climbed up the mountain in seven hours and 49 minutes, the fastest climb ever.
According to him, Emata left their base camp at 9:45 p.m. Wednesday.
He said Emita and Oracion would descend together and are expected to arrive at their base camp Friday at noon. He said they will prepare native Filipino foods for the two.
Valdez also said a third Filipino climber, Romy Garduce, was on his way to Mt. Everest Thursday afternoon and is expected to reach its top Friday.
Valdez hoped that with the success of Oracion, Emata and other Filipino mountaineers, it would serve as an inspiration to five other mountaineers who will go to Alaska to scale Mount Kinley there in preparation for the team's plan to climb again Mt. Everest in 2007.
Among those who will try to scale Mt. Everest next year are three Filipino women.
Oracion thanked the Filipino people who prayed for their safety while climbing Mt. Everest, including his family.
He said they wanted to prove to the world that Filipinos, who live in a tropical country, can also excel in mountain climbing.
President Arroyo lauded Oracion and Emata saying the two Filipinos' conquest of Mt. Everest is "a mark of Filipino excellence, perseverance and courage in braving the hard trek of nation-building."
"The entire nation also shares the joy and pride of the First Philippine Mt. Everest Expedition Team led by Oracion on their achievement. Even as we speak, we also heard news of the outstanding feat of Emata," she said.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the Everest team will likely be invited to Malacañang when they return to the Philippines because the President is proud of Filipino achievers.
"Since Mt. Everest, all 30,000 feet above sea level, is the highest mountain in the world, you can imagine how the world would be looking at Filipinos being able to plant the Philippine flag on top of Mt. Everest," he said.
The President said just like the Philippine Mt. Everest Team, the government is "ready to mount the peak in public service."
At the Senate, Senator Richard Gordon filed a resolution commending the First Philippine Mt. Everest Expedition Team for "its unparalleled courage and unwavering determination to be the first Filipinos to scale Mt. Everest."
"Through sheer perseverance and hard work, Oracion, with the full support of the Mt. Everest expedition, set the Philippine flag at the apex of the mountain, proving that with focus, hard work and fortitude, Filipinos can make a difference in the world," Senate Resolution 483 cited.
The senators congratulated Oracion and Emata for their extraordinary feat, saying the achievement was like winning an Olympic gold.
"The Everest conquest is akin to our country winning Olympic gold," said Senator Pilar Julia "Pia" Cayetano, a sports enthusiast and member of the Philippine National Duathlon Team.
"High-altitude climbing is a relatively unexplored adventure sport where Filipinos have proven that they could shine. Ascending Everest entails months, even years of planning, training and acclimatization, especially for Filipinos who are used to tropical weather," she added.
Senator Manuel "Manny" Villar, for his part, said not even the highest mountain in the world is unconquerable when a Filipino sets his mind to conquering it.
Dabawenyos, meanwhile are proud and jubilant over Emata's triumph.
House Majority Leader Prospero Nograles said he will file a resolution congratulating the entire Filipino team in Mt. Everest for their achievement.
"Emata's triumph is Dabawenyo's triumph. He surely made us all proud. This proves that Filipinos, especially Dabawenyos, can reach greater heights if only we unite and help each other. We congratulate not only Emata but the entire Filipino team at Mt. Everest. Without the whole team, reaching the peak of Mt.Everest would not have been possible," Nograles said
"I owe him a sumptuous meal," said Tagum City Mayor Rey "Chong" Uy. Emata is from Tagum City. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
(May 19, 2006 issue)
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