MERGED: Pinoys' race to reach the Mt. Everest Summit

[estor_boot]

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has it become a Filipino trait that if its for fame and glory we dont care to risk our lives?

(MountEverest.net) Philippines are in focus this 2006 Everest season. The island archipelago of white sandy beaches and turquoise waters has two independent climbers and a national team currently approaching the mountain; in a quest to plant the Philippine flag on the summit of Everest for the first time.

The National Philippines Mount Everest Expedition was planned for 2007, but rapidly brought forward their plans when they heard a single climber, Romeo Garduce, was attempting the peak this year.

The official team decided to send their strongest members, Leo Oracion and Erwin Emata, to climb the peak ‘as a reconnaissance trip’ in order to guide the other national climbers there next year. Next, a ‘second batch’ of team members were reported leaving for Nepal in support of the two front-line climbers.

Dropping sponsors!

Funny enough, originally both the National team and Garduce were sponsored by The North Face. But the official team dropped TNF’s sponsorship (usually it is the opposite). “Presumably they were demanding exclusivity in the light of Romy Garduce's attempt this season,” Francis Lim, a Philippine mountaineer and member of the local mountaineering federation MFPI, told ExplorersWeb.

Things became even more interesting earlier this week, when a third party joined the game: Dale Abenojar, another individual climber reportedly nearing Everest BC.

The dark horse

“Abenojar is a mountaineer and a 4x4 enthusiast, member of the land rover club of the Philippines,” writes Francis. “He became famous in the Philippines for driving a 4x4, his 'deranged rover' as he called it, to the crater of mount Pinatubo, the sadly famous volcano which erupted in 1991 rendering thousands homeless. He doesn't have a website but google searches indicate that he sought for sponsors last year in Harry Kikstra’s 7-Summits forum board.”

“He was the first Philippine to publicly announce his intention to climb E in the 90's. He was also the first to bring up his plan to the government, but I guess they had more pressing matters to attend to, instead of a solo climber wanting to go for Everest and asking for government funding. Blogs from the MFPI (Philippines Mountaineering federation) e-groups say he turned up at EBC in '93 but didn't get as far as khumbu icefall and instead spent the whole time in Base Camp.”

It appears the general feeling is that Abenojar could be a showman, thriving on outrageous and high profile stunts:

"Besides from his Mt. Pinatubo 4x4 crater climb, he also 'climbed/rode' to the summit of Mt. Apo, the country's highest at 2954m., on a dirtbike. He had with him 7 porters to help him carry the bike thru the rocky sections," reports Francis. “Unlike the other Filipinos going for Everest, little has been known of Abenojar Alpine experience.”

Rumors are there can also be other unknown Filipinos out there suddenly turning up at EBC. It's clear already that Mount Everest will stir the tropical paradise of the Philippines this year.

http://www.mounteverest.net/news.php?id=1790

i saw Dale Abenojar's interview over TV Patrol last Sunday via phone patch. he said he is already in what they call "death zone". akoy gikuyawan ato kay mora na man to syag gatinga. he was even talking about his 2 million pesos debts for his attempt. he even said he do not have climbing gears! kakuyaw ning tawhana! obvioulsy, Dale Abenojar wants to outrun Garduce and became the first Filipino to reach the world's highest peak.

Romy Garduce was ahead among the four and was already in Camp 3 (24,000 ft.) as of yesterday.

[Freeza]

who ever reach the summit first will surely get heroes welcome here with all glory of T.V newspaper and camera flash lights.And a photo pictural circus oppurtunity with the politicians.

[clarkhkent]

mao ni akong gilibugan ani nila....at first nindot na jud kaau unta to ang plano nga sa 2007 pa mag sugod ug katkat pero kini si garduce man gud ga una-una murag naay "dagko" nga mananap nga nagpaluyo ani niya da....mao nang ang kato untang 1st philippine everest team nga nag plano nga mokatkat inig 2007 napugos na lang sad tawn ug katkat karong 2006! bitaw kita ko last sunday sa tv patrol abi nako ug kihi si abenojar kauban ni sa 1st philippine everest team...lain sad diay ni cya?murag naglakaw man cguro to cya pag interview ato niya kay murag ni shortcut ra man to cya.....maau unta kon mag abut ni sila didto sa babaw magkasinabut ug dli mag away....

mao man diay ni uso karon....aw plano sad unya ta ug katkat mga taga istorya....pero unahon sa ni nato ug bayad atong mga utang una ta mokatkat didto basin dili na ta kabalik....

[jnex]

Hi guyzzzz, long time no hear..karon ra ko ka bisita balik diri sa istorya....yeah i've also seen abenojar at tv patrol...luoy gyud kaayo sya paminawon...as in murag gatinga...sa tuno niya murag gusto na sya mobalik pababa...pero he was even thinking of his debt basig dili daw siya kabayad... ....hmmmm siguro modayon nalang sya but suicidal na.

[lestat1116]

ang maguna kay ang camera man..

[Freeza]

mmm as he goes higher and higher he can forget all about his dept problems as O2 is thin at 29,035ft ...... lucky for them they have oxygen bottles....

[LytSlpr]

if this is powered by media hype and political pressure, there is a very huge possibility that this expedition will fail not to mention cost some casualties.

in our country and basing on history, there is no such thing as success of this nature. all our athletes succeeded on their own with no hype or pressure from anybody.

[estor_boot]

the Philippine Everest Team had been training since last year and is bound to climb on May 2007.

i dont know about Romy Garduce and Dale Abenojar's training but these two are cry babies. they were whining for not been choosen as members of the Philippine Team. thats why they climbed on their own.

[estor_boot]

-sorry, double post-

[north_star]

i wish them all the best.