Meet the filipino mt everest expedition members from all over the pinas. they represent the country. luzon, visayas and mindanao. mabuhay sila
ben tumbling
Formidable free spirits, Filipinos all, with one goal -- to uplift the
Pinoy spirit and empower them with an achievement the entire race can
share. The Filipino assault on Mt. Everest in 2007 has been but a dream
until the formation of this expert expedition team made up of the
country's most passionate mountain climbers and adventure athletes.
Together, they will ascend to the world's highest peak and shout from
the mountaintops that indeed, the Filipino can!
Arturo T. Valdez
expedition leader
His passion for mountain climbing gave birth to this First Philippine
Mt. Everest Expedition. A master outdoorsman from Bacolod, he had
wanted to assemble a team to assault the world's highest peak as far
back as the 70's. By recruiting the members of this expedition, he is
a step closer to making the Everest dream a reality for all Filipinos.
Ari Ben C. Sebastian
A corporate lawyer on weekdays, he's also a mountain warrior and
extreme sports buff on the weekends. An accomplished scuba diver,
skydiver and alpine climber, this former president of the
Mountaineering Federation of the Philippines, Inc. (MFPI) was one of
the first Pinoys to reach the Himalayas in the 80's.
Fred B. Jamili
His love affair with Mother Nature and mountain climbing stretches for
nearly 30 years. This veteran has climbed most, if not all the known
mountains in the Philippines, and some abroad. One of the expedition
team's leaders, he is also an accomplished caver and adventure race
setter.
Regie Pablo
One of the expedition's prime movers and team leaders, he is the
current president of the MFPI on leave from his day job at Globe
Telecom. A skilled mountaineer, he has conquered Razdelnaya Peak in
Kyrgyzstan, Mts. Aylmenr and Cook in New Zealand among others.
Florentino 'Jong' Narciso
He is a physical education instructor in the International School. He
is also and accomplished mountaineer, climbing gym instructor and
adventure race setter.
Erwin Emata
Fondly called Pastor by the group, this Davaoeño's love for the
outdoors is matched by his boundless, enthusiastic energy. The team's
morale booster and resident comic, he is one of the best adventure
racers in the country, having won numerous races such as the Carera
Habagat, Survival Challenge in Guimaras, and Survival of the Fittest in
Escalante, Negros.
Leo Oracion
Also one of the country's most prominent adventure racers, this
Cebuano has also conquered international adventure races such as the
AXN Challenges in various parts of Asia and the 10 day expedition
racing in NZ.
Karina Davondon
One of the youngest and few women in the group, she is a formidable
sport climber from Cagayan de Oro City. Recently, she joined the
expedition to the peak of Mt. Muztagh Ata (7,546 meters or 24,758 feet)
in China-Pakistan. This is the highest peak ever reached by a Filipino
- or a Filipina!
Juan 'JB' Añonuevo
A freespirit who could not rein in his love for the outdoors, he quit
his job in government and became a fulltime mountain guide in his
native Mayon in Bicol. He is also a sought after race setter and
winning adventure racer.
Levi Nahayangan
A climber from Lagaw, Ifugao province, he turned his passion for
climbing into a thriving business, with Lagalag, a shop which supplies
outdoor apparel to other mountaineers. He is also an accomplished
mountain and rock climber and adventure racer.
Larry Honoridez
A mountaineer and adventure racer extraordinaire, he joined the
expedition in order to bring pride to his family and country.
Janet Belarmino
A member of the University of the Philippines Mountaineers, she is also
a fitness instructor for the Moro Lorenzo Fitness Gym in Ateneo. An
excellent sport climber, lawn tennis coach and champion triathlete, she
is also a consistent winner in the Philippine and HongKong legs of the
AXN adventure races.
Ariel Ambayec
A mountaineer from Mandaluyong, this father of two has also been a
participant of several adventure races.
Noelle Wenceslao
A prized member of the Dragonboat team, she (along with teammate Janet
Belarmino) was also a winning fixture in the AXN races here and in Hong
Kong. Noelle is also an expert biker and extreme adventure athlete and
mountaineer while attending class as a Physical Education student.
Dr. Ted Esguerra
The team's physician is also from the Philippine Coast Guard. An
accomplished mountaineer himself, he has conducted studies on the
effect on high altitudes on climbers with the United States Air Force,
making him an indispensable caretaker of the team's physical health
on Everest.
John Tronco
The team's official video and photo documentor, his mastery of
capturing nature's beauty on film is only matched by his passion for
climbing.
Choi Aquino
This mountaineer, caver, and in-demand adventure racer lends his
considerable strength and skill to help ensure the success of the Pinoy
Everest ascent.
rv
Fred is Negros mountaineers and a good friend of UPM. They are all
members of the Mountaineering Federation of the Phils. Inc. (MFPI)-the
umbrella org of Pinoy climbing clubs. There is also a Pinoy solo
climber, Romy Garduce who is UPM. He didn't join Art's team because he
couldn't commit to the 3-year prep program of the team. Romy will
attempt an assault in 2 weeks. Two from the team will also attempt to
assault this May so it's kinda a "race"-friendly that is. The Pinoy
team will attempt in 07, but as a team. Good luck and God speed to all
of them.