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If the sensibilities of street kids collecting recyclable trash who had salvaged flags left scattered after the Philippine Independence Day celebration, reasoning out on national television "pinulot ko po kasi po sagisag po natin yan", and the other one saying, "itatago ko po kasi dapat po igalang ang watawat," would not take you aback, then you must have already lived a catatonic, pathetic lifestyle. Which only means that if you are not willing to pay up to what you have not been giving as part of your social responsibility to this country, stop also brandishing that gut to demand for what the government has failed to serve you.
Third week, and as I had outlined on the first week of this month, I am about to give another fuss, on fellow mountaineers this time who, though had undoubtedly displayed courage, immutable passion, love of mountains, humility and determination to put the national emblem atop Mt. Everest, had also been a picture of disappointment, of sham, of the willingness to become pawns to a giant television network in its desperate race to outplay ratings.
I also take climbing a "karir" - the very reason why I used pinay_mangatkatay for a pet name. I am proud to be one and I will always be. All of those who tried climbing get hooked and couldn't quite cool off from a relationship that requires one to negotiate gurgling streams, amazing boulder gardens, raging river, roaring waterfalls, gorgeous cave systems, lush forests, and get rewarded by a sweeping view at the summit and the nearness of heaven.
When Pinoy climbers went up (or did they race?) on Everest, (though this was for the umpteenth time denied), came back questioned as to who really came first as if that was the only thing that's important to do on Everest, I was I think the most upset person that time. The achievement fell fast, deep into a crevasse, short of great expectations.
What's wrong with us climbers? Far as I know, there wasn't supposed to be a climbathon on Sagarmatha/Chomulungma. That could have killed our climbers and wounded our pride as a people. But what appeared to be was that in a freezing environment and into thin air, Pinoy mountaineers were pitted against each other in a racing fashion as if testing how far in projectile motion could their pees reach.
Mountain savvy taught us not only this one tangible, immutable and concrete love of the great outdoors, but also the golden principle "that climbing is not about reaching the summit all the time. It is knowing when to go down." And if indeed we Pinoys are one in putting our "first man" there, why were there two giant networks clawing and axing their way to Sagarmatha so desperately?
We climbers are supposed to teach others that there is so much about mountains that's worth the try - the challenge, the camaraderie, the sense of mission. Climbing provides for us most of what have been missing in civvy streets. But now, with the claims on who had legitimately summitted first, aren't we showing the world we have carried not backpacks there, but our division, literally on higher ground?
If indeed we were serious to place our "first man" on Sagarmatha, how many climbers do we need? No, neither Leo Oracion nor Pastor Emata nor Romi Garduce has the capacity to bring us together as one people.
These men are good, no doubt about that. I looked up at Oracion all the more when after his successful summit, he stated, that no matter how skilled we are, it would still be futile if the mountains won't accept us. On the other hand, I have high regards for Emata who gave way, acting like another Scottie Pippen to Oracion out to claim victory and glory. And Romi I have so much respect for the way he has been sticking to his guns, for submitting to his pace, for climbing in the name of charity.
But we created up there a spindrift of division and confusion as to the motive of putting one man, for the record. We settled for 1-2-3, not 1. We missed the point of putting One Man to stand for One Climbing, United Nation. What we have was the 1-2-3 that is the symbol for misers; for those who would want to outwit using dirty tactics; the figure used when one passenger would, in silence, refuse to pay his obligations to a driver who exerted effort in ferrying him to his destination; the 1-2-3 sequence for schools honors system that manifests competition.
What's wrong with us, climbers? Awright I understand, we have a dream - ultimate dream of conquering Sagarmatha - that we don't mind submitting ourselves to an extreme environment, to the harshest of elements, and break back and limbs just to get our way up there. But was it part of our training to be used by capitalists for some commercially driven coverage done in bad taste and sickening motive?
And hey, Emata in a presscon here recently, blurted out, "if in the presidential race, there is an Eddie Gil, Dale Abenojar is the Eddie Gil of mountaineers."
The statement follows that not only in the Senate or in our Congress or our Cabinet and our Church do we have a "pakloy". That only comes to show that even in the international alpining arena, Pinoys couldn't quite rest from being "pasaway". Tsk! Tsk! Tsk!
Interactions and shoutouts, give me a good assault at pinay_mangatkatay@yahoo.com or start an avalanche in my inbox at 0921-5323616.