Second Pinoy summits Everest, Mandaue to honor Oracion

Erwin Emata became the second Filipino to reach the summit of Mount Everest on Thursday, just a day after fellow triathlete Leo Oracion's historic climb.

A third climber was due to complete a hat-trick of ascents this week in a race to the top of the world's highest mountain that has engrossed the tropical Southeast Asian nation.

Emata, 32, radioed his base camp at about 5:30 am Nepal time to report that he had reached the top, said expedition leader Art Valdez in a live interview with ABS-CBN television in Manila.

The Filipinos' base camp broke out in celebration when Emata sent in his radio report, he said.

"We were not even finished with the excitement and jubilation over the success of Leo Oracion yesterday," said Valdez.

"It shows our faith in the Filipino. The Filipino is great. Erwin and Leo proved this by reaching the top of Mount Everest," he added.

A third Filipino climber, Romeo Garduce, is expected to reach the summit on Friday or Saturday, according to his main sponsors.

The Philippines had been celebrating Oracion's achievement as the first Filipino to climb Everest with newspapers giving frontpage coverage of their achievement.

"Pinoy on top of the world," the Philippine Daily Inquirer and the Manila Times both said in front page headlines Thursday.

Oracion and Emata had been part of a team sponsored by ABS-CBN, the country's largest broadcaster, seeking to put a Filipino on top of Mount Everest.

Garduce is backed by rival network GMA.

Meanwhile, the Mandaue City government will give honor and tender a hero's welcome to Oracion when he returns here.

Mayor Thadeo Ouano said that they will give a P25,000 incentive to Oracion and requested City Councilor Allan Borbajo to draft a resolution commending the extra-ordinary feat.

Ouano said that once Oracion will come home, they will parade around the city.

Oracion is a resident of Deca Homes in barangay Cubacub, this city.

Oracion, backed by ABS-CBN, became the first Filipino to reach the summit of Mount Everest.

Oracion reached the summit of the 8,848-meter mountain at 3:30 p.m. (5:30 p.m. in Manila yesterday).

He reached the top and planted the Philippine flag after negotiating the Hillary stretch of the mountain, the route taken more than 50 years earlier by Sir Edmund Hillary, the first Westerner to climb Everest.

"The Philippine Eagle has landed at the summit of Mt. Everest," said Arturo Valdez, leader of the First Philippine Mount Everest Expedition, quoting Oracion.

"We have shown the world that the Filipino can," he added.

Valdez said the 32-year-old Oracion left Camp 4 past 9 p.m. Tuesday (11 p.m. in Manila) and went to conquer the top of the mountain with Sherpa guide Pemba.

Camp 4 is the last stopover before the summit of the Earth's highest peak.

Valdez said Oracion would start descending the mountain Thursday.

Valdez, along with the rest of the team and ABS-CBN News correspondents Abner Mercado and Vince Rodriguez, are stationed at Everest Base Camp.

At Malacañang, President Arroyo hailed the efforts of the Filipino mountaineers in conquering the world's highest peak.

"I extend my heartfelt congratulations on behalf of the Filipino people to Leo Oracion on his spectacular achievement. He is the very picture of hard work, tenacity and courage. He has shown the world the stuff Filipinos are made of," President Arroyo said. - Mitchelle P. Calipayan