Everest conquerors bring gifts for GMA

Filipino mountaineers Heracleo Oracion, Erwin Emata and Romeo Garduce presented to President Arroyo some souvenirs from their climb to the summit of Mt. Everest yesterday during a courtesy call at Malacañang during which the three called on Filipinos to persevere in doing something "extraordinary" to make the country proud.

Oracion, who was the first to reach the summit, said he was not expecting such a huge welcome.

"We are glad that we are able to deliver the message that the Filipino can do it," Oracion said.

Sporting deep tans from atop the world’s highest peak, the three presented to Mrs. Arroyo a Philippines flag planted on the summit and an ice ax used by Oracion in making his leading ascent.

Earlier in the day, the mountaineers enjoyed a heroes’ welcome in Manila, with Oracion, Emata and other members of the First Philippine Mt. Everest Expedition (FPMEE) riding atop a Mt. Everest float to meet Mayor Lito Atienza and his son Arnold, who heads the Manila Sports Council, at City Hall.

They were accompanied by other FPMEE members including Ari Ben Sebastian, Dr. Ted Esguerra, Jong Narciso, JB Añonuevo and Fred Jamili.

Emata encouraged other people to join hands, fully believing in the talents and capabilities of the Filipino. "Magaling ang Pinoy dahil ang imposible ay nagagawang posible."

Oracion said he wasn’t happy about reports of a TV network battle to cover their separate climbs. He said it was good the two television networks finally came together when the three made their conquest.

"In everything, we have to show unity among the people and not conflicts. Let us just support any Filipino who is doing (something) extraordinary. All of us are just the same in terms of goals," Oracion said.

"Just for once, there was no politics. Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao — let us unite and help each other. The Filipinos can unite," he said.

Oracion is a Cebuano, Emata is a Davaoeño while the former transportation official is from Bohol.

The President also said the three were an inspiration to the people for their "courage" and "fighting spirit."

"We are constantly faced with mountainous obstacles but your achievement inspires us to believe that our nation can overcome our strongest and most ferocious winds of adversity to cross over and deliver the good life to our people," the President said.

"You share the honor of giving a great example of what teamwork can achieve."

The Palace kitchen staff presented a special cake to the mountaineering team — in the shape of the mountain peak, naturally — with the words Mt. Everest written in frosting.

Oracion and Emata were accompanied by their expedition head, former transportation undersecretary Art Valdez, who presented the flag and ice axe to the President.

Garduce next gave to the President the "prayer flag" his team had used before their ascent from the base camp. The flag contains Buddhist chants meant to guarantee protection, safety and a successful climb.

"I am giving this to you as a symbol and as an offer of prayer for a safe and stable country," Garduce said.

The President said the Mt. Everest souvenirs would "serve as remembrances of your heroic deeds for the country."

The three said they felt honored and overwhelmed by the warm welcome.

"This is a clear sign that the government recognizes what we’ve done and hopefully this will serve as an encouragement for people to do such activities, to go out there and do something good for the Filipinos," Garduce said.

Emata, for his part, said it was the first time that the three of them were together since their successful Everest bid and they were happy to see each other despite the reported competition among them.

"We are friends. We cannot really conduct a race there because we are not competing with each other but with the mountain," Emata said.

But Emata was less happy about the claims of Filipino adventure sportsman Dale Abenojar that he had been the first to scale Everest.

Abenojar’s claims, he said, are "damaging the Filipino people’s (euphoria). But if he insists on being the first one to do it, so be it. The important thing is that a Filipino made it. There should be no problem," Emata said.

Oracion was reportedly the first Filipino to reach the peak of Everest at an altitude of 29,035 feet last May 17. Emata made it the following day.

After giving the climbers the symbolic keys to the City of Manila, Atienza said the goodness of Filipinos was not limited to helping fellow Filipinos, noting that Dr. Esguerra had saved one of the Nepal mountaineers from death.

In return Valdez gave him a sword from Kathmandu, Nepal. He also thanked Manileños for their warm welcome. "Thank you, Manila, for accepting us as citizens even if we came from different cities."

The city government is also planning to organize a street party at 6 p.m. Friday at Plaza Rajah Sulayman on Roxas Boulevard and pay tribute to the Filipino heroes.

Fresh from their Everest trek, the FPMEE is now training for its unity climb next year wherein two teams will scale the highest peak again from both the north and south sides. — With reports from Jasmin Seletaria