Palace mulls belated citation for Abenojar

Malacañang is studying the possibility of giving Filipino adventure sportsman Dale Abenojar a belated presidential citation for having scaled Mt. Everest, the world’s highest mountain, in May.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said he is awaiting the formal report of Director Jeremy Barns, presidential assistant for historical affairs and deputy head of the Chancellery of Philippine Orders and State Decorations, on whether Abenojar, 43, merits a citation from President Arroyo. The honors body is headed by presidential protocol chief Marciano Paynor Jr.

Barns, who is also curator of the Malacañang Museum, sent representatives from his office to view the film "A Child in Everest," the film documenting Abenojar’s bitter and lonely climb up Mt. Everest, at the SM Megamall Friday night.

The film drew tears and applause from an audience of over 500 people, including members of the media, government and Abenojar’s friends, family and supporters.

"We are still going to study the suggestions (to award Abenojar)," Ermita said in a telephone interview. "The government is generous when it comes to recognizing achievements of Filipinos that bring honor and pride to our country."

Ryan Faustino, who viewed the documentary on behalf of Barns along with Dianne Ellavera, said he will submit his report today. He said the honors body is expected to act on calls for the government to recognize Abenojar’s feat in a few weeks.

Abenojar claims to have reached the Everest summit on the morning of May 15, a good two days ahead of Heracleo "Leo" Oracion of the ABS-CBN-backed First Philippine Mount Everest Expedition (FPMEE), who reached Everest peak on May 17.

Other climbers who reached summit on May 18 and 19, respectively, were the FPMEE’s Erwin "Pastor" Emata and solo climber Romeo Garduce, who was backed by GMA-7.

The climbers were bestowed last month the title "Champions for Life" by the President, along with athletes of the Philippine Team who won gold medals in the last Southeast Asian Games and gave the Philippines its first ever SEA Games championship, Ms. International Precious Lara Quigaman and boxing idol Manny Pacquiao.

Abenojar admitted he was deeply hurt when he was not included in the citation list and that some of the Filipinos who also scaled Mt. Everest last May doubted his claim.

He said the success of the special screening of his trek up the world’s highest mountain pleased him almost as much as the moment he had reached the Everest summit. Abenojar said the documentary was made and aired so he could share his success with the Filipino people.

The documentary was edited by Orly Lavarde and directed by television commercial director Gus Cruz. Its executive producer is Abenojar’s publicist and friend Robin Mendoza.

The documentary melded the video footage and still photographs taken by Abenojar and his guides, Tshiring Jangbu Sherpa and Pasang Dorchi Sherpa, as they climbed the perilous north face of Mt. Everest with television newsreel footage covering Abenojar’s race to the top of the world with other Filipino mountaineers.

"A Child in Everest" also showed revealing interviews with Abenojar’s wife Lisa and Ramkrishna Tripathi, the Nepalese camp manager of the Monterosa International Treks and Expedition group Abenojar joined, as well as Canadian-Australian Vince Walters, who was with Abenojar in the Monterosa group.

Abenojar lost his left big toe and his guide, Pasang Sherpa, lost all his toes to gangrene caused by frostbite in making the climb.

He also confirmed a blurb at the end of the documentary that declared Abenojar’s desire to again climb to the Everest summit, this time "without the aid of supplementary oxygen."