Pinoy conquest of Mt. Everest immortalized in stamps

The monumental conquest of Mt. Everest by three Filipino climbers has been immortalized through new stamps of the Philippine Postal Corp. (PhilPost) that depict various scenes during the successful expedition last May.

The stamps, which showcase a panoramic view of Mt. Everest and scenes during the trek of Filipino climbers on the way to the summit, are expected to circulate on snail mail envelopes starting today.

Postmaster General Hector Villanueva said they have decided to depict the "Conquest of Mt. Everest" in the latest stamps "in recognition of the outstanding feat that placed the Philippines in the elite list of conquerors of the highest mountain in the world."

"These stamps are a tribute to the triumph of Filipinos abroad and also an honor to our country. I’m sure they have historic value for collectors," PhilPost information officer Alvin Fidelson told The STAR.

The stamps feature the journey of three Filipino climbers — Leo Oracion, Erwin "Pastor" Emata and Romeo Garduce — to the top of the world’s highest peak during the First Philippine Mt. Everest Expedition that was spearheaded by the Department of Transportation and Communications.

Oracion was the first Filipino to reach the summit of Mt. Everest on May 17, 2006. He was followed by Emata, and then by Garduce.

A fourth climber, Dale Abenojar, claims to have reached the Everest summit a couple of days before Oracion, approaching from the more difficult face of the mountain.

The colorful stamps were designed by PhilPost’s in-house designers Jesus Alfredo de los Santos and Victorino Cerevo with the help of graphic artist Richard Allan Baron, and were printed on a Litho-offset machine.

The stamps, which come in P7 and P10 denominations, include pictures of the climbers planting the Philippine flag on the summit of Mt. Everest.

Villanueva led the launching of the new stamps, which are now displayed in the Philatelic Exhibit at the Central Post Office Building in Liwasang Bonifacio, Manila. He was joined by First Philippine Holdings Corp. chair Oscar Lopez, DOTC Undersecretary Art Valdez and PhilPost chair lawyer Franco Loyola.