Abenojar gets ready for ‘unity climb’ of Everest

Dale Abenojar, the 43-year old adventurer whose claim to being the first Filipino to reach the peak of Mt. Everest was taken with disbelief by some local mountaineers, is preparing to go back to the world’s tallest mountain for an "honest to goodness unity climb’’ in May with the members of the 1st Philippine Mount Everest Expedition (FPMEE) team.

Abenojar, in an interview with The Star, said he wants to formally invite former Transportation and Communications Undersecretary Arturo "Art" Valdez, FPMEE team leader, to join him in a second trek to Mt. Everest summit, this time via the more perilous northern slope. He said he plans to do his second climb "without supplemental oxygen.’’

"I heard about their financial difficulties at the FPMEE. If they are open to some of my suggestions, maybe we can join hands in climbing to the top of Mount Everest in a not so expensive way," Abenojar said.

"I can draw from my experience last year. I know there is a way of doing it without spending so much funds,’’ he added.

Abenojar said he reached the summit of Everest through the north face on May 15, 2006, for which feat he received a certificate from the Tibet Mountaineering Association.

FPMEE’s Leo Oracion, widely held as the first Filipino on Mt. Everest peak, was recorded to have achieved the feat on May 17, 2006. A fellow FPMEE member, Erwin "Pastor" Emata, followed the next day. Another Filipino climber, Romeo Garduce, reached the summit on May 19.

FPMEE rebuffed Abenojar when he later claimed to have reached the Everest peal ahead of the three.

But Abenojar said he is now ready to cast aside his resentment for the FPMEE.

"Let us show to the whole world that while we raced each other last year to the top of Mount Everest, we Filipinos can set aside our differences and our egos and help one another in achieving a difficult goal," Abenojar said.

FPMEE plans to duplicate its feat in a "unity climb’’ through the mountain’s south and north slopes. To join the next climb are three female members who hope to be the first Southeast Asian females to reach the summit.

FPMEE’s Valdez reportedly quit the group due to difficulties in raising funds for the next expedition.