00:00Today, we will be joined by two Filipino mountaineers,
00:04Geno Panganiban and Miguel Mapalad,
00:06who have been the first Filipinos to reach the top of Mt. Everest
00:12which is the highest mountain in the world.
00:15Yes, we have them with us today.
00:17They are also part of the mission of the Philippine 14 Peaks Expedition Team.
00:23That's why we will get to know them and hear their stories and plans.
00:28Good morning and welcome to Rise and Shine, Philippines!
00:32Good morning, Ms. Dayan, Ms. Meiji.
00:35So, the last Filipino to reach the summit of Mt. Everest was 18 years ago, right?
00:40Yes, in 2007.
00:41So, how many Filipinos have reached the summit of Mt. Everest?
00:47Eight.
00:48So, you are the ninth and tenth.
00:50Yes!
00:52And they will reach it in a few days' time.
00:56So, how are the preparations?
00:58It's okay.
01:00Miguel and I are confident that we have climbed to the high altitude.
01:05So, we're ready and excited for this.
01:08Okay.
01:09Alright, Miguel, tell us how you started to love climbing.
01:14How many years have you been doing this?
01:16I've been doing this for a long time, since 1999.
01:20I started in our church and I was invited to climb.
01:25It was hard at first, but I got used to it and I enjoyed it.
01:30So, Miguel has climbed a lot of mountains, but how about you, Gelo?
01:33I started college in 2016.
01:37I was just curious about what my friends were doing.
01:41Eventually, I fell in love with nature.
01:46Okay.
01:47It's a different feeling when you reach the summit of Mt. Everest.
01:52Achievement!
01:53This is Mt. Everest, right?
01:55Yes.
01:56And the climate, right?
01:57Yes.
01:58The different external factors.
02:00Correct.
02:01What are the expected challenges in climbing Mt. Everest?
02:05So, there are challenges like the act of nature, avalanches, snowstorms, extreme low temperatures.
02:20But our biggest challenge here is the altitude.
02:24It's going to be 8,800 meters.
02:27So, how many days and weeks will your expedition last?
02:33So, we're looking at 2 months.
02:35That's the safest way to do it.
02:38We can summit on the 3rd or 4th week of May.
02:43That's when the weather will be clearer.
02:48Well, your goal is to be part of the Philippine 14 Peaks Expedition Team.
02:53What is the importance of your contribution to this mission?
02:57Not only for yourselves, but also for the country.
03:01Of course, that's Filipino pride.
03:03So, our mission is to climb all 14 8,000-meter peaks.
03:11So, nothing has been done by Filipinos yet.
03:15And we hope to bring this pride and glory to the country.
03:19For the Guinness World Records.
03:21Yes.
03:22Now, I wonder, what are your tips for those who don't want to give up?
03:25Because there are a lot of people who want to try mountaineering.
03:30The number one tip for those who don't want to give up is not to make it easy.
03:34Ah, okay.
03:35Take it slow.
03:37Slow and consistent.
03:39Consistent.
03:40Graduation.
03:41Slowly, you will reach your goal.
03:43Yes.
03:44What's important is to reach your goal, not the speed.
03:47Yes.
03:48Yes.
03:49Discipline is also important in life, in personal life.
03:52Right?
03:53It's like you're reflecting.
03:54Yes.
03:55You're reflecting while you're climbing.
03:57It's like you're listening to yourself.
03:59Yes.
04:00But let's not talk about Everest.
04:01Yes, let's not talk about Everest.
04:02Let's talk about the Philippines first.
04:03Let's talk about the Philippines first.
04:04What are the recent peaks you've climbed?
04:08We came from Nepal.
04:10We often train because it's the best preparation for Mount Everest.
04:14The high altitudes.
04:15Because there are a lot of high mountains there.
04:17So Jeno came from three peaks in Nepal.
04:22It took him one month for his best preparation.
04:26Okay.
04:27What are your experiences?
04:28Did you learn anything?
04:30My experience there is, yes, I was exposed to the high altitudes.
04:35I was also exposed to snow and ice and rocky terrain.
04:40So that training really gave me confidence.
04:44I just got home less than a week ago.
04:48I just rested for a few days and then I left again.
04:52Continuously, right?
04:53Yes.
04:54So that's the moment.
04:55Yes.
04:56But you were able to rest.
04:57Yes.
04:58It's good to rest here before going to Everest.
04:59Yes.
05:00Quickly, can you go through the preparations that you do?
05:04Or while you're in training, do you need to go back?
05:08So that you're all geared up.
05:11Yes, there's a simulation.
05:13Yes, there's a simulation.
05:14Okay, so we start at around Kathmandu first.
05:19In the city, in the capital of Nepal.
05:22Then we'll fly and land at what they call the most dangerous airport in the world.
05:29That's Lukla.
05:30And then we'll start walking from 2,800 meters.
05:36It would take us an average of 8 days to reach Everest Base Camp.
05:41Then at Everest Base Camp, we'll start training.
05:46We'll adapt our bodies to the temperature and altitude.
05:53Then around one month, we'll be able to summit.
05:58With that, from Base Camp, we'll go up to Kumbu Icefall,
06:03the most dangerous part of the expedition.
06:07After that, Camp 1, Camp 2, Camp 3, Camp 4.
06:11Then we enter what they call the death zone.
06:15Okay.
06:16The inhabitable part of the expedition, the area of Mount Everest.
06:22Then we reach the summit.
06:23Then it's time for us to go back again to the base camp and come home.
06:28All right.
06:29It's exciting.
06:30I hope you'll come back after you reach Mount Everest.
06:33Come back to RISE in the Philippines.
06:35Yes, please.
06:36Yes, we'll come.
06:37You have a lot of documentation.
06:39You should have it so you can tell us the complete story.
06:42Surprisingly, our mobile phones can do it.
06:44Really?
06:45Yes.
06:46All right.
06:47Maybe you have social media accounts where you can follow your RSP
06:50so they can support and see your expedition.
06:54Go ahead.
06:55RSP, you may follow us on our official Facebook page,
07:01Philippine 14 Peaks Expedition Team.
07:04We'll post our updates there.
07:07You'll know there if we're going to do a summit push.
07:11Let's look forward to this journey.
07:14So during the two-month expedition, you'll be able to post?
07:17Yes.
07:18Yes, you'll be able to post.
07:20I'll follow you.
07:21Yes.
07:22Lastly, Miguel, maybe you have a short message for our Filipinos
07:26who were able to support this expedition.
07:29Aspiring mountaineers.
07:30To all those who support us, thank you so much for your continuous support.
07:37This is what will give us strength to climb the top of Mount Everest.
07:44We will pray for you this expedition.
07:47And see you after two months.
07:49Two months.
07:50Filipino pride.
07:52Thank you so much, Jeno Panganiban and Miguel Mapalan for giving us your time.
07:57And of course, sharing your stories and plans as mountaineers.
08:02All the best and good luck.
08:03Thank you so much.
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