Filtered By: Lifestyle
Lifestyle

With new book, Everest conqueror Romi Garduce reaches another summit


Garduce scaling Everest. Photo courtesy of the UP Mountaineers
 
In June 2012, veteran mountain climber Romi Garduce became the first Filipino—and only one, so far—to attain the prestigious “Seven Summits” record, which is climbing the highest peak on each continent: after conquering Tanzania's Mount Kilimanjaro in 2002, Argentina's Mount Aconcagua in 2005, Nepal's Mount Everest in 2006, Russia's Mount Elbrus 2007, the US' Denali Peak in 2008 and Australia's Mount Kosciuszko in 2008, he climbed Antarctica's Vinson Massif last year.

This month, the 44-year-old Garduce reached a new summit, publishing his first book, "Akyat! A Filipino's Journey to the Seven Summits."

The best and the worst

In an interview with GMA News Online during the launching of his book, Garduce said that of all his mountaineering expeditions, the most memorable one was reaching Mount Everest because of the amazing view.

Mount Everest, located on the crest of the Great Himalayas on the border between Nepal and Tibet, is the highest point on Earth. Few people have reached its snow-covered peak, 29,035 feet above sea level. Garduce is one of them.

“Doon mo lang makikita yung mga ganoong klaseng tanawin. It’s the view plus 'yung feeling mo of being there and seeing all of these things; something na tatatak sa utak mo for a long, long time,” Garduce said.

While Garduce counts his Everest climb as his most memorable, he considers his expedition to Denali National Park and Preserve in the United States as his worst, as they were caught in a storm during their trek.

“Inabutan kami ng bagyo…puwede kaming mag-freeze to death doon kung hindi kami nakaalis,” he recalled.

He said they were at the summit when the storm hit, making their return to the base of the mountain even more difficult.

“All the way down medyo mahirap kasi binabagyo kami,” he said.

South Pole

What’s next for Garduce after accomplishing his Seven Summits quest?

“Hindi pa siguro mangyayari, South Pole siguro is something we could do. I’ll probably climb 8,000-meter peaks, yung matataas na bundok, siguro ganoon yung mga mas immediate na plano,” he said.

A native of Balanga, Bataan, Garduce graduated with a degree in Math major in Computer Science from the University of Santo Tomas.

He first became involved in mountaineering when he joined the University of the Philippines Mountaineering Club in 1991.

“I started climbing local mountains sa Laguna, sa Quezon like 'yung Mount Nagcarlan, that was my first mountain,” he said. “Tapos Cristobal, Banahaw. Ayan yung mga local mountains na una kong naakyat. So doon nagsimula.”

As a mountaineer, he has so far visited these countries for travel or climbs: New Zealand, Australia, the US, Tanzania, Egypt, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Russia, Argentina, Greece, Canada, Tibet, Palau-Pacific Islands, Borneo, Alaska, Spain, West Papua, Chile, Antarctica, Germany and Macau.

Because of his mountaineering achievements and socio-community work, he was bestowed the Order of Lakandula and named one of The Outstanding Young Men awardees in 2006.

Not a 'gifted' mountaineer

On Everest's summit. UP Mountaineers
 
Garduce claims that he does not have a special talent for mountaineering.

“Siguro ang gift ko lang ay wala akong problema sa lamig,” he said. “Hindi ako nagfo-frostbite basta. That’s a positive thing.”

One of the major problems he faces when climbing is that his performance slows down, especially at high altitudes.

“At 18,000 feet, half na lang yung oxygen na makukuha mo. Kung hindi ka pa acclimated, mas less pa 'yung ma-aabsorb mo, so very key 'yung acclimitization process. For me, doon ako medyo hirap,” he said.

“Pag tumama ko ng 17, 18, or 19,000 feet, nagkakasakit agad ako. Ang gift ko na lang na extra is I get to recover on site,” he added.

Asked if he had any special diet to prepare for his mountaineering expeditions, Garduce said, “Generally wala. Ang tawag diyan ‘eat as much as you can’ lang,” he said.

His diet changes only when training for expeditions, when “you need to consume a lot more.”

“On site naiiba doon yung diet mo. Kung mas humihina ka kumain pero kailangan pilitin. Pag balik mo iba parin 'yung diet. Mas protein loaded, mas recovery mode ka so mas marami kang kinakain.

“So nagbabago depending on the period or kung baga kung nasaan ka doon sa stage nung activity mo,” he explained.

On his training for his mountaineering expeditions, Garduce said he does a mix of different physical activities.

“Halo-halo…I do the whole set of things like I run, I bike, I swim, ganyan,” he said.

“Minsan I do weighted walk—yung may backpack na mabigat—para ma-practice. Yung totoong training nangyayari 'yan on site so kailangan may extra days ka para ma-acclimatize kasi wala naman ditong altitude,” he added.

Hopes to inspire

Garduce at the launch of his book, 'Akyat! A Filipino's Journey to the Seven Summits.'Photo by Riz Pulumbarit
 
In his book “Akyat,” Garduce shares stories from his climbing expeditions.

He recalls how in 2008, children in Nepal were asking him for candies but he had none. “Instead of giving them candies, prayers na lang,” he said.

He also recounts his struggles to save money for his climbs. “Nagtitipid ako…I’m a working-class mountaineer so wala akong choice,” he said.

Aside from being a mountaineer, Garduce is also a scuba dive master, an environmentalist, a motivational speaker and an IT professional.

He is also a former wildlife and conservation documentary TV host for GMA Network’s “Born to be Wild” show.

Garduce said through Akyat, he hopes to inspire people to keep on doing their best despite the obstacles and challenges they face.

“Lahat tayo may mga problema sa buhay,” he said.

Garduce said he hopes that when people will read about the struggles he went through, they will realize that these are just a part of life, a part of the journey to success.

A struggle “makes us stronger. It makes us tougher,” he said. “Kailangan mo lang bumangon.” — BM, GMA News
LOADING CONTENT