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First man on Everest summit congratulates Romi, Leo, Erwin


Edmund Hillary, the first man to summit Mt. Everest in May 1953, congratulated on Friday the three Filipino mountaineers who made a similar feat this week. In the Philippines, the family and friends of Filipino mountaineer Romeo “Romi" Garduce rejoiced upon learning that the climber reached the summit. "My warmest congratulations to Leo (Oracion), Erwin (Emata), and Romi (Garduce)…very good luck to all of you," Hillary said in a recorded message aired over GMA's “24 Oras". The news program flashed photos of Hillary and his wife while being interviewed in their home in Auckland, New Zealand. In the afternoon of May 17, Leo Oracion became the first Filipino to make it to the top of the 29,035-foot mountain. In the morning of May 18, Erwin "Pastor" Emata, Oracion's teammate in the First Philippine Mt. Everest Expedition, duplicated the feat. On May 19, Garduce reached the top of the world at 11:20 a.m. (Nepal time, 1:20 p.m. in Manila). Garduce’s feat came 10 days before the 53rd anniversary of the historic May 29, 1953, success of Hillary and his Nepalese sherpa Tenzing Norgay. Garduce, Oracion and Emata followed the route called the South Col, the same route from Nepal which Hillary and Tenzing took. The three climbers passed through the Hillary Step, named after the New Zealand mountaineer, which at 28,750 feet is the last section before the final assault on Everest's peak. GO HOME SAFE Garduce on Friday talked to his mother who asked the climber to come home safely. Garduce's mother Flaviana talked to her son live via satellite phone over GMA's “24 Oras." Garduce, the youngest of 10 children, laughed when he heard the voice of his mother. “They were able to find you," Garduce told his mother who lives in Barangay (village) Tenejero in Balanga, Bataan, about 120 kilometers south of Manila. Flaviana, a retired Math and Science teacher, told Garduce to be more careful in his descent, which many say is perilous. "I hope I did something good for everyone there," Garduce told his mother. Garduce's family held an instant pizza-and-ice cream party after the climber reached the summit. Neighbors sent puto (rice cakes) and pansit (noodles) to the Garduces. NOT A RACE Garduce's colleagues at the UP Mountaineers immediately celebrated their friend's accomplishment on Friday. Former UPM president Kiko Santos, 40, said his group is proud that Garduce and the other climbers have fulfilled their dreams, proving that others could follow their steps. "They showed that the mountaineer's ultimate goal is to reach the peak and descend. Nobody is in a race. We salute everyone who makes it," Santos said. UPM member Neville Manaois, 26, said Garduce maintained his plan to move at his own pace based on the condition of his mind and body and good weather. UPM members raised their beer bottles to salute Garduce and the climbers. Garduce's co-workers at Procter & Gamble Co. in Makati City also expressed pride in Garduce's accomplishment. Co-worker Ferdie Pablo said he expected Garduce to move on to other adventures, such as crossing the Amazon River or reaching the South Pole. Garduce, 37, is a systems manager of the financial reporting unit of the multinational company. Gregg Clark, the company’s vice-president for operations in Asia, said the company supported Garduce's mission. "We were able to fill in while he was away so that he could accomplish his goal," Clark said. Oracion and Emata safely returned on Friday to the Base Camp, the 17,500-foot-high village where climbers rest and recuperate after grueling treks to Mt. Everest. Garduce expects to be back at the Base Camp on Sunday (May 21). - GMANews.TV

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