PCG climbers cheer as Oracion ascends to summit

Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) officers and men were on high spirits Wednesday monitoring reports on the last leg of mountaineer Leo Oracion's assault on the summit of Mt. Everest. Oracion and another mountaineer, Erwin "Pastor" Emata, are PCG trainees. Emata is reportedly on his way to Camp 4, the last of four numbered camps on the way to the summit. Lieutenant (s.g.) Ted Esguerra, PCG Everest team medical doctor, told Coast Guard officials through a satellite phone call from the Everest Base Camp that Oracion is nearing the peak of Mt. Everest. Oracion is expected to summit by Wednesday afternoon, Esguerra said. Next year, the PCG will be sending another team to climb Mt. Everest. Filipino women will be part of the "Everest Unity Climb," including Carina Dayondon, Janet Belarmino and Noelle Wenceslao. "We feel very, very happy and proud na teammate naming siya at member ng Coast Guard sama sama kami sa tagumpay," Belarmino said. Vice Admiral Arthur Gosingan, PCG commandant, for his part said, "[We feel] proud. Hindi masasayang ang training ng Philippine Everest Team." Oracion reportedly started his climb towards the summit from Camp 4 around 8 p.m. (10 p.m. Manila time). He is now at the southeast ridge of Mt. Everest, which is only about 300 feet from the summit.-GMANews.TV