GREAT WORDS FROM THE HEROES

Why climb mountains?

From the words of the charismatic, humble and well-respected Mr. Valdez:

Para bang kung tatanungin mo rin si Cesar (ultra-long distance runner and President of CEJOGUA Sports Corporation, trademark owner of BOTAK), bakit n’ya tinakbo from Ilocos to Zamboanga, then from New York to San Francisco? Ganun yun.

There are two reasons why we climb.

As a mountaineer, you always look up at the highest peak and then wonder what is the view up there… yung mountaineer by heart ha. It is part of his innate character. Everytime he seeks a peak, there is always that wonder on him kumusta kaya akyatin yan? Nandun yun eh. That’s the real mountaineer.

1983 I already climbed the highest peak in Southeast Asia, Mt. Kinabalu in Malaysia.
From then on, I started to entertain Mt. Everest.

You cannot be a real mountaineer unless you entertain the thought of climbing Mt. Everest. After climbing the highest peak in the Philippines, then you climb the highest peak in South East Asia, then you climb the highest peak in the continent which is Mt. Everest. In spite of the great risk to your life, in spite of everything you aim for, that it will also showcase man’s indomitable spirit that you will always try to aim --- to reach the highest peak. That is personal.

The other one is collective.

We would like to lift up the spirit of our people. To show to the world that Filipinos can make things happen. There is so much loss of faith, so much cynicism and doubt on ourselves. We would like to showcase the best character of our people. This is what we describe the Mt. Everest Expedition --- a lesson on unity, teamwork, tenacity, determination and sacrifice. The members are coming from all over the country. We are a micro-cosm of the country and we did it. We show to the world KAYA NG PINOY! Yun ang collective reason behind it.

Maybe that is what a model for the country to emulate --- what we have done. But again, not so many are appreciating it. Hirap pa rin namin…. Akala mo madali na buhay namin. Hindi pa rin… The lives of these people while grabe na yung recognition… but we live a very simple life until now. Kaya kita mo dito pa rin kami (referring to the Base Camp). Ganun pa rin ang buhay namin, hindi nagbabago. So that’s the reason behind it.

On Conquering Everest

Leo:

Everest is considered as god ng mga Buddhists. Respeto na rin sa paniniwala nila. Hindi naman usapang relihiyon eh. Usapang paniniwala ‘yan. Nagpray ka rin sa sarili mong Panginoon.

You need to pray a lot and ask for a good weather and good passage to go to the summit. Kaya we really prayed a lot. If you believe talaga of something that you can do, galingan mo, for sure that you will get it at may kasama talagang prayer ‘yan eh.

And of course, you should respect the mountain itself. If you respect the mountain, the mountain will also respect you and allow you to her bossom. Ganun yun. Even before pa, the mountain is considered naman as holy. Sino ba yung mga ninuno natin, they really went up to the mountains and pray … for my personal reason why I climb mountains, because I go up in the mountains and pray.

Pastour:

Ang pag-akyat ko ng bundok parang WAY OF LIFE ko na kasi pinanganak ako sa  bundok ng Mt. Apo talaga. Bata pa lang ako mahilig na akong umakyat ng bundok. Ambisyon na talaga dati ang Everest. Sabi ko kaya naman siguro natin yan.

Is there Greater Challenge than the Everest?

Leo:

Sa buhay naman natin marami namang challenges eh. Yun nga, sa akin yung challenge ko is to climb Mt. Everest and 17 years of dreaming, it becomes a reality. But of course may mga other mountains naman na mas challenging than Mt. Everest. Hindi s’ya ganun kataas but much technically demanding mountains.

Other Plans…

Leo: After siguro ng 2007 and hopefully we can summit again, we have other plans. Me personally, I have plans to continue climbing… hanggang I’m still kicking and standing. Siguro at the age of 90, if I still feel really strong, I would still climb Mt. Everest.

Advantages of Pinoy Climbers

Leo:

We can easily adapt sa culture, food at of course we always mingle with other people. Just be given the time, training, equipment, talagang KAYA NG PINOY!

Even without the support of government… we really proved that we should not always look for our government and seek help. We can always do something which is good for our government. Siguro if we just reduce yang mga politics-politics natin, mga rally-rally natin, it could be a big help also sa mga Pilipino na gustong umasenso.