AN hour before his scheduled press conference, Filipino mountaineer Miguel Mapalad was already obliging fans’ requests for selfies and chats inside the posh venue.
What transpired the rest of the way was a perfect example of a story of perseverance, grit, and an indomitable Pinoy fighting spirit against all odds.
“So, ano bang nangyari sa climb ko? For me, that’s a dream that became a reality. Possible dream from an impossible dream. Nagsimula ako na akala ko talagang imposible na pangarap,” Mapalad said yesterday during a homecoming arranged by his backer, Delimondo, at the Delimondo Café in Makati.
“Ang sabi sa akin noong kasama ko, iyong mga sherpa na mga nakatira doon, bago ka pa lang sa ganito na altitude baka mahirapan ka pero may mga nakaakyat nga na mga Pilipino.
“So, nag-research ako, sinundan ko iyong training plan for Mt. Everest. Ang kailangan na kailangan doon is sanayin iyong katawan. Kasi sabi nga ng mga sherpa, hindi kayo sanay sa ganitong lamig, hindi kayo sanay sa ganitong mga yelo, sa ganitong mga bundok, sanay lang kayo sa gubat,” he added.
Mapalad climbed the summit of the world’s highest mountain—Mount Everest—last May 18, putting to rest all the doubts that he had, together with compatriot Jeno Panganiban, to reach the peak of the 29,031-feet, freezing mountain in the Himalayas.
Mapalad, 42, a San Juan City native, said his final ascent from Camp 4—known as the “Death Zone”—to the top of the earth proved to be worth all the 20 years he spent in fulfilling his lifelong dream that began when he was a mountain guide.
“Na-experience ko iyong death zone, masaya naman ako sa death zone. Na-survive ko iyon and then, the summit push. Inabot kami ng 12 hours going to summit kasi sobrang dami talaga nang umakyat noong time na iyon. For me, medyo dramatic ng kaunti iyong malapit na kami sa summit,” he said. “Parang iyong last 10 steps na ito na, ito na iyong matagal mong pinangarap, after 20 years.
“Ito na iyong last 10 steps ko. Talagang parang naging slow motion. Na-realize ko, grabe, matatapos ko na siya. Ito na siya. Parang hindi naman ako makaluha, kasi baka mag-ice iyong hula ko.”
Delimondo founder Katrina Ponce-Enrile said it best.
“I’ve been wanting to say this for a while. I wanna congratulate you for such a momentous achievement. You have truly inspired many of us here,” Ponce-Enrile said. “May your story ignite the flames of others to begin that first step and conquer their personal Everest.
“Thank you so much for proudly representing and raising our flag once again in the summit of Everest.”
It was not just sheer luck for Mapalad but all the universe conspiring to make his goal a reality, with the undying support of Delimondo.
