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The 2006 Philippine Mount Everest expedition was the quest for the first Filipino to climb the highest mountain in the world, Mount Everest and to put the Philippine flag on top of the mountain.
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Background
The expedition, consisting of Filipino triathlete Leo Oración and Erwin Emata, was backed by Philippine television network ABS-CBN; Romeo Garduce, who was climbing at the same time, was sponsored by rival GMA-7. Despite having rival sponsors, both teams maintained that it was not a race to the top of Mount Everest. They made their ascent via the South Col route. A third Filipino, Dale Abenojar, climbed independently, using the North Col route.
Expedition
On May 13, 2006, Oración left Base Camp, and proceeded up the mountain. He reached the summit of Everest on May 17 at 3:30 pm NPT. Upon reaching the top, Oración radioed, "The Philippine Eagle has landed." His statement is based on Neil Armstrong's message "The Eagle has landed" when the Apollo 11 Lunar Module, nicknamed the "Eagle", landed on the moon. The following day, Emata officially became the second Filipino to climb Mount Everest when he reached the summit at 5:34 am NPT. The following day, Garduce reached the summit at 11:20 am NPT.
Controversy
According to a press statement by Dale Abenojar's wife Liza, her husband actually reached the summit of Mount Everest on May 15, two days before Oración, but his attempt was undocumented. After nearly a month, Everest chronicler Elizabeth Hawley listed Abenojar as first the Filipino summiter on her Himalayan Database.
Reception
The ascent was celebrated in the Philippines, appearing on the front page of several Filipino newspapers. Then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo called it "a mark of Filipino excellence, perseverance and courage in braving the hard trek of nation-building." Team leader Regie Pablo compared it to "putting a Filipino on the Moon."