Nearly two decades have passed since a Filipino reached the summit of Mount Everest, the world’s highest mountain in altitude. In May 2006, Leo Oracion made history as the first Philippine mountaineer to reach the peak. Later that month, three more Filipinos followed suit, carrying the flag and the pride of the nation with them.
Since then, no other Filipino has done the same until last April, when two Filipinos rose to the challenge of once again conquering the top of the world. Jeno Panganiban (‘17, BSCS-ST) and his mountaineer partner Miguel Mapalad took their love for mountain climbing to the highest level while completing one of life’s most formidable experiences.
Starting at the base
For Panganiban, he first found his love for mountain climbing during his undergraduate years. “My friends…they were hiking, and I was just curious kung ano[ng] ginagawa ng mga friends ko. And then I asked them if pwede ba nila ako i-sama since envious ako and curious sa mga ginagawa nila,” he recalls.
(I was just curious about what they were doing. And then I asked them if I could tag along since I was envious and curious about their hobbies.)
What started as a casual invitation with friends turned into something more. On his journey to be a mountaineer, Panganiban found joy in completing a battle that he had never tried. “It was hell for me,” he admits. “It was physically challenging, mentally challenging. I was dehydrated, hungry, [and] sunburned. But you get that fulfillment when you finish the challenge, when you get to the top and climb down back again.”
Upon graduation, he quickly sought out harder hikes not only in local but also foreign altitudes. “I started craving for the famous mountains here in the Philippines…to the most difficult, most challenging, [and] the top highest mountains… And then I told myself, ‘Why not try in other countries?’ So, [in] 2022, I started to climb internationally,” the Lasallian alumnus says in a mix of English and Filipino.
It was during one of these international expeditions that Panganiban met Mapalad. Their paths crossed on the slopes of Mount Masalu in the Himalayas, where they bonded over the grueling conditions of the climb. Although Mapalad was unavailable for an interview, Panganiban speaks highly of their partnership, “I found the right chemistry with him. He would be the perfect partner for me. And when he also finished his training, nagkaroon na kami ng mutual agreement: it’s time to climb Mount Everest.” That chance encounter eventually led the two mountaineers to stand side by side on some of the world’s highest peaks.
(And when he also finished his training, we had a mutual agreement: it’s time to climb Mount Everest.)
Different dimensions
But Mount Everest is no ordinary climb. The world’s tallest summits bring Filipino climbers into extreme climates far removed from the tropical heat of the Philippines, where the icy, unforgiving terrain of high-altitude trails presents a new set of physical and logistical challenges. “So, kapag mainit, problema mo is ‘yung water discipline mo [at] ‘yung resources mo,” Panganiban shares.
(If it’s hot, your problem is your water discipline and your resources.)
However, Panganiban assures that these new risks could still be overcome with proper arrangements: “If iinom ka, paunti-unti [lang]. [But] you have to drink kasi kapag nade-dehydrate [kami], mas-prone kami sa altitude mountain sickness. Tapos kapag malamig, prone rin sa frostbite. So, magkaiba talaga sila, but both manageable if paghahandaan.”
(If you are going to drink, drink just a little bit. However, you still have to drink because you are more prone to mountain sickness if you are dehydrated. You are also more prone to frostbite in the cold. So, the situations vary, but both are manageable if you prepare.)
Their ascent to Mount Everest was no different. In addition to their past mountaineering experiences, the duo underwent special training before their climb. “I start my training [with] some refresher courses, ropes, [and] then practice. And then we wait for the perfect moment, using a summit push that would happen around the third week to fourth week of May. Kasi doon [ang] pinakamaganda[ng] weather to approach the summit,” Panganiban explains. Despite the pressure to go high, he and Mapalad were eager and confident to etch their names in history.
(That is because those are the times when the weather is nice to approach the summit.)
On top of the world
After a month-long expedition, the duo officially reached the summit of Mount Everest last May 18. After almost 20 years, Filipinos have once again graced the highest point on Earth, an honor the pair now wears with pride. In his interview with The LaSallian before the climb, Panganiban shares, “I bring it with pride that we can place the Philippines back on the map again. We can prove to the whole world that Filipinos can climb.”
Their journey is one they hope will inspire their fellow countrymen to chase their own summits, “I hope it doesn’t stop with us. I hope other Filipinos can climb also.”
For him, the journey is the pinnacle of his life as a mountaineer, an expedition truly one to remember. “Enjoy the trails. Meet all the people you can meet along the way. And if you want to climb something, prepare for it. Do your best to prepare for it, and, eventually, you can [reach the] summit,” the La Salle alumnus remarks.
As Panganiban and Mapalad close this chapter atop Mount Everest, they carry with them not just the memories of a lifetime but also a mission to inspire a new generation of Filipino adventurers.
The LaSallian sought Mapalad for comment, but he was unavailable for an interview.
This article was published in The LaSallian‘s June 2025 issue. To read more, visit bit.ly/TLSJune2025.
