Rhisael Rabe has become the ninth Filipino mountaineer to successfully reach the summit of Mount Everest.
Rabe, who hails from South Cotabato, conquered the world’s highest peak on Thursday at 7:15 a.m. (Nepal time) via the South Col route.
His wife, Aileen, announced the feat on social media, stating that Ric had completed his climb to Everest’s extreme altitude of 29,030 feet.
“We all know that Ric, from Cotabato City—unsponsored, unpublicized, and quietly determined—already reached the summit yesterday morning (May 15) via the South Col (Nepal),” Aileen Rabe wrote in a Facebook post.
It is the first Filipino ascent of Everest in 18 years. The last was by Regidor Pablo, who summited via the North Col on the Tibet side on May 17, 2007.
“There are two other Filipino climbers currently making their way toward the top—widely expected by media and their sponsors to be the first Filipinos to reach the summit since the last recorded ascent of a Filipino almost two decades ago,” Aileen added.
Independent summiteer Dale Abenojar was reported to be the first Filipino to reach Everest’s peak on May 15, 2006. However, his climb was mired in controversy and questioned due to the absence of sponsors and official documentation.
That same week, Leo Oracion and Erwin Emata—both members of a sponsored team—summited via the South Col on May 17 and 18, respectively. Romi Garduce also made a successful ascent on May 19 with his team of Sherpas.