ROMI GARDUCE’S SEVEN HIGHS
SEVEN summits. Seven continents. And a total height of over 120,000 feet.
Filipino mountain climber Romi Garduce made a heroic comeback from the Antarctic Region after making it as the first and only Filipino to banner the Philippine flag atop the world’s seven highest mountains.
It was a monumental feat that took 10 years to complete, but for the meantime, all Garduce could do was breathe a sigh of relief.
“The feeling of pride is there, but to tell you honestly the realization hasn’t sunk in yet,” the country’s top mountain climber told members of the press during a welcome dinner held recently at the Travel Cafe in Greenbelt 5, Makati.
“I’m just relieved, that I finally I was able to complete my unfinished business,” he said.
It was a month ago on January 5 at 6:45 p.m. (Antarctica time) that Garduce reached the summit of Mt. Vinson Massif in the Antarctic Region making him only the 15th Asian to complete the seven summits and accomplish the prestigious mountaineering record.
He began his conquest with Mt. Aconcagua in Argentina, South America in January 2005; followed up by his infamous expedition to Mt. Everest in Nepal, Asia in May 2006; Mt. Elbrus in Russia, Europe in August 2007; Mt. Mckinley or Denali Peak in Alaska, USA in North America and Mt. Kosciuszko in Australi in June and December 2008 respectively; and Indonesia’s Mt. Carstensz Pyramid in July 2011.
Vinson expedition
Before he left for Vinson’s, Garduce said he was feeling quite excited to finally have a chance to finish what he considers as his “back subject.”
“It’s taken me quite awhile. In fact para na nga siyang barrier kasi hindi ko magawa ‘yong iba kong gustong gawin dahil 10 years na, hindi ko pa matapos yung Seven Summits [In fact was already like a barrier on other things I wanted do because 10 years have passed yet I still hadn’t finished the Seven Summits].”