UP Mountaineers marks 35th year with 35-hour run

UP MOUNTAINEERS celebrated 35 memorable years of climbs to some of the country’s most challenging peaks with a run around where it all started—at the UP Diliman campus. Bearing the Mountaineers flag, members ran around the UP academic oval non-stop for 35 hours from June 28 to 29. The run reiterated the organization’s commitment to responsible outdoor practices, environmental awareness, and competitive excellence. The tradition, referred to as the Anniversary Run, also marks the start of the training and application period. Founded in 1977, UP Mountaineers is a leading mountaineering organization in the Philippines whose contributions to the sport and other related activities, and environmental conservation has been notable throughout the years. Prominent members include Romi Garduce, the only Filipino who has completed the Seven Summits expedition (reaching the highest summits of all seven continents); Noelle Wenceslao and Janet Belarmino, first women to traverse Mt. Everest; Illac Diaz, founder of the Liter of Light (Isang Litrong Liwanag) Project; and botanist Leonard Co. The diversified demographics of the organization has been one of its strong points in keeping the group dynamic, with members as young as high school students and as old as senior citizens. For more information, e-mail upmountaineers.35years@gmail.com, or call (0927) 799-0889, or visit Facebook page www.facebook.com/upmountaineers.