pinays reach the peak of mt. everest!!!

a reason to celebrate amidst all the election craziness. hay. nakakakilabot. nakakabilib. nakaka-inspire. pinoys ROCK.

from abs-cbn news...

(2nd UPDATE) Filipinas conquer Everest

Two Filipinas made history Wednesday by becoming the first ASEAN women to reach the top of Mt. Everest, the world's tallest mountain.

ABS-CBN Correspondent Abner Mercado said Noelle Wenceslao was the first to reach the summit at 6:10 a.m. Nepal time (8:10 a.m. in Manila) followed by Carina Dayondon at 6:20 a.m. (8:20 a.m. in Manila).

"Ang mensahe namin sa sambayanang Pilipino: naabot na ng Pinay ang tuktok ng mundo (Our message to our fellow countrymen is: a Filipina has reached the top of the world)," Mercado quoted Wenceslao as saying.

Mercado said the Philippine team at the Everest base camp has lost contact with Janet Belarmino but they are confident she will be able to reach the summit.

Lt. Arman Balilo, Philippine Coast Guard spokesman, earlier said Belarmino is just 30 minutes away from the summit.

An ABS-CBN report earlier said the three members of the "Kaya ng Pinay" Everest Team reached Advanced Base Camp (ABC) at 6,400 meters on Sunday.

ABS-CBN Correspondent Vince Rodriguez said the three Filipinas started their final ascent at 2 p.m. Tuesday.

The team expects to return to base camp in Nepal on Friday.