Ric Rabe, Jeno Panganiban, and Miguel Mapalad have made history as the first Filipino mountaineers to summit Mt. Everest in nearly two decades, reviving the nation’s presence on the world’s highest peak.
Rabe summited the 8,849-meter peak on May 15, 2025, followed by Panganiban and Mapalad on May 18 proudly waving the Philippine flag on the world’s highest mountain.
The 50-year-old Rabe documented his journey, posting on social media the conditions of his ascent on Day 41:
The Cotabato City native also documented his descent, saying, “How can’t you love the mountain.”
Manila’s Panganiban and Mapalad, members of the Philippine 14 Peaks Expedition Team, announced the pair’s completion of their ascent and descent:
The trio’s achievement makes them the first Filipinos to summit Mt. Everest since Regie Pablo on May 17, 2007. The Philippines first made its mark on Everest in May 2006, when Leo Oracion, Pastor Emata, and Romi Garduce became the country’s pioneering climbers.
On May 16, 2007, Noelle Wenceslao, Carina Dayondon, and Janet Belarmino made history as the first Filipina mountaineers to summit Everest, becoming the first women in the world to traverse the mountain from the north side in Tibet to the south side in Nepal.
The back-to-back summits in 2025 by Rabe, Panganiban, and Mapalad proudly continue this legacy and signal a powerful comeback for Filipino mountaineering on the global stage.
Relive more proud Good Pinoys moments on GoodNewsPilipinas.com.
Join our vibrant Good News Pilipinas community, where we celebrate the achievements of the Philippines and Filipinos worldwide! As the Philippines’ No. 1 Website for Good News and proud winners of the Gold Anvil Award and Lasallian Scholarum Award, we invite you to connect, engage, and share your inspiring stories with us. Together, let’s shine a spotlight on the stories that make every Filipino proud.
