Former expedition leader defends Everest’s allure after Filipino mountaineer’s death

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'For us, Everest is a symbol of dreams and passion, not just a mountain climbing activity,' says former Filipino expedition leader Art Valdez

MANILA, Philippines – Following the death of Filipino climber Philipp “PJ” Santiago II on Mount Everest on May 14, former Filipino expedition leader Art Valdez defended the aspirations that drive mountaineers to scale the world’s highest peak.

This comes as criticisms on social media about risking lives for the mountain emerged after Santiago, 45, died at Camp 4 (South Col) while preparing for his final summit push. He was part of the Mountaineering Association of Krishnanagar-Snowy Everest Expedition 2025.

“There’s always a risk in climbing Everest. But why are we still doing it? Because it is symbolic. For us, Everest is a symbol of dreams and passion, not just a mountain climbing activity,” said Valdez in a mix of Filipino and English during the launch of his Live the Dream 2 book, which retells stories from their historic 2007 expedition. 

“It can be crossing the ocean. It can be doing other things that are extraordinary. Here are them choosing the Everest, where they can show that they can do it,” he added. “It could have happened to us, because every climb has risks. Every quest is methodical and calibrated.”

Valdez led an all-Filipina team — Carina Dayondon, Noelle Wenceslao, and Janet Belarmino — that became the first women to traverse Mount Everest from the north side in Tibet to the south side in Nepal, a feat that remains unmatched until today. 

He also led the first-ever Philippine Expedition Team to climb Mount Everest. The climb saw Leo Oracion become the first Filipino to reach the summit of the world’s tallest mountain on May 17, 2006.

Everest measures 29,031 feet above sea level. While it is one of the most alluring mountains for hikers, it is considered to be perilous, with extreme cold, avalanches, and thin air posing serious risks to climbers’ lives.

Despite the mountain’s most recent casualty, Valdez believed that scaling Everest is a test of attrition that few people can understand. 

“We use the mountain to be the best. Like when basketball players play the sport, or a triathlete competes in a race. So it demands the best of us [to reach it],” he said. 

Santiago, an engineer, was the first foreign casualty of the climbing season this year. He was projected to reach the mountaintop on May 15. 

A day after he died, his comrade Ric Rabe became the first Filipino in 17 years to summit Everest.

Other Filipino mountaineers, Jeno Panganiban and Miguel Mapalad, also successfully scaled Everest on Sunday, May 18.

With more Filipinos reigniting the Everest dreams, Valdez encourages his countrymen to continue going for such aspirations, no matter the challenges. 

“You know, there is another Filipino who got to the top and succeeded. I think we need to continue doing this. This is something that is seemingly impossible because it gives us a good feeling. [It makes us] believe that we can do anything,” he said. – Rappler.com