Romi Garduce, as we know, is the First Filipino to complete the World’s Seven Summits. He is known as ‘Garduch’ to his friends in the mountaineering industry. Born in 1969, Romi hails from Balanga, Bataan. He studied Bachelor of Science in Mathematics major in Computer Science at University of Santo Tomas. In 1991, he started his mountaineering career by joining the UP Mountaineers.
He began his journey of climbing the World’s Seven Summits in 2005, starting with highest mountain outside Asia, Mt. Aconcagua. Romi became the first Filipino to reach an 8,000m peak. In May 19, 2006, he reached the summit of Mt. Everest from the South Ridge after Leo Oracion and Erwin Mata. Romi is listed as the fourth Filipino to reach the peak of Mt. Everest.
This year, Romi Garduce is celebrating the 10th year anniversary of climbing the world’s highest mountain, Mt. Everest.
Gideon Lasco is a licensed physician and medical anthropologist. He received his degrees from the University of the Philippines—College of Medicine in 2010 and MSc Medical Anthropology in 2014. Currently, he’s taking up a PhD in Medical Anthropology at the University of Amsterdam’s Amsterdam Institute of Social Science and Research (AISSR).
He’s the author and sole writer for PinoyMountaineer.com, a Lonely Planet-recommended guide to hiking in the Philippines. The blog was recognized as the Best Sports and Recreation Blog in the Philippines at the Philippine Blogging Awards 2015.
This month, Gideon is launching a book called “Day Hikes and Nature Walks from Manila.” The book is published by Center for Recreation and Outdoor Expedition (C.O.R.E.) and will be in stores in May 25, 2016.
We’ll know more about these two inspiring athletes this month, so stay tuned.
Article Contribution: Nirvana Time Estiva, C.O.R.E. Layout (online, internal release): Ela Arciaga