2006, November 23. Conquest of Mt. Everest by Filipinos
Litho Offset. Amstar Company, Inc. Perf. 13 1/2
Singles, Sheets of 30 (3 x 10); Souvenir Sheets of 3
7p Filipino Expedition Team Members Making Ascent - Singles (57,000)
20p Filipino Expedition Team Members at Base Camp - Singles (57,000)
26p Two Filipino Members on Top of Mt. Everest With Philippine Flag - Singles (57,000)
Souvenir Sheets of Three (18,000)
7p Two Filipino Members on Top of Mt. Everest With Philippine Flag
7p Filipino Expedition Team Members Making Ascent
20p Filipino Expedition Team Members at Base Camp
Project Coordinator: Alfredo G. Gabot
Design Coordinators: Ric Galvez, Dr. Ngo Tiong Tak
Designers: Jesus Alfredo de Jesus, Richard Allen Baron, Vic Cerevo
Photos: Provided by Art valdez
First Day Covers: Manila
CONQUEST OF MT. EVEREST BY FILIPINOS
Mt. Everest is the highest point on Earth, as measured by the height of its summit above sea level. The mountain, which is part of the Himalaya range in High Asia, is believed to have been formed some 60 million years ago and sits alongside other mountains as a ridge that separates Tibet and Nepal. Towering at 8,848 meters high or 29,028 feet, it is called Chomolungma ("Goddess mother of the world") in Tibet and Sagarmatha ("Goddess of the sky") in Nepal. It was formerly called Peak XV by the Westerners before it received its official name in 1865 in honor of Sir George Everest, a British Surveyor General from 1830-1843 who had mapped the Indian subcontinents.
Climbing the world's highest mountain was once an impossible feat. Attempts to climb began in 1921, when the forbidden Kingdom of Tibet opened its doors to outsiders, yet the conquest of Everest was not only extremely difficult but also life threatening. Many had tried and failed to make the ascent. As of the end of the 2004 climbing season, 2,238 people had reached the summit and 186 people died. The dangers of Everest include avalanches, crevasses, ferocious winds up to 125 MPH, sudden storms, temperatures of 40° F below zero, and oxygen deprivation. Dead bodies are left where they perish because the effects of the altitude make it nearly impossible to drag bodies off the mountain. The summit was eventually reached on May 29, 1953 by New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay from Nepal.
Over time, Mt. Everest has become the figurative meaning to denote the apex or the highest point and reaching the roof of the world was considered to be a prize of momentous proportion. In May 2006, three Filipino climbers have secured a place for the Philippine flag among the many flags flying high in the apex of the world. On May 17, 2006, Heracleo Oracion honored the country when he became the first Filipino to reach the summit. The next day, Erwin Emata and Romeo Garduce also made it to the top one after the other. The conquest of Mt. Everest by Filipinos is a mark of Filipino excellence, perseverance, and courage.
The remarkable achievement of Heracleo Oracion, Erwin Emata and Romeo Garduce is a triumph of the entire nation and worthy of emulation by every Filipino.
-
Sports
-
Mountains
-
Flags