What kind of satisfaction do mountaineers derive from climbing mountains and reaching their summit? Is it the thrill of adventure? Is it the bragging rights, or the recognition of being the first to reach a certain peak? Or is it the realization that something that seems impossible to surmount can be conquered?
When Carina Dayondon reached the peak of Mt. Everest in May 2007, she was tagged as one of the first Filipinas—second to be exact—along with Noelle Wenceslao (first) and Janet Belarmino (third)—to conquer the highest mountain in Eurasia.
Following that feat eight years ago, Dayondon, now 37 years old, went on to conquer four more of the world's seven summits: Mt. McKinley in North America (2006), Mt. Elbrus in Europe (2013), Mt. Kosciuzsko in Australia (2014) and Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa (2015). After her most recent climb in October last year, she has two more peaks in order to be named the first Filipina to cross all seven summits—a challenge many mountaineers wish to accomplish.
But Dayondon says she is no longer yearning to be the title holder for being the first Filipina to cross all the seven summits. Rather, the Bukidnon native wants to be recognized for “using my passion and mountaineering sport in inspiring the youth and empowering fellow Filipinas that they can reach their own summit.”
Her personal summit
This generation has seen more and more people from all walks of life climbing steep mountains and conquering the wilderness. Like many of these individuals, Dayondon was given an opportunity, albeit bigger, to scale the heights of one of the tallest mountains in the world. However, doing so meant conquering her personal summits first.
“Back in 2004, an opportunity to be part of the team that will climb Mt. Everest came. I just graduated from college so I was torn between finding a job or heading to Manila to join the team,” she recalls. “My parents were not supportive of my decision to join the team. Nevertheless, I told them that I will still go to Manila to find work.”
When Carina arrived in Manila, she instead joined an expedition team led by former undersecretary Art Valdez of the Department of Transportation and Communications where possible employment with a stable allowance was offered. During this time, the team was already preparing for their Mt. Everest Summit—an expedition three years in the making.
But challenges to this dream came to Dayondon when her father had to retire suddenly and use the retirement funds to start a business. Unfortunately, her family’s up-and-coming enterprise went bankrupt and led to the foreclosure of their home. As the fourth eldest child in a family of 14, and currently working on financing their expedition, Dayondon found it difficult to fund her siblings' education.
“That was the lowest point in my life. Every night, I would cry because of guilt for not being there for my family, for not being able to send financial assistance even when I was able,” she shares.
But the odds conspired in her favor when she and her colleague won the Island Paradise Adventure Race championship title. She was able to send P500,000 to her family in the province which also allowed her to stay with the team.
Their employment at the Philippine Coast Guard as a regular non-officer also helped the team support their family and finance their training. Dayondon is currently serving in the Philippine Coast Guard with the rank of LTJG/1st Lieutenant and is assigned in the Officer Basic Education Training in Bagac, Bataan as a Tactical Officer.
Finally in 2007, the Philippine Mount Everest team finally climbed one of the highest summits in the world. Aside from being the first Filipinas to reach the peak, Dayondon, Wenceslao and Belarmino were also recognized as the only three female in the world to scale the heights of Mt. Everest by traversing the mountain from the North side (Tibet) and going down on the south side (Nepal)—logistically and financially demanding than the usual commercial climb.
“It is true that we were privileged to stand at the highest point on Earth. But the journey to the top was not easy—it entailed a lot of discipline and sacrifice. We invested in a lot of hard work and a strong faith in God,” says Dayondon.
She is also thankful for the support she and her team got from sponsors, particularly Primer Group through the latter's advocacy arm Center for Outdoor Recreation and Expedition which provided them Eddie Bauer outerwear clothing.
A proof of Pinay power
It is from that journey to Mt. Everest that Dayondon decided she wanted to climb all of the World’s Seven Summits.
“Doing the Seven Summits is a continuity of showcasing the best of Filipino talents around the world, especially the Pinay power. In this way also, we can help inspire the young ones to explore their own summits and find a way to go beyond their limits,” she shares
Beyond the thrill and the title, for a seasoned mountaineer like Dayondon, “the overall experience inspired me to do greater things in life, to believe in my own strengths and to trust that with God, nothing is truly impossible. No mountain is ever hard to cross unless you don’t start the expedition.”
“As for me, I will continue to climb mountains, even those that we currently have in life.”
While waiting for her next expedition, Dayondon plans to come up with fundraising activities targeted to Filipino women and create cancer awareness programs as inspired by one of her siblings who battled but later succumbed to the disease in December 2015.
Help Dayondon and her team reach the last two of the world's summits. For logistical and financial support, contact her at 09175208085 and 09399175104 or send an email to carinadayondon@yahoo.com.