Jeno Panganiban has every right to celebrate after conquering every mountain climber’s summit: the 29,035-foot Mount Everest.
But for the 30-year-old mountaineer, conquering the highest mountain on Earth has inspired him to go further and find more peaks to conquer.
Panganiban said in a press conference Friday in Pasig City that he is already targeting Mt. Dhaulagiri in Nepal, the seventh highest mountain in the world at 26,795 feet, for his next trek.
Panganiban returned to the Philippines last 8 June after a two-month expedition in Mt. Everest.
“We are planning to climb Dhaulagiri next and then we will try to go on top of K2,” Panganiban said.
“After conquering those mountains, let’s see what’s next.”
Panganiban and Miguel Mapalad are the latest Filipino mountaineers to reach the summit of Mt. Everest.
Despite being on top of Mt. Everest for only 15 minutes, Panganiban said he savored every moment he was on top of the world.
“You can see how round the world is on top. You see the horizon,” Panganiban said.
“You see the best sunrise ever and you can’t see that anywhere else. It’s an incomparable moment.”
And the secret to his success?
“It’s not just about climbing. You have to train a lot and go through a lot of experiences,” said Panganinan, who joined the likes of Leo Oracion, Pastor Emata and Romi Garduce as the country’s foremost Everest summiteers.