Nature claims. Skilled or unskilled. We are reminded that man is mortal and is no contest to the elements. In engaging in this adventure, he struggles against man, himself and nature, most of the times succeeding, in some instances, succumbing. This November, we remember those who lost their lives in the mountains. From the Chapel of Remembrance of the Sacred Space, I spotted this prayer . . .
We thank you, God, for our loved ones who were dear to us and who have now been taken from us. We thank you for the friendship that went out from them, and the peace they brought. We thank you that through suffering they learned obedience.
We pray that nothing of their life will be lost, but that it will be of benefit to others; that all that they held sacred may be respected by those who follow them, and that everything in which they were great may continue to mean much to us now that they are dead. We ask you that they may go on living in those whom they loved, in their hearts and minds, their courage and their conscience.
We shall go on living without them. We ask you then, that they, living with you, may watch over us and intercede for us. Keeping our eyes fixed on the cross of Jesus Christ, we say in groping faith that this is not the end, that our God is a God of the living.
http://www.sacredspace.ie/?lang=en#advice
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May 1985 Rene Reyes Abel Beltran, Kit Rivera Lorna Partosa Mt. Guiting-Guiting
The UPM hosts MFPI"s annual federation climb, with Mt. Halcon as the chosen site. Soon after, the residents of Mindoro tap the UPM to help them establish the Halcon Mountaineers Halms ). This year is also remembered due to a great tragedy. Four members, including Rene Reyes and Abel Beltran, are drowned in a freak flash flood on Mt. Guiting-Guiting. Today, the UPM organizes annual climbs up Guiting-Guiting in memory of the four members it lost
http://www.upmountaineers.org.ph/article_mountains.html
October 1994 Neptali Lazaro Mt. Halcon A death on Mt. Halcon
Lifted by MESAU from the Action Asia Magazine
The young hiker stared into the mid-distance without seeing, then his eyes rolled back and the trail guide knew he was dead. This was his first mountain climb, and tragically, his last. He was the victim of a walking expedition of monumental misfortune.
On October 19 last year, 27 climbers from four different universities in the Philippines met at the base of their country's third-tallest mountain and embarked on a trek that promised to be a bracing and uplifting outdoors experience.
Little did they know that what awaited them instead was a week of hardship and pain, as a fierce typhoon produced pelting rain, flash floods, winds that reportedly approached 150 kph. and mini landslides - a combination of elements that would turn their hike into an ordeal.
http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Trails/7933/halcon.htm
Nov 6 2000 Harold Reyes ng Las Piñas, Edward Lee ng Singalong, Ferdie Eusebio, Ryan Versola, at Rolando Jacob ng Pateros, at Jose dela Cruz ng Bulacan Buriwisan Falls
Anim namang mountaineers ang nalunod nang sila ay tumawid sa isang ilog sa Siniloan. Ang mga ito ay ang mga taga-Maynilang sina Harold Reyes ng Las Piñas, Edward Lee ng Singalong, Ferdie Eusebio, Ryan Versola, at Rolando Jacob ng Pateros, at Jose dela Cruz ng Bulacan.
http://www.newsflash.org/2000/11/ht/ht001323.htm
April 2002 Anthony Sibayan Masoc Vizcaya Mountaineer dies in Vizcaya adventure race
Posted: 5:16 AM (Manila Time) Apr. 23, 2002
By Ben Moses Ebreo
Inquirer News Service
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya - A participant in a mountaineering congress here died after participating in one of the event's activities on Saturday. Officials of the Mountaineering Federation of the Philippines Inc. (MFPI) and organizers of the 1st Mountaineering Congress here identified the victim as Anthony Sibayan of the Sagada Environmental Guides Association in Sagada, Mt. Province.
Reports said Sibayan was found by participating bikers before noon Saturday lying unconscious on a bridge in Sitio Barobbob here. Sibayan reportedly finished the race and reached the MFPI base camp in Barangay Masoc here but decided to return to a trail to retrieve a rock he left behind for the adventure race. "The rock was supposed to be returned to the base camp after kicking it down while biking. He might have thought that his participation will be jeopardized if he returned without the rock," said one of the participants.
Sibayan was taken to the Veterans Regional Hospital here but doctors failed to revive him at 3 p.m. Saturday.
According to congress participants, Sibayan and his brother Simeon and colleagues from Sagada, arrived at the base camp on Saturday dawn.
Reports said Sibayan immediately participated in the adventure race, called "Takbo-Lakad (Run-Walk)," held that morning. A check with the MFPI registration center showed that Sibayan failed to register but was able to sign a waiver showing that he would accept the risks of the events that he would participate in.
Congress registration personnel said it was Sibayan's brother, Simeon, who officially registered.
Dr. Joselito Gonzales of the Rescue 933, a group of volunteer first aid administrators at the base camp, said Sibayan had low blood sugar when brought to their tent.
But quoting doctors' findings at the VRH, Gonzales said Sibayan's death was due to cerebral edema or swelling of the brain due to alcohol.
"He was in a coma when he was brought to our tent. We smelled alcohol," he said. MFPI officials shouldered Sibayan's burial and transportation expenses. His remains were taken to Sagada at 10 p.m. Saturday.
http://www.inq7.net/reg/2002/apr/23/reg_5-1.htm
November 2004 Prana Escalante Mt. Halcon Missing mountaineer found dead on Mt. Halcon
Updated 09:04am (Mla time) Nov 11, 2004
By Joel Francis Guinto INQ7.net
MANGYAN natives on Thursday found the remains of a female mountaineer, who had been missing since climbing Mt. Halcon in Oriental Mindoro province early this month, a spokesman for the Philippine Air Force told INQ7.net.
Prana Escalante's remains were found wearing only her underwear, Major Restituto Padilla said.
Her belongings were also missing.
Padilla could not immediately confirm the cause of Escalante's death and why she was nearly naked in the forest.
"We no longer had leads in our search but the Mangyans pressed on,"Padilla said.
The Air Force called off its search for Escalante early Wednesday.
The 21-year-old Escalante, a graduating nursing student at the University of Santo Tomas, reportedly got lost while trying to catch up with her companions who went ahead in a climb to Mt. Halcon on October 29.
http://news.inq7.net/regions/index.php?index=1&story_id=17212
Ronnel Lim of Ped Xing on Prana
http://ronnel.blogspot.com/2004/11/prana-escalante-21-prana-escalante.html
Tuesday, June 24, 2008 Two mountaineers found dead, another still missing
SAN ANTONIO, Zambales: Two mountaineers from the AMCI Mountaineering Club Incorporated died here Sunday afternoon after they were swept away by strong current while crossing a creek in Barangay Pundakit.
Another mountaineer is still the subject of rescue operation of authorities.
Police authorithies from the San Antonio Police Station identified the fatalities as Joseph Felarca and Jhoana Pimentel while Thaddeus Reantaso is still missing.
Initial reports said the three victims together with nine other mountaineers, identified as Kimberly San Juan, Teejay Sakuma, Suzette Santiago, Jospeh Faulve, Marris Zapanta, Virgilio Zapanta, Lean Villongco, Boji Forcadela and Robert Joseph Torres, who were found by residents at the side of the Mount Pundakit creek on Saturday. The group was forced to go down Sunday due to Typhoon Frank.
In San Marcelino, Mayor Jose Rodriguez told The Manila Times that a road leading to Barangay Rizal of this town was swept away by strong current.
He also told The Times that Felarca the mountaineer who died Sunday was his cousin. In San Narciso, Barangay Alusiis, strong rains brought by Typhoon Frank flooded the one-kilometer highway making it impassable to light vehicles.
The rest of the province according to Gov. Amor Deloso of Zambales was pretty calm aside from usual flood in residential areas. Meanwhile in Olongapo City, a man died after he drowned along the beachfront of Barangay Barretto.
Olongapo City police director, Senior Supt. Abelardo Villacorta identified the victims as Ernesto de la Cruz, 24 of Roosevelt, Bataan.
Initial investigation said de la Cruz together with a certain Jorge Custudio was having a drinking spree at Barangay Barretto when they decided to jump over Pier B of the said barangay.
-- Anthony Bayarong
http://archives.manilatimes.net/national/2008/june/24/yehey/prov/20080624pro6.html
Related post from Ialman The End of Their Journeys
http://ialman.livejournal.com/123401.html
