SE ASIA GOIN' GAGA OVER EVEREST (Again)
My cable operator gets me ALL telly channels in our region. I got TV3 from KL, GMA7 from Manila, TVLao and just about every single telly channel a blogger can dream of. *eyes rolling* Just now, I saw another news that a Malaysian woman named Marina Ahmad has just reached the summit of Everest this morning.What’s with Everest nowadays anyway?
Wasn’t it just last year when we heard about the highly dramatic Filipino race to the top? – there were more than 1 Filipino climbing Everest on the day of 15 May last year and both of them had telly station sponsors (was it ABC and GMA?—correct me if I’m wrong). It was more of a telly channel race than climbing, really. Both station trying to outwit the other to announce that their “manok” (bet) made it first to the top. Oh was it broadcasting at its best or what? Lovely!
And just the other day, I saw an announcement that they are sending the first Filipino women to Everest. Any other contestants from other telly channel?
I could swear I heard one of the stations announced that Dale Abenojar (PHI) was the first Asian OR Southeast Asian to reach the summit of Everest. Of course this is not true. He was the first Filipino, but not the first Southeast Asian. Must be one of those nitwit reporters stirring things up yeah? Anyway, Dale climbed Everest as a member of a 15-man group. The other 2 Filipinos (with another group) reached the summit 2 days later. Hmmm…where they’ve been?
And whatever happened to Singapore's Khoo Swee Chiow who announced his attempt in 2004 to climb the Everest WITHOUT oxygen? No news on that? And I'm pretty sure a Thai dude announced to the media that he's going to attempt the same last year. Hmmm... lack of sponsors?
Wasn’t it just last year when we heard about the highly dramatic Filipino race to the top? – there were more than 1 Filipino climbing Everest on the day of 15 May last year and both of them had telly station sponsors (was it ABC and GMA?—correct me if I’m wrong). It was more of a telly channel race than climbing, really. Both station trying to outwit the other to announce that their “manok” (bet) made it first to the top. Oh was it broadcasting at its best or what? Lovely!
And just the other day, I saw an announcement that they are sending the first Filipino women to Everest. Any other contestants from other telly channel?
I could swear I heard one of the stations announced that Dale Abenojar (PHI) was the first Asian OR Southeast Asian to reach the summit of Everest. Of course this is not true. He was the first Filipino, but not the first Southeast Asian. Must be one of those nitwit reporters stirring things up yeah? Anyway, Dale climbed Everest as a member of a 15-man group. The other 2 Filipinos (with another group) reached the summit 2 days later. Hmmm…where they’ve been?
And whatever happened to Singapore's Khoo Swee Chiow who announced his attempt in 2004 to climb the Everest WITHOUT oxygen? No news on that? And I'm pretty sure a Thai dude announced to the media that he's going to attempt the same last year. Hmmm... lack of sponsors?
Who was really the FIRST SOUTHEAST ASIAN to reach the summit of the highly hoolaballooed-frozen-gigantic-piece-of-rock called Mount Everest anyway?
Malaysia’s M. Magendran and N. Mohandas reached the summit on 23 May 1997. Oh wait -- 23 May???... I see! – The first Malaysian woman who reached the top today was a celebration!!! After 10 years of Malaysia’s success, here’s an ode! Wow! That’s cool. But why they waited for 10 years? They could've sent the first woman the next day, yeah? Oh well. She reached the top day early...*sigh*
Marina Ahmad is the 11th Malaysian on record to reach the top of Everest. The Philippines has 4 and Singapore, 1.
Hmmm...Everest, Everest, Everest. What about a list of the first Thais to summit Mt. Apo? Or the first Malaysians on top of Doi Suthep? Or the first Singaporeans in Puncak Jaya? The first Filipinos to summit Mt. Kinabalu? Nobody interested? Ha!
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I'm sure somewhere out there, is a Southeast Asian who has reached the summit of Everest long before the telly stations made it a big circus deal. I'm sure there are lots of them, actually. Summitters who conquered Everest for personal triumph above publicities and corporate sponsorships or monetary rewards. -- Now these, I can really call... the TRUE EVEREST CONQUERORS.
And moi, climbing Mt. Everest? -- in my next life maybe.
Take that!
