Filipino mountaineer Ric Rabe reaches summit of Mount Everest
Rabe ascended via the South Col route on the Nepal side of the mountain
Filipino mountaineer Rhisael “Ric” Rabe successfully reached the summit of Mt. Everest on Thursday, May 15, according to pioneering tour operator Makalu Adventure.
“Big congratulations to the Everest Team 2025 for reaching the top of Mount Everest (8,848.48m)! They summited on 15 May 2025 at 7:15 AM – an extraordinary feat!” the company announced.
Rabe, along with the Everest Team 2025, ascended via the South Col route on the Nepal side of the mountain. By conquering Everest’s towering height of 29,030 feet (8,848.48 meters), Rabe overcame the extreme conditions and joined the ranks of Filipinos who have stood on the world’s highest peak.
Aileen Rabe also confirmed her husband’s achievent on a social media post, expressing gratitude to everyone who supported Ric’s endeavor.
According to Aileen, Ric, who hails from Cotabato City, made his daring quest “unsponsored, unpublicized and quietly determined.”
However, Aileen added Ric’s journey isn’t over yet. “We know we can’t fully celebrate until he’s back home safe,” she said.
“Ric’s journey isn’t over yet. After the summit comes the descent -- first back down to Camp 4, then Camp 3, then Camp 2, then through the dangerous Khumbu Icefall to Base Camp. From there, it’s a 3 to 5-day trek to Lukla, and finally a flight to Kathmandu -- weather permitting,” she wrote.
Fellow Filipino climbers push for the summit
Two more Filipino mountaineers, Jeno Panganiban and Miguel Mapalad, are currently attempting to summit Mount Everest. They are part of the Philippine 14 Peaks Expedition Team, a Filipino mountaineering group working to conquer all 14 of the world's mountains over 8,000 meters.
May typically offers the most favorable conditions for ascending the peak. Climbers have a limited window of opportunity when weather permits a summit attempt.
Filipino climber dies on Mount Everest
Mt. Everest recorded its first death of the season as Filipino climber Philipp Santiago II passed away at Camp IV on Thursday, May 15. Santiago, an engineer and mountaineer, was part of the 2025 Mountaineering Association of Krishnanagar–Snowy Everest Expedition. He and his team were preparing for their summit push when the incident occurred. The cause of death has not yet been determined.
According to a press release from the Department of Tourism, Santiago reached Camp IV around 8:00 PM on Wednesday but collapsed from exhaustion shortly afterward. His passing marked a somber moment in an otherwise historic week for Philippine mountaineering.
Filipinos who conquered Mount Everest
Heracleo ‘Leo’ Oracion – the first Filipino to reach the summit of Mount Everest, on May 17, 2006.
Erwin ‘Pastor’ Emata – reached the summit a day later, on May 18, 2006.
Romeo ‘Romi’ Garduce – climbed to the summit on May 19, 2006, two days after Oracion and a day after Emata.
Noelle Wenceslao – became the first Filipina to summit Everest on May 16, 2007, as part of the first Southeast Asian women's team.
Carina Dayondon – summited alongside Wenceslao on May 16, 2007.
Janet Belarmino-Serdena – also part of the all-women team that reached the summit on May 16, 2007.
Regidor “Reggie” Pablo – reached the summit on May 17, 2007.
Rhisael “Ric” Rabe - reached the summit of Mt. Everest on May 15, 2025.
* Dale Abenojar - recognized by the Mountaineering Association of Tibet as the first Filipino to reach the summit of Mount Everest via the north (Tibet) side. However, his claim to being the first Filipino to summit Everest remains controversial and is disputed by members of the Philippine mountaineering community.
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