Palace congratulates Pinay mountaineers

Malacañang lauded Wednesday the first three Filipino female mountaineers who successfully reached the summit of the world’s tallest mountain, Mt.Everest in Nepal.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita identified the three Filipinas in his weekly press briefing in Malacanang.

The three climbers topped the summit separately: Noelle Wenceslao reached the summit at 8:10 a.m., Carina Dayondon at 8:20 a.m. and Janet Belarmino at 9:45 a.m., all Manila times.

"We are congratulating the three Filipinas, women who reached the top of the highest mountain in the world," he said.

He noted that the three mountaineers were suitably and physically fit for mountain hiking because they were in the service of the Philippine Coast Guard.

Last year, three Filipinos -- Leo Oracion, Pastor Emata and Romeo Garduce -- reached the summit of Mt. Everest.