Lucio Tan shoulders medical expenses of Abenojar

Taipan Lucio Tan came to the financial rescue of Dale Abenojar, the adventure sportsman who may very well be the first Filipino to have reached the summit of Mt. Everest, the world’s tallest peak.

Abenojar earlier presented evidence to prove his claim that he reached the summit of the world’s highest mountain on May 15.

In an interview with The STAR in his room at the Cardinal Santos Memorial Medical Center (CSMMC) in San Juan yesterday, Abenojar said Tan’s emissaries informed him that he could stay at the hospital for further treatment of his gangrene-infected left big toe without worrying about the bill.

"I was told that Dr. Lucio Tan will shoulder my hospital expenses. I want to express my profuse thanks to Mr. Lucio Tan for his help," Abenojar said.

Tan’s help arrived yesterday in time to allow Abenojar and his 21-year-old Nepali guide Pasang Dorchi Sherpa to remain at the CSMMC rather than transfer to the cheaper University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) due to financial constraints.

Abenojar said the assistance from Tan meant he has one less problem to worry about: "Now, we just have to raise funds for Pasang’s amputation scheduled this Sunday." All good samaritans who wish to help the Dale's Sherpa may send their donations to STAR's Operation Damayan, which will use the funds raised to defray the sherpa's operation.

According to him, "Dr. Eufemio said that Pasang’s toes have to be amputated right away because the gangrene infection seems to be spreading."

Eufemio said that, unlike Abenojar’s gangrenous toe, Pasang’s injury needs immediate attention because the Sherpa is suffering from a wet gangrene infection, which is worse than dry gangrene.

Abenojar also expressed relief over media reports yesterday that a Mt. Everest historian or "chronicler" said she believed Abenojar was able to ascend to the summit of Mt. Everest on May 15.

"As I have said before, I had requested an audience with Ms. Elisabeth Howley after my climb and I showed her my evidence and told her of my climb. But as I have said, she does not certify if one really (reached the Everest summit), it’s the Mountaineering Association of Tibet that does that if one has made it to the summit of Mt. Everest through the north face," he said.

He cited this as one of the reasons his camp is deeply disappointed that doubts persist regarding his journey to the peak of Mt. Everest even after he presented his certificate from the Mountaineering Association of Tibet earlier this month.

"All of the people who climb Mt. Everest through the north route, you will see all of them presenting the Mountaineering Association of Tibet certificate," Abenojar said in Tagalog. "My copy of the certificate is authentic. All those who want to examine it may do so."

Abenojar added that he has summit photographs and other documentary evidence, which, if presented, will clear up any doubts about his reaching the Everest summit.

"We are just finalizing the presentation of evidence for all the people (to see)," he said. "Abangan na lang nila, malapit nang matapos (If they wait, it will be complete soon)."

Abenojar credits Pasang with saving his life on two of four occasions when Abenojar almost died en route to the summit of the world’s highest mountain.

"I think it’s my obligation to repay the favor," Abenojar said of his efforts to get treatment for Pasang. "That’s why I was deeply hurt when Dr. Ted (Esguerra of the First Philippine Mt. Everest Expedition) accused my Sherpas of being my paid witnesses.

"The Sherpas are all related and those Sherpas who helped (First Philippine Mount Everest Expedition or FPMEE members) Leo (Oracion) and Pastor (Erwin Emata) climb the south (face), are probably related to Pasang and Tshiring," Abenojar said in Filipino. "They may as well insult the Sherpas who helped them."

The FPMEE team earlier expressed doubt that Abenojar reached the Everest summit on the morning of May 15, a good two days before Oracion’s arrival at the summit on May 17, via the mountain’s more difficult north face route. Emata reached the Everest summit on May 18.

The FPMEE team members also said they doubt Abenojar’s claim that he got to the top of Mt. Everest despite having no experience in high-altitude alpine mountain climbing before attempting the Everest summit.

In going for the Everest summit on a tight budget because he had little corporate support for his expedition, Abenojar chose to take the north face route because it was cheaper.

As he canvassed the cost of climbing the world’s highest mountain, Abenojar found that taking the harder, harsher north route would cost him $25,000 while climbing to the summit via the relatively easier south route would cost $60,000.

"Wala akong sponsor, wala akong network backer, kaya nagtipid talaga ako sa expedition ko (I had no sponsor, I had no network backer, so I was frugal on my expedition)," he said.

A car trader by profession, the 43-year-old adventure sportsman said that when he left for Nepal on April 1, he did not bring a large sum of money with him.

On the evening of March 31, Abenojar said his family friend, businessman JR Cruz, agreed to buy his Range Rover to provide Abenojar with the funds to pursue his lifelong dream of reaching the Everest summit.

That done, Abenojar left for Nepal the next day and made arrangements so that his wife, Lisa, would wire him the money.

"That is why I left without too much money," Abenojar said.

Like most Filipinos of limited means, Abenojar said "I just brought food, local chocolates like Cloud Nine, instant noodle soup and other foods."