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Espiya Newstand (Current Events, Classifieds, Events) => Current Discussions => People, History and Culture => : 2fear! April 15, 2009, 08:41:45 AM
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No one is ever too old to climb the Philippines highest peak. Salvador Sebastian, 78 years old and his buddy Froilan Mendez, 65 years old did just just becoming the oldest Filipinos to conquer the country’s highest mountain Mount Apo.
Both senior citizens, still healthy and strong scaled of the country’s most beautiful sites, when they reached the top of the summit of Mount Apo on March 20.
Situated in the island of Mindanao, Mt. Apo is also Southeast Asia’s second highest. Known to the natives as kingdom of the mountain god, Apo Sandawa, it is vast area of 72,796 hectares of mossy tropical forest, flowing rivers & streams, waterfalls, exotic flora & fauna and is home to the endagered Philippine eagle.
The highest mountain in the country overlooks Davao City-40km northeast, Digos City-25km southeast, and Kidapawan City-20km west. Its name means “master†or “grandfatherâ€ÂÂÂ.
Apo is flat topped, with three peaks, and is capped by a 500 m wide volcanic crater containing a small crater lake. It is a source of geothermal energy, but the date of its most recent eruption is unknown, and none are verified in historic times.
Mount Apo is one of the most popular climbing destinations in the Philippines, and the first recorded climb was on October 10, 1880 by a party led by Don Joaquin Rajal.