Mountaineer Romi Garduce completes Seven Summits climb

Just like his past alpine climbs, his moment on top didn’t last long.

But that fleeting moment proved historic as Romeo “Romi” Garduce emerged as the first Filipino to complete the renowned “Seven Summits” after conquering Vinson Massif in Antarctica at 6:30 p.m. (Antarctica time) on Jan. 5.

“The summit day itself was the most difficult because that part of our climb was very steep,” Garduce said.

“It was a bit windy, so it was chilly, so we only had a few moments to appreciate the view.”

The remarkable feat made Garduce one of the few Asians—15 at the last count—to complete the “Seven Summits,” the collective reference to the highest mountains in the seven continents of the world.

American football star to build hospital in Mindanao

One of America’s hottest new sports heroes is giving back to the Philippines, the country where he was born by funding the building of a children’s hospital in Mindanao.

Tim Tebow quarterback of National Football League team Denver Broncos was born in 1987 in Manila, where his Baptist parents were then serving as missionaries.

The $3-million, 30-bed facility will open in Davao City in mid-2013, the US-based charity CURE said on its website together with video message from the Denver Broncos quarterback.

“I’ve always had a special place in my heart for the country in which I was born, and I’m very excited about this project,” Tebow said in the message as he appealed for the public to join him in donating to the hospital’s fund.