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Monday, July 25, 2011

The Nomads Peak Competition Awards Night

The Nomads Peak Competition
That glory day at Tanay Adventure Camp (image courtesy of Sha Bedural)
Saturday, July 23rd was the moment all the Nomads warriors had been waiting for! I, as a spectator had also been waiting for that moment when everything would be concluded. For the information of those who are not aware yet, Sir Romy Ballesteros (aka Ka Romy) of The Nomads Outdoor Adventure Club Inc. organized a race for mountaineers that covered the period from February to June of this year (2011). The goal for each warrior was to accumulate 30,000 fasl (feet above sea level) of climbs covering mountains in the three island groups of the country. The goal was made in line with the Nomad’s tenet Never Give Up! We believe that more Filipinos can actually face the challenge of climbing Mt Everest (which is about 30,000 fasl). The competition was participated in by more than a hundred mighty men and women in both the first and the second waves of the competition. And these warriors climbed a cumulative elevation of 11, 461, 192 fasl which is comparable to climbing  Mt Everest 356 times. But as every record was set, many challenges were one by one opened along the way. Among those were, 50k fasl, 100k fasl, 20/7 (20 peaks in 7 days) and 25/7. These new challenges were done in pursuit of the answer to the Nomadic question ‘When was the last time you did something for the first time?’ And here are the names (Facebook names mostly) of those who dared to answer that question and establish the Nomads Peak.

The Summiters (those who achieved the 30k fasl of climbs in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao)

Presenting the Nomads Summiters Awards with Sir Romy Ballesteros

Tri Nemo
Onin Galano
Christopher Ricamara
Cheryl Bihag
Nathan Nofuemte
Tribuguinobateño
Laurence Tuquero
Plip Taylo
Jainnai Santos
Jenny Balinoyos
Fortyones Not Dead
Kat Ocol
Bhenjo Bernardo
Jovito Balinoyos
Eduardo Bedural
Alex Strong
Mark Alvin Estrella
Melo Sanchez
Farrah Pasamonte
Ben Penada
Lot Datu-Bagares
Marky Skunx
Sha de los Reyes
Koi Grey
Marlon Quiambao
Dennis Apuntar
Mel Fabricante
Des Torres
Sadeck Miguel
Mik Rodriguez
Ronnie Laureta
Jay Z Jorge
Michael Abanes
Randy Benosa
Miguel Mapalad
Cris Mantes
Ruby Quiambao


Ega Alcaraz

The Achievers and Awardees

 
MAJOR AWARDS 
Major Climb Award (Tie Breaker) Melo Sanchez & Sadeck Miguel
Conquer Challenge - Plip Taylo
50,000 Ft. Asl - Melo Sanchez
100,000 Ft. Asl - Melo Sanchez (1st Wave)
100,000 Ft. Asl - Marky Bagares (2nd Wave)
Best Summit Photo - Sadeck Miguel
Best Uniform Design - Jovito and Jenny Balinyos
Best Outreach Program - Mark and Lot Bagares
Leadership Award - Melo Sanchez

32/7 JON ALANO AWARD
Kat Ocol
Melo Sanchez
Jay Z Jorge
Cris Mantes
Mimis
Sadeck Miguel
Des Lee
Cheryl Bihag

The Edwin Gatia Award 25/7 
Plip Taylo

Other Peaks/7 days Awards 
10/7 (1st wave) – Sadeck Miguel 
10/7 (2nd wave) – Jannai Santos
15/7 - Cris Mantes
20/7 - Koi Grey
 7/7 - Mike Abanes

SUMMITERS AWARD
First Summiter 1st Wave
1st  - Mike Abanes  
2nd - Chris Ricamara 
3rd -  Sadeck Miguel

First Summiter 2nd wave

1st -  Jay Z Jorge - 
2nd - Marky Bagares - 
3rd - Jainnai Santos

A Starry Night
That night was not only the Nomads Awards Night but also the 13th Anniversary of Team Conquer. And we were blessed with a starry sky and a star-studded event in Tanay Adventure Camp! The masters of ceremonies were the couple Jonnel and Jean Lacaba, Jon Alano and Jannie Negrido. Many big names in the Facebook age of outdoorsmanship and adventurism were present.  And just like big bright stars, everybody gravitated towards and revolved around them! Everyone wanted to get as close as possible to them. And I had the rarest chance of presenting awards next to the man of the night himself Sir Romy Ballesteros. 
with Sir Romy Ballesteros
Sir Romy is a genial, light-hearted visionary who has an unquenchable thirst for adventure and a passion to share adventurism to everybody else whichever part of the globe he is at. He has organized as well as participated in countless adventure races in the country and abroad.  Most of us met him only during that night! But he had already been a part of our journeys even before his path and ours crossed. Many regard him as a father and a guide. And many derive inspiration from his boldness, spirit and good example.  I also had a chance to strike a conversation with Jessie Tan, the man behind Conquer Outdoor Equipment. This man is the epitome of humility and charisma! He might not know you but when he talks to you, he’ll let you feel like you’ve been together in more than ten booze-ups! This man who admits that three fourths of the adventurer in him was molded and fashioned by Team Nomads has also participated in and won many adventure races in the country. That night, Jessie and Kat Tan were given the Nomads Never Give Up Award for their unwavering support for many outreach and sports events and for their dedication to provide mountaineers and other sports enthusiasts with quality products.
Although I was not a part of the competition I felt like I was one of the warriors. Many of the achievers and awardees are also good friends of mine. I finally got to meet in person Jonie Abesamis, Kat Ocol, Jay Z Jorge, Levy (El Bundokero) Umandap, and Sadeck Miguel whom I only corresponded with through SMS and online. I was also pleased to once again see Cheryl Bihag, Jannie Negrido, Koi Grey, Melo Sanchez, Dennis Hisanan, Ken Ybarola, The Sabiterz Tribe and the newlyweds Eduardo and Sha Bedural who got married on that same day! And how could I forget?! My very good friend Sir Emil Eslana was there too (although he was a little late that night)! I would also like to thank Sir Akiru Escasinas for giving me company when I wanted not to be seen! He was there alone and Lagataw doesn't like big crowds! 

A personal note on the event
On the same night, an award was given to Samahan ng mga Reponsableng Mamumundok sa Pilipinas (SRMP) for the event Freedom Walk. Right after El Bundokero of SRMP received the ward, an award was also given to Alliance of Filipino Mountaineers (FIMO) for Freedom Climb. I honestly don’t want to make an issue of the ‘boo’ that I heard from one corner of the hall while the acting president of FIMO was giving his acceptance speech but I think it’s high time everybody healed and moved on! It’s been more than a month after all! If you want to make a change, ACT and do something just like SRMP! It was a relief to see El Bundokero and FIMO’s acting president shake each other’s hands after they accepted the awards.
I wish I had seen the same scene when Melo Sanchez and Sadeck Miguel set things straight and clear. Both were mere victims of malicious talks, which neither dipped his finger into. And that’s what Sadeck told me when I got the chance to talk to him. ‘Ayus na kami ni Melo. Nadala lang kami sa usap-usapan’.  I got similar words from Melo. They don’t know each other personally. They can’t hate each other.
And I wrote this note not to stress the issues but to congratulate Ka Romy! Indeed, it was a night of celebration and healing that Ka Romy made! There, people came together and patted each other’s shoulders like rational individuals! They set aside their differences and saw each other’s value as a person!
Congratulations Ka Romy!

...and when most participants had drowned themselves on free booze, the night was ended by the symbolic flight of a sky lantern. And borrowing Ka Romy's words '
This is not the end. This is just a knock!'

So watch out for more of Nomads Outdoor Adventure!

6 comments:

  1. ser, hindi mo kami sinama sa listahan..ahehehe -X

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  2. sino po 'to na nakalimutan kong i-mention?hehehe

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  3. panalo sir adonis....ganda ng blog...cenxa na po di na tayo nakapag pa picture....na comatose ako...hehehe....more power sa lagataw....:)

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  4. salamat ser sadeck sa pagdalaw...ikinagagalak at ikinararangal kong makita ka nang personal dun sa event!hehe

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  5. maganda nga at nag-shake hands ang mga tao. sana lang sincere. alam naman natin na karamihan sa members nung mga grupong nag-away ay immature, feeling "mountaineer" ng hinde naman alam ang ginagawa. just my two cents. (wala akong google account, o kung ano man pwede pang-register dito kaya anonymous po)

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