Mountain climber Carina Dayondon has been named Conservation Hero by the international environmental group World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
This is the latest recognition for the first Filipina to conquer the Seven Summits or all the tallest mountains in each of the seven continents, including the world’s highest Mt. Everest.
Dayondon joined an all-women roster of honorees at the WWF-Philippines Partner’s Night on November 5, which recognized the “Role of Women in Environmental Conservation”, an article by Goodnewspilipnas.com said.
The elite mountaineer was awarded for her efforts in environmental conservation under WWF-Philippines.
And of course, she was celebrated for her extraordinary feat in reaching all the world’s seven highest peaks, including Mt. Denali in North America (2006), Mt. Everest in Asia (2007), Mt. Elbrus in Europe (2013), Mt. Kosciuszko in Australia (2014), Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa (2015), Mt. Aconcagua in South America (2018), and Mt. Vinson Massif in Antarctica (2018).
In May 2019, the Senate gave the mountaineer a citation given to Filipino Olympians, SEA Games medalists and National Athletes for bringing honor to the country by completing the Seven Summits in December 2018.
Despite all the hardships she went through for such an achievement, Dayondon said that what’s more important is that she has inspired the Filipinos.
“What’s more important for me is we showed to the Filipinas, the young ones, there’s nothing impossible if you’re determined, focused, and if you believe in your dreams. It’s okay to get a record but does it have a point? Did you inspire anyone? Did you touch anyone’s heart, inspire them to do something like that?” she told WWF in January 2019.
Dayondon, who is also a Philippine Coast Guard officer, is likewise a member of Mt. Everest Team’s Balangay Voyages, which journey across oceans aboard the ancient vessel “balangay” to “spread awareness on the roots of the Filipino culture”.
Girl power it is!
