Engineer Philipp “PJ” Santiago II became the first foreign casualty of this year’s Mt. Everest climbing season.
Filipino mountaineer Engr. Philipp “PJ” Santiago II has passed away in his attempt to summit Mount Everest on Friday, May 16.
His death was first reported by the Himalayan Times, but the cause of his untimely passing remains undetermined as of this writing.
Santiago became the first foreign casualty of the 2025 climbing season. He was part of the Mountaineering Association of Krishnanagar-Snowy Everest Expedition 2025. He was also a member of the Land Rover Club of the Philippines.
He was last situated at Camp 4, also known as the ‘’Death Zone.” The dangerous site is located 26,000 feet above sea level on the South Col, where the atmospheric pressure becomes lower — which causes an individual to experience difficulty in breathing.
His passing casts a somber shadow over what has otherwise been a historic week for Philippine mountaineering.
Fellow Filipinos Jeno Panganiban and Miguel Mapalad, part of the Philippine 14 Peaks Expedition, are currently on track to summit the world’s highest peak by May 18.
[ALSO READ: Filipino mountaineers Panganiban, Mapalad expected to summit Mt. Everest this weekend]
The group also offered its condolences to Santiago in a Facebook post, describing the 45-year-old as a “symbol of courage, perseverance, and love for the mountains.”
“His journey and spirit have inspired so many in the Filipino mountaineering community and beyond. We honor his bravery and unwavering determination. The entire team grieves this heartbreaking loss, and we hold Engr. PJ close in our hearts as we continue our own journey,” the statement read.
Both Panganiban and Miguel Mapalad are in prime position to be the first Filipinos to reach the summit of Mt. Everest since the troika of Noelle Wenceslao, Janet Belarmino, and Carina Dayondon accomplished the feat back in 2007.
[ALSO READ: Jeno Panganiban, Miguel Mapalad hope to show Filipino climbers' mettle in epic Mt. Everest quest]