PJ Santiago II’s sister runs down the events that led to her brother’s passing in pursuit of the summit of Mount Everest.
The 2025 climbing season over at Mount Everest has brought bittersweet feelings to the Filipino mountaineering community. Three Filipinos reached the summit for the first time since 2007, but they are also dealing with the death of climber PJ Santiago II.
Santiago, 45, passed away last week after trying to push for the summit at Camp 4 on Mt. Everest.
Santiago’s sister Anna went on One News’ Morning Matters on Tuesday to outline the events that led to her brother’s death, and provided relevant insights as to Santiago’s motivations in reaching the highest peak on earth.
“This was really important to him. Much earlier, I’ve heard him say, I’ve conquered yung business, kasi he put up his own construction company na okay naman siya, tapos he’s been running. Tapos this time, ito nga, ito naman yung gusto niyang ma-achieve na with the two causes talaga na very important for him,” she said.
Here are the details of what the family knows so far:
- Santiago collapsed on the evening of May 14, just as he and his expedition team reached Camp IV
- Prior to his collapse, his Sherpa — one of the local guides at Everest — advised him to go back, but the Filipino insisted to move forward
- The cause of death is still unknown, there has been no autopsy report
- On comorbidities: Santiago was diagnosed with hypertension since he was in college, but has been taking maintenance medicine since
- Santiago was hurt in an avalanche days before his eventual death at Camp IV, at the Kumbo Ice Fall- The avalanche happened during Santiago’s rotation from Camp I to the Base Camp
- Doctors checked on Santiago’s injuries and cleared him to go on
- At the moment, Santiago’s body remains at Camp IV
- Sherpas tied down Santiago’s remains somewhere it will remain undisturbed and unharmed as retrieval efforts continue
- On Saturday night, May 10, Santiago was able to talk with his familyDespite the loss of her brother's life, Anna spoke highly about PJ’s push for the Everest summit, which was primarily motivated by his advocacies.
His climb supported various charities and causes such as the Philippine Children’s Medical Center and Waves for Water — a non-profit organization looking to provide clean water for poverty and disaster-stricken areas across the globe.
He also targeted to uplift Filipino businesses, being a business owner himself.
“I know that it might have started as a personal challenge for him, when he started in 2023. But it was clear to him at the get go, that when he went for sponsors, it’s not really to ask for support financially, but what he’s been saying is that he wants to put the logos of Filipino companies on his shirt. So that where he gets to where he wanted, that’s what he wants to show,” said Anna.
Santiago’s compatriots, Jeno Panganiban, Miguel Mapalad, and Ric Rabe all successfully summited Mount Everest over the weekend.
Santiago was not climbing with his fellow Filipinos, but was with a group of five Indians where he was the only Filipino.