Climber Dale Abenojar: With his Sherpa guide and a purported "summit photo" in hand, climber Dale Abenojar claimed to be the first Filipino to reach Mount Everest's summit, two days before Heracleo Oracion, Erwin Emata, and Romeo Garduce. However, subsequent investigations have proven that this claim is false. In May 1996, Abenojar admitted that he had not reached the top of Mount Everest but had only reached an elevation of 19,347 feet (5,950 meters). He said that after taking the photograph many of the items included in the picture were visible in the surrounding area, including some tents below the North Face. The picture was also taken at an angle that made it appear as if Abenojar was on top of the mountain. A year later, on May 25, 1997, Abenojar again claimed to have been the first Filipino to reach the top of Mount Everest, this time with a group of Filipinos including Oracion, Emata, and Garduce. But once again, subsequent investigations have proven that this claim is false. In 1999, Abenojar retracted this statement too. In an interview, he said that he had lied about reaching the top of Mount Everest because he wanted money and fame. He also said that another member of his team, Renato Casimiro, had actually reached the top first.