Hello! We are Noel and Kareen Mercado, the parents of Hiraya Mercado. We are raising US$ 1,870 (PhP 106,000) to fund Hiraya’s trek to Everest Base Camp in Nepal.
Hiraya is a nine-year-old boy from Sorsogon, Philippines, who enjoys trekking and hiking. At six, he climbed Bulusan Volcano, a 1,535-meter (5,036-foot) peak in his hometown. He is the youngest person to have climbed this peak.
He has also summited Mount Pulag, the third highest peak in the Philippines, standing at 2,928 meters (9,606 feet).
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| Mt. Pulag, 2023. |
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| Mt. Masaraga, 2024. |
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| Mt. Maraot Banwa, 2020. |
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| Mt. Pulog, 2024. |
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| Mt. Cabanbanan, 2022. |
What is Hiraya trying to do?
In April 2026, Hiraya will attempt to trek the Everest Base Camp route. The trek begins in Lukla and winds through the Khumbu region, home to Mount Everest. The roundtrip trek covers about 130 kilometers (80 miles). This route offers breathtaking views of Mount Everest and other peaks, along with the chance to visit traditional Sherpa villages and monasteries.
We plan to fly from Manila to Kathmandu and then to Lukla. We will allocate 15 days for the round-trip trek, including acclimatization and contingency days. A local guide will be hired for navigation, local knowledge, safety support, and to facilitate cultural exchange and responsible tourism.
Is it safe for Hiraya?
While the trek is not technically challenging, it involves significant altitude gain since EBC is at 5,364 meters (17,598 feet). One potential risk of high altitude is acute mountain sickness (AMS), which occurs due to exposure to low oxygen levels at higher elevations.
To prevent AMS, it's crucial to allow the body ample time to acclimatize to higher altitudes. This includes a gradual ascent, rest days, early descent if AMS symptoms develop, and medication if necessary.
Hiraya will trek with us. We, the parents, have substantial experience in high-altitude adventure travel:
- Mt. Kinabalu, Malaysia, at 4,095 meters (13,435
feet), trekking, 2016
- Khardungla Pass, Ladakh, India, at 5,359 meters
(17,582 feet), cycling, 2019
- Thorungla Pass, Annapurna Circuit, Nepal, at
5,416 meters (17,769 feet), cycling, 2022
- Kunzum Pass, Spiti Valley, India, at 4,551 meters (14,931 feet), cycling, 2024
How will the funds be used?
We are raising US$ 1,870 (PhP 106,000) to cover Hiraya’s expenses for the trek. This is for airfare (58% of the cost), food (13%), guide (20%), and other expense (9%).
The breakdown of Hiraya’s estimated expenses is as follows:
- US$ 700 (PhP 40,000) - Airfare
Manila-Kathmandu-Manila
- US$ 365 (PhP 21,000) - Airfare
Ramechhap-Lukla-Ramechhap
- US$ 250 (PhP 14,000) - Food for 20 days at US$
12.50 per day
- US$ 375 (PhP 21,000) - Guide for 15 days at US$
25 per day
- US$ 180 (PhP
10,000) - Visa, insurance and other expense
We, the parents, will cover our own travel and trekking expenses.
About Hiraya’s family
We live in a small town called Irosin in the Philippines, where Hiraya is currently in Grade 3 at elementary school. The father, Noel, 55, works as an urban planner for the municipal government, while the mother, Kareen, 49, is a principal of a public elementary school. Hiraya has four siblings: two older brothers and two older sisters—all are now college graduates.
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| Hiraya's family. |
We, the parents, have extensive experience in trekking and long-distance cycling across the Philippines and other Asian countries (travel blog link https://cycloturista.blogspot.com).
We take annual paid leave from our work for local and foreign adventure trips. But we can only finance trips for two people.
We would like young Hiraya to experience trekking in the Himalayas—with your support!
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