For months, Jeno Panganiban and Miguel Mapalad of the Philippine 14 Peaks Expedition team had spoken of scaling Mount Everest and the world’s highest peaks.

Surrounded by family and friends in an official sendoff on Thursday afternoon at Delimondo Café in Makati City, the full weight of the pair’s mission finally had become undeniable.

“I know that Miguel and I are going to [make the] summit. I know,” Panganiban said in a press briefing.

Romi Garduce, the last Filipino to summit Everest, offered invaluable insights to the duo.

“Just live in the moment and have fun,” he told the Inquirer. “It will be easy to be overwhelmed by a lot of things when you’re there.”

“This is Everest, we know … we have to be ready for everything,” added Mapalad, whose son, Kidlat, handed the pair a St. Benedict medal as protection for the perilous adventure.

Mapalad is set to fly for Nepal on Friday. Panganiban will follow his mentor on April 12.