he may be known as “Doctor to the Stars,” but Dr. Vicki Belo does not simply focus her efforts on pampering showbiz luminaries and other prominent celebrities.

Recently, the well-loved ambassadress of beauty lauded the record-setting efforts of the three Filipino women who made history by reaching the summit of the world's highest peak, Mount Everest . Noelle Wenceslao, Carina Dayondon and Janet Belarmino, who make up the Kaya ng Pinay Everest team, recently visited the Belo Clinic at Medical Plaza Makati, where they were handed out gift certificates for services and other pampering treatments following their arduous climb to Everest.

Although far from being vain, they virtually exemplify the adventurous Belo women. Belo believes and upholds the importance of women empowerment in our country by saluting the historical achievement of the female Everest climbers.

“It's amazing how these women conquered Mount Everest ,” Belo says. “They are so driven, determined, very courageous and strong. I believe what they did was really women power at its best.”

Noelle, Carina and Janet also stand as the first women to traverse Mount Everest, which they climbed from the treacherous north side in Tibet and scaled down in the south side in Nepal . They are also the first Southeast Asian women to summit Everest. At 29,035 feet, the world's tallest mountain sits on the border of Nepal and the Tibetan region of China . Despite different obstacles throughout their climb, the Everest women maintained a positive attitude to conquer all odds and reach Everest summit. They encountered bad weather, health problems, dangerous terrain and even landslide threats in the Nepal glacier. Noelle even suffered from acute mountain sickness or pulmonary edema. But they came prepared physically and mentally for the grueling climb. They even went to New Zealand to train for alpine climbing.

The mountaineers are all members of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), with the rank of Seawoman First. They had a dizzying schedule since they arrived in Manila in early June, following their ultimate triumph of conquering the world's highest mountain. They have yet to cope with their instant celebrity status, according to Janet. Noelle is a physical education major at the University of the Philippines , an “extreme adventure athlete,” dragon boat rower and a member of the UP Mountaineers. “It was a great moment for all of us,” says Noelle, who was the first to reach the summit among the three, followed by Carina and Janet.

“I was like a girl jumping up and down when it finally happened. Up to this day, it's still unbelievable for me. But we were there. We were able to show the world the strength of Filipino women and what we can do.”

Carina, the youngest member of the team, has been scaling mountains in her native Bukidnon since she was 17 when she was studying at Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro City. She never imagined herself standing on top of the world one day.

“I've climbed Mount Apo ,” Carina shares. “I thought Everest was impossible, but if you really set your sight on doing something, you can achieve it. For any mountaineer, reaching the peak of Everest is an ultimate triumph. It was a great moment for all of us and every Filipino who believed in us.”

Janet is a champion triathlete, an adventure racer, lawn tennis coach, sport climber, fitness instructor and a member of the UP Mountaineers. She left behind her new-born son, Himalaya , when she joined the Everest team last March. The boy is now six months old.

“We worked for it. We had years of training for it. We did it with our teamwork,” she says. The three women duplicated the feat of Leo Oracion, Pastor Emata and Romy Garduce, the first Filipinos who reached the Everest summit a year ago. All three ladies confessed their skin, especially on the face, was damaged due to the extreme cold and heat while climbing Everest. They came down with blotches and sunburn on their faces. Belo says it will take a month to treat the skin of the Everest ladies and restore it to its original color and texture. That is where Belo treatments and services will come in.

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