Pinoy wants to make history with voyage to South Pole

Three years from now, Bobby del Castillo will become one of the country’s newest senior citizens. But the 57-year-old health buff wants to fulfill an ambitious voyage no other Pinoy has ever done before. Del Castillo is seeking to become the first Filipino to reach the South Pole and he plans to start the trip this November. November is the start of summer in Antartica. Del Castillo's target is to reach the South Pole in 33 days to surpass the mark set by Canadians Ray Zahab, Richard Weber and Kevin Vallely last year. “I’ve been intrigued with the South Pole for a long time now," said Del Castillo during the SCOOP sa Kamayan recently. The voyage won’t be an easy one for the Filipino fitness instructor, who needs to negotiate a punishing stretch totaling 1,170 kilometers and endure minus 50-degree weather as well as minus 120-degree wind chill. Del Castillo is now in deep preparations for this new challenge. He has started walking with a Norwegian guide, with his legs bent throughout the journey to overcome the wind conditions. To achieve his goal, Del Castillo said he requires himself to travel 40 to 50 kilometers a day. During his South Pole journey, he will bring bags, food, supplies and sleighs. He will also bring back his human wastes at the end of his trek. “I’ve been doing unique ways of training to survive the journey," said Del Castillo, who previously reached the Arctic Circle near the North Pole and has also climbed Mt. Kinabalu in Malaysia. Aside from aiming for the world record, Del Castillo said that he wants to bring awareness to the Filipinos about climate change through prayer petitions. This lifestyle coach, and also golf and fitness instructor, is a member of a small group called Climate Changers that aims to spread positive energy to people around them. “The South Pole is the center of climate change and we want to deliver the message to the world that we need to change," said Del Castillo. Before going to Antarctica, Del Castillo will head to New Zealand in August to acclimatize with the cold conditions. He will go to Antarctica via Punta Arenas in the southernmost part of Chile. Once he reaches the South Pole, he will be airlifted from the airport located there. - RCJ/GMANews.TV