Jeno Panganiban brandishes the Philippine flag at Mera Peak in Nepal, which offers a view of Mount Everest.
Century Tuna officially celebrates the return of mountaineer and Superbod athlete Jeno Panganiban to the Philippines after successfully reaching the top of Mount Everest, the world’s highest summit.
Through a couple of months of relentlessly climbing the unforgiving terrain and enduring the frigid climate of Mount Everest, Jeno has etched his name in Philippine history as the youngest male Filipino who has reached its summit in almost two decades, inspiring a new generation of Filipinos to embrace the challenge of facing their own summit with strength and proper nutrition.
Century Tuna honors his monumental achievement and welcomes Jeno home, shining a spotlight on his triumphant ascent. He embodies strength, endurance, and resilience in his pursuit to reach the summit of the world.
“When we were approaching the summit, I approached it with pride because by that time, we knew that the whole nation was watching us. And I felt emotional because I was able to carry the Philippine flag to the top of the world,” Jeno shared as he recounted the once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Jeno’s summit to the world’s peak is a testament to years of hard work and dedication to fueling his passion for mountaineering and optimizing his lifestyle. He transitioned from a former software engineer, working a 9-to-5 job, to owning a distribution business, supplying healthy produce to restaurants across Metro Manila, which has given him the flexibility to control his own time.
When he set his sights to finally achieving his long-time dream of conquering Mount Everest, Jeno knew that it required singular focus and relentless drive. It wasn’t only about rallying together all his previous mountaineering experiences. It was also about actively choosing to go through extreme preparation and intentionally nourishing his body with the right nutrition that can push him to become one of the Philippines’ national prides.
From high altitude sickness, hazardous weather, to the looming threat of avalanches, Jeno persisted through the life-threatening challenges. He endured temperatures reaching below freezing, extreme sun exposure burning, and loss of oxygen as he was reaching the summit while pushing through exhaustion.
“You have to be comfortable in being uncomfortable,” says Jeno. “So every day, we made sure that our bodies were in the right condition. I made sure my body and mind were ready for the push.”
With Century Tuna as his partner, Jeno was able to bring his A game to his climb. His remarkable resilience to climb to an elevation of 8,849 meters is nourished by his favorite Century Tuna meal, the classic combination of Century Tuna Hot and Spicy with saltine crackers, a comfort food that’s easy to prepare but packed with protein to keep him energized throughout his arduous training and long ascent.
His journey perfectly embodies Century Tuna’s “Fit for Any Role” campaign, highlighting the brand’s celebration of the multi-faceted image of fitness and its part in helping individuals face any role.
“Century Tuna is proud and honored to support Jeno’s journey because he is a living testament that anyone can face their own summit. He has shown us that through properly nourishing the body and building up strength, everyone can go after their dreams — a pursuit that Century Tuna has always championed. He is an inspiration, not just to his fellow athletes, but to all of us who take on life’s challenges every day,” said Century Pacific Food, Inc. Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Greg Banzon.
Century Tuna challenges every Filipino to define their own summit. Whether they want to achieve a fitness milestone, a personal goal, or a monumental accomplishment, being fit with Century Tuna means being ready to take on the challenge.
