History of the Organization
The group was founded by Christopher Josef Custodio and Dave Mason on March 2005. Both were students in the Institute of Mapua. Their fondness for trekking and mountaineering began when they started joining other mountaineering teams’ expeditions. They then sought out to invite their friends to join them with the climbs as well. And when their numbers grew, they decided to put up a team of their own, which is now known as GMT or Green Mountain Tribe. The group originally consists of 14 members and is continuously growing.
Purpose behind starting the Organization
Mountaineering reached its peak in the Philippine setting during the early 90’s. That was when the dawn of the Internet had not been born yet and the television screens, atari and family computers, were the only source of entertainment – technologically wise. Most children born in those years found it more enjoyable to play outdoor games. It could not be said statistically and through studies that the preference for Mountaineering had declined starting from the technological outburst up to this day and age, but, as one of the goals set by the founders of GMT, they wanted to “re-open” up the world of Outdoor Sports to people and introduce the bliss & rapture it can bring to those who are unacquainted with the sport.
The first few years of GMT were spent on climbs and increasing the number of members of the group. Then after achieving enough members, the team decided to expand their knowledge by taking different outdoor skill trainings. Year 2009 when the group decided to engage in other activities in line with mountaineering (running, cycling and more). As the years go by, the team decided to add some bigger purpose for the organization. Year 2010 when the team started to engage on different Humanitarian and Environmental activities. And as of the time present, the team already conducted countless Humanitarian, Environmental and Animal Aid Activities. The team is also present on places where Disasters that hit the country, to give aid to the people in need by doing medial mission, rescue operations and relief programs. The team furthermore gives back to the environment by planting more seedling, conducting Mountain and Coastal clean ups, and by aiding the call for Animal Aid & Rescue in participating on some activities with one of their partners.
The scope of GMT’s activities now goes beyond the sport itself, because the group’s aim is to not only train a person on the how-to’s of being a mountaineer, but to educate the society on environmental concern and the conservation of life.
