By Sally A. Atento and Marlon A. Loterte
LEGAZPI CITY, July 1 (PIA) -- Neither the scorching heat of the sun nor the long wait deterred the nearly 14,000 participants from different sectors of the community in the province of Albay in staging Friday last week the world's Biggest Human No Smoking Sign in an attempt for a place in the Guinness World Records (GWR).
Albay Governor Joey Salceda said a total of 13,892 participants were officially validated out of almost 17,000 participants who registered for the event.
The event, organized by the local government of Albay through the Smoke-Free Albay Network (SFAN) together with its partners in the advocacy against smoking, was held at the Bicol University ground Friday morning last week in the midst of an atmosphere of fun and highly spirited people from all walks of life.
The thousands of participant from the academe, national government agencies, local government units, private establishments, religious groups and civil society organizations comprised of people donning long sleeved hooded tees in red, black and white formed massive human no smoking sign covering 5, 123 square meters.
The crowd was able to officially formed at around 10:02 a.m.
Local and national media, technical staff and photographers, including world famous photographer George Tapan, took aerial shots of the sign, documented and covered the event.
Salceda said he was optimistic that Albay will officially get the GWR as they have complied with all the requirements set by the world records recognizing body.
The GWR confirmation requires submission of written, photo and video documentation, including the validation of designated witnesses. Official confirmation would take two to three weeks.
“This time, we also want to convey the message to the whole world that we can conquer the deadly habit of tobacco smoking in our communities,” Salceda said.
The same event was highlighted by the public signing by Salceda of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Albay Smoke-Free Ordinance, signaling its full implementation in the province.
To date, the cities of Legazpi, Ligao, and Tabaco and the towns of Daraga and Guinobatan are in the forefront of implementing and enforcing the local anti-smoking laws.
Salceda said that with the signing of the IRR, a province-wide implementation will take effect even in other towns that have not passed a local ordinance against smoking.
Meanwhile, Albay board member and SMoke-Free Albay Network chair Herbert Borja said the GWR has assured the province that no one has attempted to form the same sign in such a mammoth crowd in attendance.
Based on the GWR present record, the first biggest human no smoking sign was formed by only 250 individuals.
“GWR gave us an assurance that no one has done this attempt and they have set this under a new category. Actually several groups attempt to form and break world records with around 5,000 to 6,000 participants. That is why we have set the target at a minimum of 13,000 people so that should other groups try to break our record, at least they might find it hard to surpass that number,” Borja said.
This attempt for a world record on the largest human no smoking sign, added Borja, primarily aims to intensify the advocacy of the province against smoking through wider information dissemination of its ill effects on health and environment.
“With this activity, we aim to send the message not only to the whole country but also to the whole world that Albay is serious in its aim to become a smoke-free province,” Borja said.(MAL/SAA-PIA5/Albay)
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| A total of 13, 892 participants formed the huge Human No Smoking Sign at the Bicol University grounds ( SAA-RHA) |
Albay Governor Joey Salceda said a total of 13,892 participants were officially validated out of almost 17,000 participants who registered for the event.
The event, organized by the local government of Albay through the Smoke-Free Albay Network (SFAN) together with its partners in the advocacy against smoking, was held at the Bicol University ground Friday morning last week in the midst of an atmosphere of fun and highly spirited people from all walks of life.
The thousands of participant from the academe, national government agencies, local government units, private establishments, religious groups and civil society organizations comprised of people donning long sleeved hooded tees in red, black and white formed massive human no smoking sign covering 5, 123 square meters.
The crowd was able to officially formed at around 10:02 a.m.
Local and national media, technical staff and photographers, including world famous photographer George Tapan, took aerial shots of the sign, documented and covered the event.
Salceda said he was optimistic that Albay will officially get the GWR as they have complied with all the requirements set by the world records recognizing body.
The GWR confirmation requires submission of written, photo and video documentation, including the validation of designated witnesses. Official confirmation would take two to three weeks.
“This time, we also want to convey the message to the whole world that we can conquer the deadly habit of tobacco smoking in our communities,” Salceda said.
 |
| Aerial shot by George Tapan, veteran Filipino photographer who won the 2011 National Geographic Photo Contest |
To date, the cities of Legazpi, Ligao, and Tabaco and the towns of Daraga and Guinobatan are in the forefront of implementing and enforcing the local anti-smoking laws.
Salceda said that with the signing of the IRR, a province-wide implementation will take effect even in other towns that have not passed a local ordinance against smoking.
Meanwhile, Albay board member and SMoke-Free Albay Network chair Herbert Borja said the GWR has assured the province that no one has attempted to form the same sign in such a mammoth crowd in attendance.
Based on the GWR present record, the first biggest human no smoking sign was formed by only 250 individuals.
“GWR gave us an assurance that no one has done this attempt and they have set this under a new category. Actually several groups attempt to form and break world records with around 5,000 to 6,000 participants. That is why we have set the target at a minimum of 13,000 people so that should other groups try to break our record, at least they might find it hard to surpass that number,” Borja said.
This attempt for a world record on the largest human no smoking sign, added Borja, primarily aims to intensify the advocacy of the province against smoking through wider information dissemination of its ill effects on health and environment.
“With this activity, we aim to send the message not only to the whole country but also to the whole world that Albay is serious in its aim to become a smoke-free province,” Borja said.(MAL/SAA-PIA5/Albay)
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