(Eagle News) – “You are once again officially amazing!”
Four new Guinness world records were set by the Iglesia Ni Cristo as four Guinness adjudicators declared that the religious organization was once again “officially amazing” on Friday, April 29, as it concluded its historic “Aid to Humanity” in Tondo, Manila.
Amid a chorus of claps and cheers, the four Guinness adjudicators declared that the INC had set four more Guinness world records that day – an amazing feat by itself. This means that the INC now has 18 Guinness world records in all.
The four new world records were for the largest collection of clothes for recycle/donation, the most shoes donated to charity in 24 hours, the most medical ultrasound examinations in eight hours, and the most medical risk assessment in eight hours.
The announcements were made inside the INC house of worship in Tondo, Manila.
It was the record on the shoe donations that was the fastest to be set. The number of shoes donated was 17,526 pairs, which even exceeded the original target of 15,000 pairs. And it took the INC volunteers only less than two hours to distribute the shoes because of the large crowd.
This was a new record altogether. Another new record set by the INC was for the most medical risk assessment in eight hours with a total number of 4,784.
The INC was also able to distribute more than 241,200 pieces of used clothes, thus breaking the previous record set by the Rescue Mission of Trenton, New Jersey, in the United States on November 15, 2015 for 179,550 items of clothes donated.
The Guinness adjudicators themselves were amazed with what happened, saying that no other organization in the world was able to achieve four new Guinness World records in a single day.
INC General Auditor minister Glicerio B. Santos Jr., said this was made possible because of God’s help.
“Ang lahat ng ito ay gawa ng ating Panginoong Diyos. Siya ang dapat nating pasalamatan. ibalik natin sa Kanya ang lahat ng kapurihan. (All of these are the work of our Lord God. We should thank Him. We should give back all the praises to Him),” he said in an interview after the annoucement.
Brother Santos also thanked INC Executive Minister Brother Eduardo V. Manalo.
“Gayon din sinasamantala ko ang pagkakataong ito upang pasalamatan ang Kapatid na Eduardo V. Manalo na siyang nagpasya ng lahat ng ito,” Brother Santos said.
Guinness World Records adjudicator Rishi Nath said the biggest challenge here was the strict conditions set by Guinness that the INC had to follow.
For the donation of the used clothes, all the items “would have to be clean, and in a condition which is wearable,” he said.
“That was the biggest challenge on the part of the Iglesia Ni Cristo. However, they have managed it really well. All the clothes were washed. All the clothes were in good condition,” he added.
Another Guinness adjudicator Swapnil Dangarikar inspected the distribution of shoes, which were all new, at the INC’s event in Tondo.
Dangarikar said the shoes should all be in good condition, and should be wearable.
Lucia Sinigaglieu, another Guinness official adjudicator, who was present at the INC’s massive “Aid to Humanity” in Tondo, was assigned to check on the medical risk assessment record attempt of the INC at the Isabelo delos Reyes elementary school in Tondo, Manila.
Another Guinness adjudicator Lena Kathmann inspected the medical ultrasound examinations of the INC.
The INC conducted more than 7,000 ultrasound examinations (7.152 to be exact) within eight hours, beating the record set by the Chinese Taipei Rotary International Districts on Dec. 15, 2015 of 2,434 ultrasound examinations.
The Department of Health also commended the INC for holding such a historic and massive event. especially since it also involved medical outreach for the poor.
Health Assistant Secretary Dr. Elmer Punzalan said the INC’s record-breaking “Aid to Humanity” program is an inspiration not only to the Department of Health, but the country as well.
“We are very very thankful that such activities have been initiated,” Punzalan said as he noted the big number of people who benefited from the project.
The Guinness announcements were made after the evangelical mission activity or “Pamamahayag” of the INC at the Filinvest compound which has a capacity for some 100,000 people.
The “Aid to Humanity” or “Lingap-Pamamahayag” activity was done in cooperation with the Felix Y. Manalo foundation.
It was in Tondo Manila that the INC first broke three Guinness world records in a similar “Aid for Humanity” or “Lingap sa Mamamayan” event on July 7, 2012. INC then set new world records for largest dental health check, the biggest number of blood pressure (BP) readings taken in eight hours and for the most numerous blood glucose level (BGL) tests, also conducted in eight hours.
The INC has since gained 11 more Guinness world records: two for the historic World Wide Walk for Yolanda victims on February 15, 2014 — the largest charity walk done within 24 hours in multiple venues, and the largest charity walk in a single venue (Manila); another for “the most number of hunger relief packages distributed in eight hours in a single venue” in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija; the largest mixed use indoor theater for the 55,000-seater Philippine Arena and the “largest gospel choir during a worship service” which was also held inside the Philippine Arena; three more Guinness records for the movie “Felix Manalo,” and three more Guinness records for the New Year’s celebration at the Philippine Arena.
With the four more successful Guinness world attempts on Friday, the INC now has 18 Guinness world records in all.
(with reports from Weng dela Fuente and video reports from Meanne Corvera, Sophia Okut, Erwin Temperante, Eagle News Service)
