The event hopes to break a world record for the largest charity walk done by Iglesia Ni Cristo in 2014 recognized by The Guinness Book of World Records patrticipated by 519,221 members. / AFP PHOTO / NOEL CELIS
The Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) beat its own record on the largest charity walk on a single venue previously set in 2014, with the announcement by Guinness World Records that the May 6, 2018 walk had 238,171 participants for its main Manila site, along Roxas Boulevard.
The Guinness count was based on the wristbands that were placed at the drop boxes at the finish line of the end of the 1.6 kilometer walk that was particularly set for the counting.
With the announcement made past midnight, or about 12:30 a.m. Monday, May 7, the INC got three official word records for its May 6 event including the largest human sentence (23,235 participants) and the largest picture mosaic formed by people (9,000 participants).
The event hopes to break a world record for the largest charity walk done by Iglesia Ni Cristo in 2014 recognized by The Guinness Book of World Records patrticipated by 519,221 members. / AFP PHOTO / NOEL CELIS
The first record on the largest human sentence was announced Sunday morning, May 6, by Guinness adjudicator Paulina Sapinska.
INC’s 23,235 participants formed the sentence “PROUD TO BE A MEMBER OF IGLESIA NI CRISTO” beating the 16,550 participants of previous record-holder, the Rotary International District 3000, Rotary Club of Perambalur New Gen, and Roever Group of Educational Institutions.
Participants of those organizations formed the sentence “You can you will” with 16550 participants in Perambalur, India on August 10, 2016.
The second Guinness world record for the day was announced by Guinness adjudicator Lucia Sinigagliesi for largest picture mosaic formed by 9,000 INC members
The image was the Church’s green, white and red flag with the biblical golden menorah in the middle.
The two other Guinness attempts for the largest charity walk in multiple venues, and the most nationalities in a charity walk would still have to be verified by Guinness headquarters, according to Adam Brown, Guinness official adjudicator.
“They are all very commendable titles. We value and honor your hard work and dedication throughout today’s attempts,” he said.
He said the passports of those involved in the attempt for the most nationalities in a charity walk still had to be further verified.
The number of those who participated in the charity walk in 300 sites across 18 time zones were “unbelievable,” said Dr. Serge Santos of the FYM Foundation after the announcement.
Guinness, because of its “very stringent” rules said it still needed to submit the numbers to their headquarters for further checking.
“Well done for everyone across the world who took part in that attempt,” Brown said.
“Congratulations! Iglesia Ni Cristo, you are now officially amazing,” said Brown after announcing the record for the largest charity walk.
He said that they were hoping that the two other official Guinness attempts of the INC on the most number of nationalities in a single venue, and the largest charity walk in multiple venues would be “announced shortly.”
The INC Worldwide Walk to fight poverty was the second global march of the INC. The first one was held on February 15, 2014 that set the record for the largest charity walk in a single venue with 175, 509 participants.
It benefited victims of supertyphoon Haiyan, locally known as Yolanda in the Philippines.
The May 6 Worldwide Walk, on the other hand, is for the benefit of poor communities in Africa, said INC General Auditor and FYM Foundation President, minister Glicerio Santos Jr.
Santos said that the victories of the Church was all for God’s glory.
“Ang lahat ng ito ay awa at tulong ng Diyos. Kaya tayong Iglesia Ni Cristo, magkaisa tayo na ibalik sa Diyos ang lahat ng kapurihan,” he said.
“Led by its Executive Minister, Brother Eduardo Manalo, the INC will continue to uphold what the Bible teaches, including the command to love our fellowmen as we love ourselves. All glory belongs to God,” said INC Spokesperson minister Edwil Zabala.
He also added that there was a clean-up of the walk venues as soon after the event.
“Our clean up began immediately after we used the site, and it will continue until the following day. So, I hope we don’t have to deal with anyone who would show pictures of trash without also showing pictures of the same being cleared and carted off,” he said.
The current record for the largest charity walk in 24 hours in multiple venues is also held by the Iglesia Ni Cristo for the February 15, 2014 Worldwide Walk for Typhoon Haiyan victims. Participants who were counted for the 2014 attempt was at 519,221 in 135 sites across 13 time zones. (INC-PIO release)
