MANILA, Philippines?An estimated 600,000 people in red shirts swarmed a stretch of Roxas Boulevard in Manila on Saturday in a bid to set a record as the world's first and biggest anti-drugs rally.

And they landed the "Grand Bida March" in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest march against illegal drugs which was certified by adjudicators from London?Lucia Sinigagliesi and Denice Anlander.

The event was led by the Batang Iwas Droga (Bida) Foundation Inc. and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) as part of a campaign to educate grade school students on the dangers of illegal drugs.

Anlander told the Inquirer that they don't know the exact figure yet but it's enough that the crowd seemed to pass the minimum requirement of 100,000. She said they would verify the exact figure within the week.

Bida has so far recruited 700,000 student-members, and together with their parents, teachers, representatives from government agencies, non-government organizations, and Pagcor employees were expected to reach 500,000 to 1 million marchers.

Bida corporate secretary Josephine Evangelista said that they were happy with the turnout but the more important message was the campaign for preventive education against illegal drugs.

Pagcor corporate communications officers said around 600,000 registered on the Cultural Center of the Philippines grounds. They assembled at 1 p.m. and were counted by a machine at the Rajah Sulayman Park using bar-coded cards that were distributed beforehand.

Bida mascots, street dancers, and television artists provided entertainment as the marchers braved the scorching summer heat.

They converged at the Quirino Grandstand, where Pagcor chair Efraim Genuino, Dangerous Drugs Board chair Senator Vicente Sotto, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, Education Secretary Jesli Lapus, and Education Undersecretary Vilma Labrador joined in the program.

The anti-drugs czar, President Macapagal-Arroyo, was a no-show though she was invited.

Lim, a staunch anti-drugs campaigner, cited the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and Manila Police's raid on a shabu laboratory Saturday and advised the students not to be tempted to use illegal drugs. He said it could only lead to three destinations?mental hospital, prison, or cemetery.

Genuino said the children were his allies in the fight against illegal drugs and that they were the heroes of the nation while Sotto lauded them for participating in the event.

DDB spokesperson Roxanne Barcelo, Marianne Rivera, Nadine Samonte, Isabel Oli, Yasmien Kurdi, and Rainier Castillo were some of the actors who graced the event.

Binibining Pilipinas 1st runner-up Miriam Quiambao and Miss Earth title holders also made an appearance while the Manila Police District Band, Andrew E., Shamrock, Cueshe and Hale performed for the audience.

Chris Tiu, host of the television show "Pinoy Records," also awarded a citation to the Grand Bida March.

And the crowd chanted, "Bida ako, pasok sa Pinoy records!"