Sorsogon Governor Francis “Chiz” Escudero receives the plaque from Guinness World Record representative Swapnil Dangarikar for the largest number of participants in a Filipino folk dance. Photo by NIÑO JESUS ORBETA / Philippine Daily Inquirer
SORSOGON CITY — Rain did not stop 7,000 dancers clad in Filipino traditional outfits from prancing around to clinch a spot for Sorsogon province in the Guinness Book of World Records for “largest Filipino folk dance.”
Exactly 7,127 people participated in the 30-minute “Pantomina sa Tinampo” (folk dance on the street) on Thursday to make the record for largest number of participants in a Filipino Folk Dance, Swapnil Dangarikar, official adjudicator of Guinness World Records, said in an interview.
The folk dance was done in a 5-kilometer stretch of road and was one of the highlights of Sorsogon City’s Kasanggayahan Festival, a month-long celebration of Sorsogon’s 125th year as a province.
Governor Francis “Chiz” Escudero and his wife actress Heart Evangelista-Escudero were also among the dancers.
“The award goes to each and everyone, in fact, it is more than a record because we showed unity,” Escudero told the participants.
According to Escudero, “people from the whole province, public and private, young and old practiced for months, got together and felt proud of themselves and of their province for being a part of something larger than all of us.”
“If we can do this, then there is no excuse for us, as Sorsoganons, not to be able to move together and united in one direction to achieve the dreams and aspirations of our people,” he added.
New record: Largest Filipino folk dance – congratulations to all 7,127 participants in Sorsogon City, Philippines who braved rainy weather to perform the Pantomina dance together today 💃🕺 pic.twitter.com/QWKmAIpojj
— Guinness World Records (@GWR) October 31, 2019
The Philippine Folk Dance Society and Cultural Center of the Philippines commended the provincial government for preserving and promoting the love or traditional wedding dance Pantomina that originated from the Bicol region.
Escudero’s wife also congratulated the governor and the residents of Sorsogon.
“You are amazing for coming up with this and for inspiring Sorsoganons to be part of something BIG. Congrats Sorsogon!!!! Kaka proud!!! Kakaiyak!” Evangelista said in a tweet.
You are amazing for coming up with this and for inspiring sorsoganons to be part of something BIG❤️❤️❤️ congrats Sorsogon!!!! Kaka proud!!! Kakaiyak!❤️❤️❤️ @SayChiz @GWR pic.twitter.com/s2Jvoxc9jz
— LoveMarie O. Escudero (@heart021485) October 31, 2019
/lzb/kga