2,000 Marys and Josephs win world record for Bulacan City

PHOTO BY CARMELA REYES-ESTROPE

Earlier this year, Bulacan Rep. Florida “Rida” Robes said the city hopes to get recognized anew by Guinness, after its 2017 feat of holding the largest lantern parade with 14,173 participants.

This time, Robes targeted the record of having “The Most Number of Living Figures in a Nativity Scene,” which was held by the United Kingdom with 1,254 participants.

“We’re pulling all the stops for the Living Nativity Scene record,” Robes said.

“We want to create a buzz for this all over the Philippines and all over the world. We’re going to stage this on Dec. 20,” she added.

On Friday, 2,101 Bulacan residents gathered at Altaraza Town Center grounds on Quirino Highway dressed as Mary, Joseph, the angels, the Three Kings, shepherds, and even livestock.

The number broke the record previously held by the Calne Town Council and Bible Society in the United Kingdom on Dec. 3, 2016, according to Swapnil Mahesh Nangarikar, adjudicator of the Guinness World Records.

Robes and her husband Mayor Arthur Robes were dressed as shepherds, while board member Jonjon Mendoza came as one of the Three Kings. Another board member, Alex Castro, and his wife, Sunshine, were garbed as Joseph and Mary.

She said the city undertook the project not just to land in the Guinness Book, but also to spread the blessed feeling inspired by the first Christmas, and encourage a more religious celebration of the holidays.