Camarines Sur sets Zumba record

LARGEST ZUMBA CLASS People of Camarines Sur dance on the grounds of the capitol in Pili town on Saturday as part of “Kaogma (Happy) Festival,” breaking the Guinness record for largest Zumba class. —PHOTO COURTESY OF CAMARINES SUR LGU

PILI, CAMARINES SUR—The twirling, jumping and sashaying by at least 13,350 dancers from 35 municipalities were not for naught, as Camarines Sur province broke the world record for most Zumba participants on Saturday.

The event on capitol grounds was part of the celebration of the province’s “Kaogma (Happy) Festival” in commemoration of  Camarines Sur’s 439th Foundation Day.

Gov. Miguel Luis Villafuerte and actresses Sunshine Cruz and Yassi Pressman were onstage as major performers of the “Grand Zumba Kontra Droga” event.

After 30 minutes, the dancers were declared the largest Zumba class in the world by Guinness adjudicator Peter James Fairbairn.

The record beat that of Mandaluyong City set in 2015 with 12,975 participants.

“I am so happy to be able to make a stand and statement against illegal drugs while making a mark by setting a world record,” said Governor Villafuerte.

Camarines Sur also set Guinness World Records for the biggest number of trees planted in 15 minutes in 2011 and 1 million mangroves planted in one hour in 2012.

The weeklong festival starting May 19 is being celebrated through triathlon, cultural street dance competition, dance contests, a beauty pageant and other activities.

The festival culminates on May 27, the foundation anniversary of the province.

The opening of the festival was attended by presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte (the governor’s father), former Rep. Luis R. Villafuerte (the governor’s grandfather) and several television personalities. —Reports from Johnny Escandor and Stephanie Florida