Saturday, March 12, 2011

 Largest human cross: Manila students sets world record

MANILA, Philippines -- Some 24,560 college and high school students, faculty and support staff from the University of Santo Tomas (UST) observed Ash Wednesday by forming a giant human cross on the UST field - setting the new world record for the Largest human cross .
   Photo: Students from the University of Santo Tomas form The World's Largest Human Cross as they observe the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday at the UST campus in Manila. Photo by: Jonjon Vicencio/Andy Zapata Jr. ( enlarge photo )

  The previous Guinness world record for the largest human cross was achieved by 935 participants at an event organised by the Oslo Red Cross (Norway) at the Oslo Opera House in Oslo.

Guinness World Records also recognized the largest human rainbow world record, set by 30,365 participants, organized by the Polytechnic University of the Philippines at the Qurino Grandstand, Rizal Park, Manila, Philippines.

  Some 24,560 college and high school students, faculty and support staff donned in either black or white uniforms gathered on the UST field to form the impressive cross that looked three-dimensional when viewed from a height.

   The human cross was formed on a football field at the 400- year- old University of Santo Tomas (UST) in Manila.

  It took one and a half hours to form the cross. Although the students were visibly excited, a more solemn atmosphere pervaded during the late afternoon as prayers were said and bells sounded for 20 minutes while the formation was in place.

  Last December, the UST also tried to set a world record by mounting the world's largest "living rosary" but temporarily dropped the bid due to lack of time to process and get the approval of the Guinness World Records.
(It takes only few days with World Record Academy to register your world record attempt and get an answer within few days only!).

  "The symbol of the Cross is not simply the Cross but a Dominican cross so that it will symbolize better the Dominican and Catholic identity of Santo Tomas," Fr. Winston Cabading, vice-rector of UST's Office on Religious Affairs, said.

  He added the students were made aware that what they are going to do is not only for a world record but also to manifest their Catholic position.