Sunday, June 30, 2013

  Largest human 'no smoking' sign: Philippines breaks Guinness  world record

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines -- Wearing red, black and white long-sleeved shirts, 13,892 participants formed the "no smoking" sign on the soccer field of the state-run Bicol University (BU) in Legazpi City, setting the new world record for the Largest human 'no smoking' sign, according to the World Record Academy: www.worldrecordacademy.com/ .

  Photo: Over 13,000 government employees, students and volunteers form a human 'no smoking' sign at the Bicol University football field in Legazpi, Albay. Photo by Arcel Cometa ( enlarge photo )

 The Guinness world record for the Largest collection of 'Do Not Disturb' signs was set by Jean-François Vernetti (Switzerland) who has collected 11,111 different 'Do Not Disturb' signs from hotels in 189 countries across the world since 1985.

  Guinness World Records also recognized the world record for the tallest road sign; it is 18.5 m (60 ft 8.34 in) high. The record, organised by Kurier Redaktion GesmbH & Co KG, was set during the event Vienna Recordia in Vienna, Austria.

  Joseph Espiritu, who was in charge of preparing for the event, said the "no smoking" sign was formed by government employees, soldiers, police, members of academe, students, and volunteers.

  Espiritu, assistant director for operations of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Bicol, said that at least 6,000 participants were assigned to form the red portion of the sign, another 6,000 for the white portion and 1,000 for the black section.

  Provincial board member Herbert Borja, chairman of the event's lead convenor, Smoke-Free Albay Network (SFAN), said the human no smoking logo is aimed at raising public awareness against smoking.

  "This event is meant to convince more smokers to quit smoking. Albay has that very serious resolve to push for a smoke-free province," Borja told The STAR.

  Albay Gov. Joey Salceda signed during the 'no-smoking' logo formation the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the province's anti-smoking ordinance.

 "By making the world's largest no smoking sign, we hope that other provinces and the rest of the world would join hands in making our place a smoke-free planet for the future generation," Salceda said.