Philippines sets world record on largest woman symbol formation

The Philippines is now the official holder of the largest woman symbol formation, according to the Guinness World Records (GWR).

During the Philippine Commission on Women’s (PCW) 40th founding anniversary on January 7 at Kalayaan Hall in Malacañan, Manila, PCW Executive Director Emmeline Verzosa broke the good news before the agency’s former chairpersons, commissioners, employees and colleagues.

“Just this morning, a very fitting time to receive some good news: We got the Guinness Book of World Records Certificate, which says– “The largest human gender symbol consists of 10,168 people, achieved by the Philippine Commission on Women (Philippines) as part of their ‘Juanas’ celebration in Manila, Philippines.”

Verzosa also congratulated all who stood to be counted in Rizal Park.

On March 8, 2014, government agencies, non-government organizations, state colleges and universities and other civil society groups converged to celebrate the International Women’s Day at Quirino Grandstand in Manila.

The gathering, dubbed as the “Sulong Juana! Human Woman Symbol Formation” was a symbolic kick-off activity to celebrate women’s resilience, strength and women’s various roles in nation-building and their untiring participation as volunteers in times of disasters, conflicts, calamity and any other situations.

According to GWR’s Alex Angert in his message to PCW, there is no existing record for the largest human formation of a gender symbol, although the website lists 10,563 people as taking part in a giant formation of a droplet in Haryana, India, in November 2013.Angert added that the PCW needs only 250 participants in order to set a new record.

The confirmation of the attempt took several months as GWR required evidences such as complete video footage, certification from an audit company, photographs, and witness statements indicating the measurements of the claim, among others.