Kimberley Dennis, Guinness adjudicator, announced that 16,218 people participated in the dance fitness exercise held at the 4-lane road, known as Enrique Garcia, Sr. Highway here.
She said that the number broke the world record held by Mexico City since 2012 where there were 6,630 participants in the same category.
The news was met with rejoicing by city and provincial officials, guests and participants filling the stretch of 2.2 kilometers from the MacArthur Highway to the Roman Superhighway.
Balanga City Mayor Jose Enrique Garcia III, brother Gov. Albert Garcia and former Tesda Sec. Joel Villanueva were so happy of the city’s accomplishment. Villanueva’s wife is from Bataan.
“Balanga is the first local government unit in Bataan to achieve this feat. This is for all our citizens, especially the youth who will always remember that they were part of this undertaking. Hindi lang world-record sa hataw ang nakamit natin kundi kinilala rin tayo ng buong mundo bilang tobacco-free generation,” the mayor said.
Bataan’s component city has aggressively pursued a no-smoking campaign since 2008. It is in the Hall of Fame of the Department of Health after receiving Red Orchid Awards for three consecutive years.
“The world will always remember that Balanga was the first city to declare a tobacco- free generation movement,” said Dr. Heng Nun Koong, Tobacco-free Generation founder in Singapore.
Dr. Ariel Ilaya presented to the mayor a resolution signed by 30,000 residents of Balanga City that asked the city council to implement programs and ordinances that will push further the implementation of the tobacco-free generation movement.
“Nangangako ang mga taong ipinanganak noong taong 2000 onwards na hindi sila maninigarilyo sa buong buhay nila,” Mayor Garcia said.
Elementary school pupils and teachers were proud of the feat of Balanga. They were among the thousands from 25 barangays of Balanga and some towns in Bataan who joined the 37-minute non-stop hataw.
