Will RP break world kissing record?

Manila Mayor Lito Atienza and his wife led a Valentine’s Day kiss festival along Roxas Boulevard last midnight that could well land the Philippines in the Guinness Book of Records for the most number of couples simultaneously kissing in public.

The mayor said only married couples were allowed to register for the attempt, in an acknowledgment that public kissing may be too much for some sections of the largely Roman Catholic nation.

Atienza, 62, closed off a two-kilometer stretch of the north-bound lane of Roxas Boulevard, one of the city’s busiest streets for "Lovapalooza," which at the stroke of midnight Friday had at least 5,000 couples kissing for 10 seconds while forming a single line on the boardwalk of Roxas Boulevard.

The old record was set by 4,500 couples in the Chilean capital Santiago last year, Atienza told reporters.

"Filipinos are very affectionate, Manileños in particular," Atienza said, prior to the kiss fest. "I will join the attempt with my wife," Evangeline.

He said the Valentine’s Day stunt should relieve tension in the Philippines, which is in the midst of campaigning for the May 10 presidential, congressional, and local elections.

"We need to relax and forget politics and other national problems from time to time," he added.

An open air concert and a fireworks display preceded the record-breaking feat, which had Close-up toothpaste as major sponsor.

Among those who registered for the Lovapalooza were models Bianca Valerio and Mike Carreon, city councilor Kim Atienza and wife Felisa, and Apa and Ada Ongpin.

City officials earlier clarified that minors were not qualified to join the event, for which traffic was rerouted and brisk sales of mouthwash were expected. — With AFP