Davao breaks ‘torotot’ record

DAVAO CITY, Philippines - – Davao City broke the world record of Japan for the most number of party horns used in one setting during the celebration of the first ever Torotot Festival on New Year’s Eve.

Japan holds the world record in the Guinness Book with the use of 6,900 party blowers at one time.

Davao City surpassed it with 7,568 as of 10:47 p.m., an hour and 12 minutes before the New Year.

Mayor Rodrigo Duterte led Davao residents in blowing party horns in the city’s Freedom Park.

Families and friends went to the park with their party horns to take part in the New Year countdown.

Participants in the Torotot Festival jumped in jubilation as the electronic tabulation board flashed the 7,568 mark declaring that the record of Japan had been broken.

Authorities blocked off Roxas Avenue, the venue for the festival.

The holding of the festival is in line with a 12-year-old city ordinance banning the sale and use of pyrotechnics.

The ban has resulted in zero-injury during Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve revelries.

Smart Communications, in partnership with the city government, gave away 10,000 party blowers.

Participants were given free party horns when they register and enter the area for the Torotot Festival.

Party horns were properly documented to ensure that they were actually used.

The registration for the party horns was also for record purposes for the Guinness Book of World Records officials to go through.

Smart also held an inter-barangay contest for most creative torotot, giving away P25,000 cash for the winner.

Another P50,000 was given to the barangay that sent the largest contingent to the New Year party held from 1 p.m. of Dec. 31 to 1 a.m. yesterday.