Candon tries to break heaviest rice cake record

CANDON CITY — Officials of this Ilocos Sur city are optimistic they can break the Guinness record on the world’s heaviest rice cake which Japan currently holds.

Tomorrow, Candon’s calamay makers will pool their efforts to produce a rice cake weighing more than the current record of 2,500 kilograms.

Mayor Allen Singson said the city government has notified Guinness about the record attempt.

Candon’s calamay is popular among tourists, who partake of it from the row of stores along the city’s main road.

The Guinness record-breaking attempt will highlight Candon’s celebration of its fifth cityhood anniversary. Second district Rep. Eric Singson authored the cityhood law.

"I am convinced, given the dynamism and excitement of our calamay makers who have prepared for this project, that we will make it," said Singson, House deputy speaker for Luzon.

It will be Candon’s second Guinness attempt. Last year, 40 Candon women produced what was touted as the world’s biggest calamay which measured 56 square meters.

However, there was no Guinness representative to document the feat. "We know better this time," Mayor Singson said.

The week-long cityhood celebration started last Friday with the Tobacco Festival.

Candon is the country’s largest producer of Virginia tobacco.