Bacolod kids go for Guinness feat

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines will vie for a new world record on Feb. 12 when students in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental come together as a single dance group and perform at the old Bacolod City Airport.

Organized under the auspices of the Batang Pinoy Movement headed by Jewel May Lobaton-Pimentel, the 1998 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe turned child advocate, and Bacolod City Rep. Dr. Anthony Golez, the event aims to break the standing Guinness world record held by China.

Young Negrenses will dance the Jam Step, a simple yet bouncy aerobic dance choreographed by the pep squad of the De La Salle University-Bacolod City.

“We are advocating a healthy and active lifestyle for children through Jam Step. We hope to be a positive influence to children and adults alike, and we are promoting this advocacy through the Feb. 12 event which will put us in the Guinness Book of World Records,” Lobaton-Pimentel said.

The total number of public school students in Bacolod is around 80,000, and she said they will try to invite and gather as many as possible.

She said the Batang Pinoy Movement plans to put up the Bacolod Disaster Relief and Preparedness Center, a pilot project to help prepare children particularly for disasters.

“Children are always the most vulnerable to disasters. Through the center, we hope to educate and train children in safety procedures,” she said.

The movement also hopes to produce family survival kits during disasters and a survival manual on DVD.