Cebu achieves Zumba record

CEBU, Philippines - The Queen City of the South broke one world record but fell short of another du-ring yesterday’s attempt to set multiple world records in one day. Two more attempts have yet to be submitted to the Guinness World Record headquarters in London for validation.

Pink Formation and Zumba Class

The first world record attempt was the largest human pink formation in the parking lot of SM City Cebu.

However the 6,611 participants were 237 less to break India’s record of 6,847 participants. The pink ribbon symbolizes breast cancer awareness.

Participants who joined in the pink formation were the same ones to join the attempt for the biggest Zumba class which followed shortly. The pink formation record attempt fell short because many who went for both attempts did not know they had to wear a pink shirt and a pink headscarf to join the pink ribbon attempt.

“Everything was perfect. The people here are so amazing and so lively. They just fall short on numbers on the largest human pink ribbon formation,” GWR adjudicator Provin Patel told The FREEMAN.

However, the Zumba class that followed did break the previous record of a Zumba class involving 6,671 participants achieved at the Peoples’ Plaza, Necklace Road, Hyderabad, India, last September 15, 2012. A total of 8,232 participants coming from all ages and walks of life participated in Cebu’s attempt yesterday.

Guinness required at least 30 minutes of non-stop basic Zumba for the attempt to be declared successful, according to the official time keeper Joel Baring of Sports and Fitness Enthusiasts.  Zumba is a dance fitness program created by Colombian dancer and choreographer Alberto “Beto” Perez in the 90’s which involves dance and aerobic elements and event martial arts.

ARCHERY TILT/LESSON

Two other GWR attempts were made at the Cebu City Sports Center —the largest archery tournament with 13,102 participants and the largest archery lesson with a total of 754 students.  The current record holder for the world’s largest archery tournament is with the National Archery in the Schools program of the USA with 9,426 established May of last year.

The archery world record attempt, a brainchild of national team mainstay Dondon Sombrio, started two years ago, but had to be shelved mainly because of super typhoon Yolanda and the earthquake.

Even before Guinness could formally declare Cebu City to have broken archery records, Simon Wee, an international judge/jury and council member of the World Archery Asia said, the Cebuanos have already become a model on grassroots development in archery in the world.

“I didn’t expect this one to be this big. I will definitely present this to the World Council and make this an example for Asia and the rest of the world,” said Wee.

Wee also said Cebu City can even add another GWR record out of the two-day archery event; the largest archery tournament using a PVC bow.

Cebu City mayor Michael Rama said that the GWR attempts only prove that Cebuanos are achievers, not only in local, but in the international scale.

“This is one proof that we are a city of achievers. Not only of simple accomplishments, but on a higher level. We aim not only of simple things, but even to the point of achieving Guinness World Records,” said Rama.

CCSC chairman Edward Hayco said the world record is only a means to promote sports and fitness to the grassroots. With that, CCSC is looking at establishing the world records for the largest arnis and scrabble tournament in the future.

Cebu’s other world records

The world’s largest dance class and largest board game tournament (chess) were also broken in Cebu City in attempts initiated by the Cebu City Sports Commission involving mainly public students. The record for most firework rockets launched was also broken in Cebu City through the efforts of Pyroworks International Inc.

Prior to that, Cebu City also had the biggest dance class also initiated by the CCSC in 2009 with 7,770 individuals, however that record was eclipsed by 9,223 participants in an event organized by Athena, the national Israeli council for the advancement of women in sports in Tel Aviv, Israel, last April 30, 2010. The dance class was exclusive for women.  — /BRP (FREEMAN)