Ever since I was small, I looked up highly to the Guinness Book of World Records. I used to browse with wonder through their books of amazing feats such as the Most Tattoed Person, the Largest Diamond, the Longest Bridge etc. It was always one person, thing, or place beating another’s record – the stuff challenges are made of!

Last March 21, we never thought we’d be part of history and the Guinness Book of World Records itself. It was during the occasion of the Grand BIDA March running the length of Roxas Boulevard and culminating at the Quirino Grandstand. The heat of the sun was pricking our skin, but we didn’t seem to mind as we got the chance to mingle with people from all walks of life who were one in the fight against illegal drugs. Most noticeable were school-age students in red t-shirts, all members of the Batang Iwas Droga or BIDA, who were glad to be out with their friends that day, like it was a fun ‘barkada’ outing.

How did it all go? All of us, and all participants, were given white bar-coded cards which we had to swipe in a machine to register for the Guinness World Records. Each swipe meant a person was counted, and the growing total was actually flashed in an electronic screen as we entered the gates. (continue reading…)