INC’s Ecija relief distribution sets another world record

MANILA, Philippines - A week after setting two world records for its Worldwide Walk for Typhoon Yolanda survivors, the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) has set another world record, this time for the most number of hunger relief packs distributed within eight hours for its Lingap sa Mamamayan or Aid to Humanity conducted in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija last Saturday.

It was the sixth Guinness World Record for the INC since July 2012, and the third for them this year, considered as its centennial year. The INC will be celebrating its 100th anniversary on July 27.

Guinness World Record adjudicator Seyda Subasi Gemici thanked the INC for its “well-done, organized and professionally done record attempt,” which she said followed all the strict guidelines of Guinness.

“I have the pleasure to announce the world record attempt for the most number of hunger relief packages distributed in eight hours, single venue, with an achieved number of 302,311 hunger relief packs.  Mabuhay ang Iglesia ni Cristo and you are all officially amazing!” said Gemici Saturday night amid cheers of the people who witnessed the announcement in Barrio Maligaya, where the INC conducted its relief distribution.

INC general auditor Glicerio Santos Jr., also the president of the Felix Y. Manalo Foundation Inc., the INC’s charitable arm, said this was “all for God’s glory.” 

The relief distribution was conducted upon the instruction of INC executive minister Bro. Eduardo Manalo in observance of the 49th anniversary of Barrio Maligaya, a self-sustaining INC community in Nueva Ecija initially set up for 145 INC families who were driven away from Hacienda Luisita for refusing to join a labor union.

The INC members left Hacienda Luisita to settle at their new home in Barrio Maligaya on Feb. 22, 1965. 

Manalo officiated a special worship service in Barrio Maligaya early Saturday morning attended by about half a million INC delegates from different congregations around the province.

 Huge tents with LED screens were set up in an 18-hectare open area especially for the worship service that day. 

The worship service started at around 7 a.m. followed by the relief distribution at 9:18 a.m. It closed eight hours later at exactly 5:18 p.m.

The counting and validation of the wristbands given to those who received relief packs were completed before 7 p.m. The counting was closely monitored, validated and tabulated by representatives from SGV (Sycip Gorres Velayo and Co.) auditing firm.

Santos said the new Guinness record of the INC was not just a victory for the church, but also for the country.

Gemici said the Guinness records set by the INC were all done for charity purposes. The latest record had to exceed the required minimum by Guinness of 300,000 relief packages in order to set a new world record.

Each pack should have at least two non-perishable items, which in this case were noodles and sardines. Each relief pack has three kilos of rice, three noodle packs and three cans of sardines.

INC volunteer doctors, nurses, dentists and paramedics conducted a medical and dental mission in the area.

The relief distribution in Palayan City coincided with the 22nd anniversary of the INC’s resettlement site at the nearby Barangay Bagong Buhay, where at least 300 families affected by Mount Pinatubo’s eruption in 1991 were relocated. 

Both the Maligaya and Bagong Buhay resettlement sites were established during the time of the late INC executive minister Eraño Manalo.

INC spokesperson for the latest relief distribution activity, Edwil Zabala, said the Guinness record highlighted what the church had been doing all along, which is to help people in need, especially during calamities and disasters.

Zabala said most of the beneficiaries of the INC’s relief distribution in Palayan City were villagers affected by Typhoon Santi, which struck Central Luzon in October 2013.

 The INC also sent help and relief packs to areas affected by Santi and Yolanda last year.

On Feb. 15, INC’s “Worldwide Walk” for Yolanda survivors broke the Guinness record for the largest charity walk in a single venue (Manila with 175,509 participants).

It set a new world record for the largest charity walk done within 24 hours in multiple venues (135 sites around the world with 519,221 participants).

The INC also made the Guinness records on July 7, 2012, during the INC International Aid to Humanity held at Parola compound in Tondo, Manila where INC volunteers conducted a whole day medical-dental and relief mission for poor residents as part of the observance of the church’s 98th year.

The INC broke three Guinness world record that day – largest dental health check, the biggest number of blood pressure readings taken in eight hours, and most number of blood glucose level tests.