Pinoy super flag loses Guinness bid

The HalleluYAH Prophetic Global Ministries (HPGM) failed in its second attempt to replace the United States super flag as the world’s largest in the Guinness Book of Records, organizers said yesterday.

HPGM president Grace Gupana said despite their success in unfurling the Philippines’ largest flag at Barangay Pintong Bocaue, San Mateo, Rizal last Sunday, Guinness officials declined to accept the new record they set because they used the same flag that was torn when it was unfurled on a hill in Barangay Boni, Nueva Vizcaya last Sept. 16.

"We were informed that our flag did not qualify in the Guinness book because it was no longer the original entry," Gupana told The STAR.

She said however, that an Israeli flag of the same size, which they unfurled on Dec. 9, was accepted by Guinness officials and may be declared as the world’s new super flag.

The repaired Philippine super flag cost HPGM P1.8 million and the Israeli super flag P940,000.

"It’s the will of God. The failure of the Philippine flag to get into the Guinness Book of World Records symbolizes the state of disunity among the Filipino people," Gupana said.

The 100-meter by 200-meter (330 feet by 660 feet) Philippine super flag was originally scheduled to be unfurled at Rizal Park in Manila on Sept. 10, eve of the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks in the US. Sept. 11 is also the birthdate of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

The unfurling of the super flag, however, was reset to Sept. 16 in Nueva Vizcaya, where strong winds tore it apart. The super flag was repaired and successfully unfurled by 300 people in San Mateo, Rizal over the weekend.

Gupana said there was nothing political in their bid to challenge the US super flag.

"We just want to raise the Filipino super flag as a symbol of unity," she said.

The US super flag, owned by Thomas Demski Trust, measures 255 feet by 505 feet and has been in the Guinness Book of Records for the past 20 years.

According to the website www.superflag.com, at least 600 people are needed to unfurl the US super flag, which is available for display during special events in the US.

Smaller versions — the super flag 11, 1 and Jr. — are also available for special historical and military events.

Despite HPGM’s failure to set a new record, Gupana said they are still happy because Guinness officials accepted the record set by the Israeli super flag.

She said they decided to include the Israeli super flag to show the Filipino people’s support for Israel.

"We are always praying for peace and reconciliation in the Middle East," Gupana said.

She said the Philippine super flag will be placed in a museum where people can view it as a reminder of the need for unity among Filipinos.