TO celebrate next week the discovery of the Philippines, a two-hectare Philippine flag was unfurled in a vacant lot in Liloan town yesterday morning.
Weighing three tons and big enough to cover two football fields, the Philippine flag was pulled by more than a hundred people, including Liloan town officials, led by Mayor Vincent “Duke” Frasco, and students from the Livingstone Christian Academy, within a vacant field in Barangay Jubay about a few kilometers from the town proper.
The flag’s creation was initiated by Grace Galindez-Gupana from Aritao, Nueva Ecija, and had taken three months.
Gupana, a businesswoman turned evangelist, aims not only to break a world record, but also to educate Filipinos about love for country.
“The Philippines is for Filipinos, and not for foreigners. We are Filipinos regardless of religion and sex,” said Gupana.
She brought the flag to Liloan to celebrate the historical discovery of the Philippines by Portuguese conquistador Ferdinand Ma-gellan on March 15, 1521.
Gupana has been a holder of nine Guinness Book of World Records titles since 2007.
Some of the world records that she has broken are the world’s largest Israel flag in November 2007, the world’s largest banner in December 2007 and the largest Jerusalem flag in April 2009.
On March 15, 2008, Gupana broke five world records in one day—the largest 10 Commandments tablet, longest drawing of idols burned into ashes, largest diabetes screening, largest blood pressure check, largest blood identification, and largest cholesterol check.
Gupana’s biggest Philippine flag was first unfurled at the Luneta Park during the launch of the campaign of Jesus is Lord founder and presidential candidate Eddie Villanueva.
Mayor Frasco, in a separate interview, said he was glad that the large flag was brought to his town to promote Filipino pride.
When he was informed that Gupana and her group would be coming to his town, he made the needed preparations to ensure the activity will push through.
The flag will stay in the area for seven days so students can see and even help in fixing it. (JKV)