Anything Pinoy

The Philippines officially made it Saturday afternoon for Guinness World Records as the first nation to hold the biggest march against illegal drugs by attaining the highest number of participants composed of public school children and their parents and teachers dubbed as the “Grand Batang Iwas Droga” (BIDA) March in Manila.

Around 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Guinness representatives Italian Lucia Sinigagliesi, Adjudications Executive; and Swedish Denise Anlander, Digital Content Manager, awarded the certificate to Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) Chairman Efraim C. Genuino on behalf of PAGCOR and the BIDA Foundation.

PAGCOR VP for Corporate Communications Dodie King said the exact figure of the participants will be announced later.

“The Guinness representatives will officially announce the figure,” he said.

“We are very excited because this is a statement to the world that we Filipinos made to the world record as the first nation to do (it) and this is a stand that we are against drugs,” he added.

First launched in 2003 with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo leading the oathtaking of thousands of children into the BIDA Kids Club, the project is a massive information campaign that aims to educate children between the ages of six and 12-years-old on the dangers of substance abuse.

The project is also supported by the Department of Education (DepEd), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), and Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB).

Spearheaded by PAGCOR and BIDA Foundation with support from various government agencies, local government units (LGUs) and non-government organizations (NGOs), the Grand Bida March gathered hundreds of thousands of public elementary school children, who along with their parents and teachers, are believed to reach enough number for a slot in the Guinness World Book of Records.

The Grand Bida March started at 1 p.m. with the assembly point set at the CCP Grounds. From there, the marchers passed by Rajah Sulayman Park to be scanned and counted before proceeding to the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta where a program and free concert featuring some of the country’s hottest bands and young stars were held.

PAGCOR Chairman Efraim C. Genuino said, “This is the time to take a stand as a nation. By participating in the Grand BIDA March, we do not only show the entire nation, but the whole world that Filipino people are one against the fight versus illegal drugs.”

“Let us work together to make our country a safer place to live. We owe it to our children and to future generations,” he said.

For her part, BIDA Foundation Corporate Secretary Josephine Evangelista explained that the Grand Bida March is all about creating awareness.

“We want to grab the public’s attention not only locally but in a global scale. The march is a massive event in which our schoolchildren will play a vital role in leading a battle cry against illegal drugs. Our children want to win this war and this is their venue,” she said.

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) has generously provided free MRT/LRT rides for all registered participants, whereas the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has allowed BIDA to make use of their railings apart from providing at least 1,800 volunteers.

Maynilad also helped provide free water stations in the area to re-hydrate the participants, while the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) set up booths and provide medical volunteers to give first-aid.

Apart from the bid to make a mark in Philippine history and aim for a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records in the category “Largest March against Illegal Drugs,” the BIDA march aims to increase awareness on the dangerous effects of illegal drugs and to attract considerable attention, even on an international and help pave the way for a drug–free Philippines.

Many celebrities also joined the march, acknowledging the responsibility to serve as role models of the youth.

The organizers explained the rationale behind why school children were tapped as the prime target of the anti-drugs campaign.

“It is our belief that we should educate our kids at a very young age about substance abuse, because if we start teaching them now about their dangers, they will develop disgust or hatred towards illegal drugs,” said King.