THE Philippines successfully broke the record for the World’s Largest Art Lesson attended by 16,692 students from 32 secondary schools in Quezon City.
Officially called “PINASayang Sining,” the event was organized recently by Expressions Stationery Shop Inc. (ESSI) at the Quezon Memorial Circle.
ESSI General Manager Jason Lim said they held the class as part of their company’s 30th anniversary celebration and in support of National Arts Month.
“[Also, this is] because Expressions is the champion for positive self-expression, leading to learning and creativity in school, work and life,” he said.
Officially monitored and recognized by the Guinness World Records (GWR), the event was helmed by professional educator Sheila Meneses who taught the students using a lesson plan approved by GWR.
The session highlight was the drawing of a mask used during the famous Maskara Festival annually held in Bacolod.
Top Quezon City officials led by Mayor Herbert M. Bautista, together with City Administrator Aldrin Cuna as well as executives of the Department of Education Division Office, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and ESSI witnessed the event.
At the end of the class, the students held in unison the artworks they did to signal that the record was broken.
The above-cited official number of participants was announced by the independent auditor, Pricewaterhouse Coopers Philippines who was pre-approved by Guinness to validate the attempt.
While it is yet to be officially recognized by the GWR, ESSI is positive the country has accomplished to surpass the previous record held by India at 14,135 students back in 2014.
ESSI President and COO Joseph Lim Bon Huan hopes they will get the results soon, so they can announce it on April 20 in a Gala night at Marriott Hotel in Parañaque City.
This, he said, will serve as a testament that their company, a homegrown organization, could bring out the capability of Filipinos to “achieve great things” when working together.
“We just want to initiate [this] to show that we can do something; that we can contribute and make our country proud,” the president and COO said.
ESSI, an affiliate of Sterling Paper Group of Cos. (SPGC), started as a concessionaire in one of the community malls back in 1984, and started its first store in 1988 in Quezon City. Since then, it has become one of the leading school and office supplies chains in the country with more than 100 branches nationwide.
“Over the years, Expressions has evolved. We hope to reach 200 stores before the second quarter of next year,” said Dr. Henry Lim Bon Liong, chairman and CEO of SPGC.
“We have a target of 500 stores by 2022,” he added while citing the rollout of a new concept starting in their store at Ayala Malls Feliz in Pasig City next month. “So definitely, you can expect excellent things from us. We want to promote that positive self-expression. This is just the first step.”
