For World Hijab Day, Marawi women go for biggest human power button record

Six hundred and sixteen Muslim women in Mindanao on Sunday pressed a bid for a world record by forming what could be the world's biggest human power button.



The 616 took part in the bid at the provincial capitol gym of Lanao del Sur in Marawi City, GMA Northern Mindanao's Kaye Mercado reported Monday.

Sunday's record bid headed by the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao regional commission on Bangsamoro Women and the ARMM regional government timed the event for World Hijab Day, the report said.

Organizers of Sunday's event explained World Hijab Day seeks to show how the hijab symbolizes power to Muslim women.

A "hijab walk" preceded the world record bid.

"Ang Hijab Walk po ay isang acronym sa Women's Access to Livelihood ay isang Karapatan sa ARMM dahil po sa 2015 ay ang gusto ng administrasyon ni [ARMM Governor] Mujiv Hataman ay bigyan po ng kabuhayan ang mga kababaihan," said ARMM regional commission on Bangsamoro women secretary Sittie Jehanne Mutin.

In Sunday's event, the participants beat the present record, set in Canada with 364 participants forming the power button in 10 minutes.

"Lanao del Sur will get recognition, the Maranao will be recognized for their discipline. Nakita ang pag-form nila kanina. Tapos this will show the significance of the hijab," Guinness World Records consultant Arnold Garbanzos said.

For their part, the participants said they were proud of what they did.

"We are proud to show to the world that we are Muslims and not terrorists. Nage-generalize po kasi kami. So this is one way of showing na nakgkakaisa po kami," said Anipa Dadatoon.

The GMA Northern Mindanao report said organizers have sent photos and documentation of Sunday's feat to Guinness World Records in London. — Joel Locsin/BM, GMA News