Manila marks Valentine's Day with kissing marathon (Agencies) Updated: 2004-02-14 16:17
The Philippines sealed a world record with a kiss on
Saturday after 5,122 couples lined up in the capital to smooch for at least 10
seconds to celebrate Valentine's Day.
Filipino couples
kiss during a mass kissing session on Valentine's Day that could snatch
the coveted World record from Chile, along the city's bay in Manila
February 14, 2004. At least 5,122 couples smooch simultaneously for 10
seconds along the city's bay, thus beating the record set by 4,445 couples
just last month in Santiago. [Reuters]
Thousands of onlookers cheered as the couples, with some women covering their
faces, occupied a two-kilometre (1.2-mile) stretch of a boulevard beside Manila
Bay and kissed for at least 10 seconds at the stroke of midnight on Friday.
"Some wouldn't let go," Manila city spokesman Armand Sebastian said.
The kissing marathon, in which only married or engaged couples were allowed
to take part, beat the previous world record of 4,445 smooching couples set last
month in Santiago in Chile, Sebastian said.
"Let's take a break from the troubles we have been having, from our work,
from political bickerings," Mayor Lito Atienza said. "After all, it's
Valentine's Day."
The largely Roman Catholic country of 82 million is battling a huge national
budget deficit, a faltering peso, crime and corruption. It is preparing for
presidential elections in May.
The event was organised by the city government and a toothpaste
maker.
