ANGELES CITY, Philippines – Another Guinness World Record title awaits the Philippines as the city government here recently held the longest sitting back-rub massage chain in the world.

A total of 447 masseurs and masseuses, who are all members of the Philippine Association of Licensed Massage Therapists (PALMT), participated in the event which is set to be verified by representatives from the Guinness Book of Records.

The massage chain would also be the first to be participated in by professional therapists.

Department of Tourism 3 (DOT3) regional director Ronaldo Tiotuico expressed his confidence that the new world record would catapult the wellness industry to greater heights as DoT is now on its way to catch the fitness fever by positioning the coun-try as the most likely destination for treatment, healing, and recovery.

Right now, there is a record holder for the longest standing human shoulder massage chain coming from St. Louis, Missouri in USA, where some 710 students gathered at the Washington University to break the record made by the United Kingdom on Aug. 30, 2009 when some 430 people gave their clients a shoulder massage during the Leeds Festival.

Tiotuico disclosed that, in Pampanga alone, there are more than 100 day spas and resort destinations where foreign and local visitors may avail services like facial massage and medical solution to anti-aging treatment.

"I contemplated on making it to the world record, this time in sitting position, in order to show to the world that the Philippines is capable of drum-beating its niche as the health and wellness capitol of the world," said PALMT president Jevren Sibug.

He also believes that Filipinos can excel in the realm of physical and spiritual well-being as a growing population of wellness buffs continue to exercise their passion for delaying the aging process.

"We are proud to proclaim to the world that we, Filipinos, started and continue to promote the so-called “Pinoy Hilot” which is the traditional way of health and wellness as the best treatment for the aching body," Sibug added.

Sibug added that former holders of the Guinness records on back massage chains did not consider whether the participants were legitimate therapists.

The massage event was supported by the Angeles City Tourism Office (ACTO), Department of Health (DoH), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Committee of Examiner of Massage Therapy, Continuing Massage Therapy Education Council, DoH's accredited training institutions for Massage Therapy of the Philippines and the Municipality of Lubao.