INC members display solidarity as they join 2nd worldwide walk
Published May 6, 2018 02:23 pm
By Hans Amancio
Driven by faith and goodwill, members of the religious group Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) once again displayed solidarity as they gathered for the second Worldwide Walk today in Manila.
Walk- Thousands of members of the Iglesia ni Cristo participate in a massive simultaneous charitable walk along Roxas Blvd., in Manila to attempt a Guiness World Record for the largest charity walk, beating their own record last 2014 which had 500,000 participants. Photo by Ali Vicoy)
Thousands of faithful participants assembled at the Cultural Center of the Philippines as early as 3 a.m. and grew to a whopping 1.2 million people by 9 a.m.
Cheers and cries of devotion were heard along the stretch of Roxas Boulevard as each batch of faithful INC members took their first step at the starting line.
Flags bearing the religious group's green-white-red logo were raised by the participants, who warmingly smiled for nearby cameras.
Seemingly unbothered by the heat and uneasy conditions, a few participants sang along the official theme song of the event entitled "Bagong Umaga" which left a cheerful ambience among the crowd. With the heat slowly intensifying, street peddlers took the opportunity to sell cold, bottled water to exasperated participants.
After a 1.6-kilometer walk, participants cheered with pride and trooped over to the Quirino Grandstand to participate in another world record-breaking activity.
Robert and Shiela Mendoza from Imus, Cavite, shared their overwhelming experience in comparison with the first Worldwide Walk event back in 2014.
"Nakasali kami dati unang Worldwide Walk. Ang masasabi ko lang mas maraming nag-participate ngayon at mas maayos. Although nakakapagod, masaya pa rin. Di mo mararamdaman yung pagod (We were able to participate in the first Worldwide Walk. There are more participants in this event and it is more organized. It may be tiring but we enjoyed it)," the couple said.
"Masaya dahil nakipagkaisa kami. Kaya mga kapatid, tuloy lang sa pakikiisa. Purihin ang Panginoong Diyos! Sa Kanya po lahat ito (It was fun to be united. To all my INC brothers and sisters, keep cooperating. Let us praise the Lord! This is all for Him!)."
Meanwhile, Angela Sablan from Calumpit, Bulacan, who arrived a day before the event said that she enjoyed the activity event although it was her first time.
"Di ako nakasama nung una kaya pinilit ko makasama ngayon dahil matagal uli bago ito mauulit. Andito kami 10 ng gabi kahapon at sa bangketa kami natulog. Ibang experience pag nakikiisa sa gawain ng Iglesia (I was not able to join the first time so I made it a point to join this year. I was already here last night by 10 p.m. and we slept on the sidewalk. It was a great experience being united for this church event)," she said.
Manila Police District Spokesperson Supt. Erwin Margarejo said that the crowd was estimated to be around 1.5 million by 10 a.m. At least 20 participants were reportedly given medical assistance due to dizziness and hypertension. Thousands of cops from several police districts had been deployed to ensure safety and security in the event.
Walk- Thousands of members of the Iglesia ni Cristo participate in a massive simultaneous charitable walk along Roxas Blvd., in Manila to attempt a Guiness World Record for the largest charity walk, beating their own record last 2014 which had 500,000 participants. Photo by Ali Vicoy)
Thousands of faithful participants assembled at the Cultural Center of the Philippines as early as 3 a.m. and grew to a whopping 1.2 million people by 9 a.m.
Cheers and cries of devotion were heard along the stretch of Roxas Boulevard as each batch of faithful INC members took their first step at the starting line.
Flags bearing the religious group's green-white-red logo were raised by the participants, who warmingly smiled for nearby cameras.
Seemingly unbothered by the heat and uneasy conditions, a few participants sang along the official theme song of the event entitled "Bagong Umaga" which left a cheerful ambience among the crowd. With the heat slowly intensifying, street peddlers took the opportunity to sell cold, bottled water to exasperated participants.
After a 1.6-kilometer walk, participants cheered with pride and trooped over to the Quirino Grandstand to participate in another world record-breaking activity.
Robert and Shiela Mendoza from Imus, Cavite, shared their overwhelming experience in comparison with the first Worldwide Walk event back in 2014.
"Nakasali kami dati unang Worldwide Walk. Ang masasabi ko lang mas maraming nag-participate ngayon at mas maayos. Although nakakapagod, masaya pa rin. Di mo mararamdaman yung pagod (We were able to participate in the first Worldwide Walk. There are more participants in this event and it is more organized. It may be tiring but we enjoyed it)," the couple said.
"Masaya dahil nakipagkaisa kami. Kaya mga kapatid, tuloy lang sa pakikiisa. Purihin ang Panginoong Diyos! Sa Kanya po lahat ito (It was fun to be united. To all my INC brothers and sisters, keep cooperating. Let us praise the Lord! This is all for Him!)."
Meanwhile, Angela Sablan from Calumpit, Bulacan, who arrived a day before the event said that she enjoyed the activity event although it was her first time.
"Di ako nakasama nung una kaya pinilit ko makasama ngayon dahil matagal uli bago ito mauulit. Andito kami 10 ng gabi kahapon at sa bangketa kami natulog. Ibang experience pag nakikiisa sa gawain ng Iglesia (I was not able to join the first time so I made it a point to join this year. I was already here last night by 10 p.m. and we slept on the sidewalk. It was a great experience being united for this church event)," she said.
Manila Police District Spokesperson Supt. Erwin Margarejo said that the crowd was estimated to be around 1.5 million by 10 a.m. At least 20 participants were reportedly given medical assistance due to dizziness and hypertension. Thousands of cops from several police districts had been deployed to ensure safety and security in the event.