FILIPINO LOCAL EXTREMES

Here are few of the noteworthy Filipino WHEN, WHERE, HOW and WHO.

Filipinos who made it to the polarity of success or whatever they call it. Places or events that made history and is part of the history of the Filipino culture.

Would they inspire you?

All is in your hands to make.

Make history or be history!

OLDEST UNIVERSITY

The University of San Carlos (USC) in Cebu City is considered as the oldest school in the country and in Asia. Formerly known as the Colegio de San Ildefonso, it was founded by the Spanish Jesuits on August 1, 1595. This makes the Cebu-based university older than the University of Santo Tomas (1611) in Manila and Harvard University (1636) in the United States.

The University of Santo Tomas, however, contests this title. Formerly known as the Colegio de Nuestra Señora del Rosario, UST was the first school, which got a university status in 1645. USC became a university in 1948. UST also claimed that the original USC was closed in 1769 as a result of the expulsion of the Jesuits. It reopened in 1783 under a new name and ownership. But the USC officials stick to their claim. The university observed its 400th foundation day on August 21, 1995.

OLDEST VICE

The earliest vice among native Filipinos, according to historians, was the chewing of betelnut or “nganga”. It was said that Filipinos had been chewing betelnut for 3,000 years.

WORLD'S LARGEST SHOES

In December 2002, the Guinness Book of World Records has recognized Marikina City for crafting the world’s largest pair of shoes - each measuring 5.5 meters (18.2 feet) long, 2.25 meters (7.4 feet) wide and 1.83 meters (six feet) high. The materials for the P1.2 million pair of shoes could produce 250 pairs of regular shoes.

SILI KING

The Guinness Book of World Records recognizes Eriberto Gonzales of Camalig, Albay as the fastest chili eater. In the Philippines, he is known as the “Sili King”. Gonzales accomplished his feat in the “Sili-Eating Challenge 1999” in Bicol where he ate 350 pieces of sili in three minutes.

WORLD'S BEST FINANCE OFFICER

In 1997, Roberto de Ocampo who was serving in the Cabinet of former President Fidel Ramos, was recognized as the “World’s Best Finance Minister” for overhauling the country’s tax system through the Comprehensive Tax Reform Package.

WORLD'S SWEETEST FRUIT

What can be considered as the world’s sweetest mango is produced in the island province of Guimaras. While other countries have different varieties of the tropical mango (Mangifera indica), none of them tastes like the superbly delicious Guimaras mango, which is a variety of the popular Carabao Mango (Manginera indica). In 1995, the Guinness Book of World records listed the Carabao Mango as the sweetest fruit in the world. In the Philippines, mango ranks third among fruit crops in production, next to banana and pineapple. The country supplies mangoes to Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and recently the United States. In 1995, the Philippines produced 432,322 metric tons of mangoes, with an average production of 6.35 metric tons per hectare and 250 kilograms per tree from a total production area of 68,056 hectares.

WORLD'S LARGEST LEGAL TENDER

In 1998, during the Philippine Centennial celebration of independence, the Central Bank asked the Guinness Book of World Records to accredit its P100,000 commemorative bills, measuring 8 ½ inches wide and 14 inches long, as the world’s largest legal tender. The commemorative bills were called Brobdingnagian bills.

WORLD'S LARGEST LANTERN

On December 24, 2002, the city of San Fernando in Pampanga province switched on the world’s largest Christmas lantern - a P5-million structure with 26.8 meters in diameter.

WORLD'S BEST CENTRAL BANK GOVERNOR

In October 2002, international magazine Global Finance named Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Rafael Carlos B. Buenaventura as one of the world’s two best central bankers for “his remarkable skill in guiding” the Philippine economy under a trying year. The other central banker named was Reserve Bank of Austalia (RBA) Governor Ian MacFarlane.

OLDEST CITY

Cebu City is considered as the oldest city in the country, as this was the site of the earliest European settlement established by Spanish conqueror Miguel Lopez de Legazpi in 1565.

OLDEST HOSPITAL

The San Lazaro Hospital could be the oldest hospital in the country. According to Pampango historian Zoilo Galang, the San Lazaro hospital was established in 1578; Enfermeria de Naga, 1583; and Hospital de San Juan de Dios, 1596.

THE LEAF MUSICIAN

He became famous around the world for his distinct talent. The Guinness Book of World Records has recognized Filipino National Artist Levi Celerio as the only man who could play beautiful music with a leaf.

Celerio appeared in “That’s Incredible” and the Mel Griffin show where he played music with a leaf. The Guinness Book of World Records said: “The only leaf player in the world is in the Philippines”. As a composer and lyricist, Celerio wrote more than 4,000 songs.

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