Filipino becomes world’s shortest man

SINDANGAN – A poor Filipino blacksmith’s son who stands less than 60 centimetres tall was declared the world’s shortest man by Guinness World Records on his 18th birthday yesterday, sparking a celebration in his hometown.

The title was bestowed on Junrey Balawing in Sindangan in the southern Philippines, with his parents, villagers and officials showering the coastal town’s newly famous resident with a feast, cake, balloons and cash gifts.Balawing measured 60 centimetres during the ceremony attended by about 100 villagers and journalists. Guinness World Records representative Craig Glenday presented Balawing with official recognition of his status as the shortest adult man in the world.Balawing, who wore a white shirt emblazoned with the Guinness seal, took over the title from Khagendra Thapa Magar of Nepal, who is 67 centimetres tall, Glenday said.Dozens of journalists descended on Sindangan, a fishing and farming town of 90 000 located about 730 kilometres south of Manila, to cover the event.- Nampa-AP