Filipino declared world's shortest man

Filipino declared world's shortest man

2011-06-13 00:09:40 GMT+7 (ICT)

MANILA (BNO NEWS) -- The Guinness Book of World Records on Sunday declared a Filipino as the world's shortest man, GMA News Online reported.

Led by Guinness editor-in-chief Craig Glenday, Guinness adjudicators arrived in Sindangan town late last week to measure Junrey Balawing in time for his 18th birthday on Sunday. After careful measurement processes, the 1-foot and 9.7-inch (55.11 cm) Filipino was declared the world's shortest man.

A local official, however, said that the crowning of Balawing was a "bitter-sweet" triumph. In a telephone interview with GMA News Online, Sindangan municipal administrator Alanixon Selda said the young man clinched the record due to an "extreme abnormality." He added: "We don't want our people to suffer any abnormalities."

Selda said poverty prevented Balawing's parents from seeking an expert's help and that he is an out-of-school youth because his condition makes him "barely mobile."

Junrey is the eldest of four siblings of a Subanen indigenous family. His mother is a housewife and his father is a blacksmith.

In a statement, Guinness' Glenday said, "While we need to maintain a scientific, dispassionate approach to documenting record claimants, it's impossible not to be moved by the plight of these incredible, brave human beings."

"Most of us are fortunate enough to never know the hardship of being unable to fit in – quite literally – to a giant world, to never find clothes to fit, or hold down a regular job or relationship. Add to this the inevitable medical complications associated with short stature, and you have the potential for a difficult, lonely life lived on the fringes of society," the Guinness editor-in-chief added.

Balawing beated the record of Nepalese Khagendra Thapa Magar, who measures 2 feet and 2.41 inches (67.08 cm).

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