The influential Iglesia ni Cristo bagged three Guinness World Records in its lavish celebration of the New Year’s day.
According to a Radyo Inquirer report, the influential sect got the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest fireworks display, longest line of sparklers lit in a relay, as well as the most number of sparklers lit simultaneously.
READ: Tatlong record sa Guinness nakuha sa New Year countdown sa Philippine Arena
The world record was achieved in the INC’s celebration of the New Year held at the Philippine Arena, Ciudad De Victoria, Bulacan.
At least 100,000 people supposedly attended the countdown organized by the “Maligaya Development Corporation” headed by Atty. Glicerio Santos IV, chief operating officer and chief legal counsel of the INC.
The fireworks display lasted an hour from 12 midnight to 1 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2016.
The INC won the record previously held by London.
The INC celebrated a lavish celebration in the middle of a controversy that shook the church–the falling out between the Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo and his brother Felix Nathaniel and matriarch Cristina “Tenny” Villanueva Manalo over the alleged corrupt practices of the INC’s Sanggunian, including the alleged corruption that went into the construction of the Philippine Arena.
Several ministers also spoke out after they were alleged to have been detained by high-ranking INC officials. A complaint for serious illegal detention has been filed before the Department of Justice for its investigation.
READ: Ex-minister files illegal detention complaint vs INC’s Sanggunian members