How OFWs Helped Yanbu Retain Guinness Record
MANILA (UPDATED) – For the second time in a row, overseas Filipino workers helped Yanbu in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia retain its record for the world’s largest flower carpet.
“Ang alam ko po we still hold the Guinness record since walang bansang nag-attempt to break it,” said landscape designer John Torio of the Sadeem Agricultural Company. The company is under the Landscaping & Irrigation Department of the Royal Commission of Yanbu.
The Guinness World Record holder opened its flower carpet to the public during the 9th Flowers and Garden Festival held at the Al-Sinayah in Yanbu last month.
Yanbu broke its own record from last year’s 10,752 square meters to this year’s 12,000 square meters with further improvements to the design.
“Yung design ko po na na-submit sa director naming ang napiling gawing official design para sa flower carpet,” Torio said. Torio was also the one who designed last year’s winning entry.
The carpet was adorned with flowers grown by Sadeem Agriculture Company where many Filipinos are also employed.
“We strike again. As we maintain our record as the largest flower carpet in the world with different types of beautiful flowers mostly contributed by Filipinos from designing to execution,” said project manager, Engr. Rolando Alcantara.
Engr. Hamza Al Khoshhal , Royal Commission Section Manager of the Landscapping & Irrigation Department, said their Filipino workers are their partners in making the flower festival a success.
The nursery section is in charge of all the flowers. The preparations for the landscaping took about six months. Japanese, European, and tropical gardens were included in the latest design as well as a children’s playground.
“Malugud po muli akong nagpapasalamat sa pagdalo ninyo dito sa aming festival, especially sa TFC. Nagpapasalamt po ako sa bumuo sa festival na ito especially sa world carpet na ito, ganun na din sa mga departments ng landscaping, drawing section (Study and Planning Section), sa grupo ng Sadeem at sa Royal Commission,” said Nursery Manager Lito Reyes. With reports from Maria Aleta Nieva Nishimori, ABS-CBNnews.com and Francis Antony Nuique, ABS-CBN Middle East News Bureau