MANDAUE CITY -- For about 33 hours, Mandauehanons showed the spirit of bayanihan as they cooked what they hoped to be the world's biggest bibingka or rice bread.


Bibingka is the city's delicacy, which goes back to more than six generations. Bibingka is rice bread made from coconut milk and powdered rice. The oven is heated above and below where the bibingka is placed.


Crispin Mayol, a member of the sixth generation of Mayols, were among those whose family originally cooked the Bibingka. She takes pride as Mandaue City takes on the challenge to create a big bibingka.


"Our lolos taught us how to cook it. We really have a different way of cooking," Mayol shared.


Last May 9 at 3:00 in the afternoon, 400 Mandauehanons started cooking the bibingka. They tapped Home Economic students and teachers to help out in the cooking. Each group had a specific task. Some grated the coconut while others mixed the ingredients and poured in the dough.


The City of Mandaue spent about half a million pesos for the project. Businessmen also gave donations. All in all, 100 ovens were used, 61 sacks of rice, 61 sacks of sugar and 13,500 coconuts were consumed.


The bibingka was cooked by tiles, 40 cm by 40 cm each. All in all, the bibingka is 182 sq. meters and 50 ft. in diameter. It weighs about 6 tons and is 3 inches thick.


After the ceremonial slice, everyone ran excitedly to get their share of the bibingka.


"We're actually creating a record here. No record has been made yet, so we're confident we'll be able to get the title," Project Chairperson Clark Pelaez said.


Mandaue Mayor Jonas Cortes expressed happiness over the success of the project.


"We showed the force and strength of Mandaue City. This actually shows how cooperation could go a long way. We're hopeful Mandaue will create a name in the book," Cortes said.


The organizers will collate all data and submit this to Guinness Book of World Records.



--- Rachelle Dangin (ABS-CBN Central Visayas)