Balawing, who wore
infant-sized shoes and a white shirt emblazoned with the
Guinness seal, took over the title from Khagendra Thapa
Magar of Nepal, who is 26.4 inches (67 centimeters)
tall, Glenday said.
Sindangan, about 450
miles (730 kilometers) south of Manila, has not had so
much attention in years - with dozens of journalists
descending on this fishing and farming town of 90,000 to
cover the event.
"Thank you," Balawing
told the crowd through his father, Reynaldo, who
interpreted his son's words spoken in a local dialect.
Balawing blew the candles on a cake and clapped heartily
each time the crowd applauded. He was later heard saying
"Kapoy," or "I'm tired."
Balawing's mother grew
teary-eyed during the ceremony. She said earlier that
she was happy with her son's instant fame.
Glenday said he was
struck with the lively personality of Balawing, who
constantly smiled and appeared not to be hampered by his
condition. Balawing - who is about the size of a toddler
and has a child's demeanor - was photographed propping
himself up using empty Coca Cola bottles, which were
taller than his waistline.
"Although he's short, he
takes that in stride," Glenday told The Associated
Press. "He has this cheeky smile."
Aside from a Guinness
certificate, the crown does not come with any cash
prize. Glenday hoped the international fame would bring
in gifts and donations, particularly medical supplies to
ensure the health of Balawing, who has to be propped to
be able to stand with his weak knees.
Nobody could explain why
Balawing stopped growing a few months after birth, his
father said.
Sindangan Vice Mayor
Bess Jagonio, who is a doctor, said Balawing "was just
the size of 2-pint (1-litre) soft drink bottle" when he
was born and speculated he may have suffered from an
endocrine or a birth-related defect.
Balawing's three other
siblings - a brother and two sisters - are all of
average size for their ages.
Balawing's mother,
Concepcion, said she and her husband tried to send him
to school but withdrew him after he distracted other
children's attention.
Local officials got the
idea of informing the Guinness records committee about
Balawing from journalists, who learned about his
condition and the possible fame that awaited him.
( Courtesy:
http://ibnlive.in.com/
)
