BACOLOD CITY – Businessman Ricardo “Cano” Tan said that the 115-feet tall building designed in the shape of a rooster inside the Campuestohan Highland Resort in Talisay City, Negros Occidental, is now an icon in the Philippines.
BUSINESSMAN and former Bacolod City Councilor Ricardo ‘Cano’ Tan unveiled on Saturday, Oct. 19, a plaque from Guinness World Records certifying a 115-feet tall rooster-shaped structure at Campuestohan Highland Resort in Talisay City, Negros Occidental as the ‘largest building in the shape of a chicken.’ (Glazyl Masculino)
Tan, a former councilor of this city, accompanied by his family, unveiled on Saturday, Oct. 19, a plaque from the Guinness World Records certifying the 15-room hotel as “the largest building in the shape of a chicken.”
A GRW adjudicator made the official declaration in a video message played during the blessing and inauguration of the six-story building called “Manok ni Cano Gwapo.”
The GRW said that approximately 5,000 records were approved last year, out of the more than 55,000 applications submitted.
“These statistics show that this is not an easy task to achieve a GRW title,” the adjudicator said.
“This is a brand-new record, and in order to achieve this record, the minimum requirements were 30 meters in height, 20 meters in length, and 10 meters in width,” the GRW said.
The GRW said the building must be a permanent structure that is completed, and a qualified surveyor have to measure the building in the presence of two independent witnesses and then submit a report.
“After careful review of the evidence, the GRW announced that Ricardo “Cano Gwapo” Tan has achieved a GRW title for the largest building in the shape of a chicken which measures 34.931 meters in height, 12.127 meters in width, and 28.172 meters in length at Campuestohan Highland Resort in the Philippines as verified on Sept. 8, 2024,” the adjudicator said.
“We are now in the global map, and we are now a world record holder. The first in the Philippines, and first all over the world,” Tan said in a speech as he took pride in unveiling the structure.
Tan recalled that the road to getting a world record and to be certified by GWR was no joke.
Being certified by GWR is like passing through the eye of a needle. But with God’s grace and blessings, they survived the challenge of construction and the pressure of paper works, Tan said.
“Indeed, God is good. We made it. It is the only structure of this kind and magnitude ever recorded in the whole world. This is now an icon in the Philippines,” he added.
Tan said that the structure is a legacy for the people of Negros to be proud of and a legacy that would bring honor to the country.
This is an icon that also reflects Negros and its famous fighting cock industry, he added.
Tan noted that the fighting cock industry is second to sugar in the province. “When sugar industry slumped and threatened our livelihood, it was the fighting cock industry that rose above the challenge. It gave us millions of pesos of revenue, gave millions of pesos of taxes, and employed thousands of people directly and indirectly,” he said.
Tan said that he thought of building a structure for the world to appreciate and be a source of pride for fellow Filipinos – something made by man and yet will inspire others and the world.
“No other structure of this size and shape ever exist. When people see this icon, they will always connect it to the Philippines,” he added.
It was constructed on June 10, 2023, and was completed in 456 days. The building has 115 steps and is now ready to accept guests, Tan said.
Tan said that the structure is also for farmers, for faith and for resiliency. “The rooster will always rise above the call of the time…and so we are. We are all beacons of hope – just like the sound of a rooster in the morning, we are making a fresh start,” he added.
The local government of Talisay and Bacolod through a resolution lauded Tan for bringing such recognition to these two cities.
Bacolod City Rep. Greg Gasataya said that this new landmark will help boost the economy in the province and offshoot Bacolod City.
“It’s already a tourist destination and they continue to innovate and improve,” he added.
This is not an easy task, but this a reward of their hard work, he said.
The Department of Tourism (DOT)-Western Visayas issued a certificate of accreditation to the resort as a three-star tourism establishment.
The certificate was given to Tan by Jennylind Cordero from DOT-WV.
Cordero said that there are 1,700 tourism accredited establishments in the region and 30 percent of these are in this city and the province.
“What was a vision is now a reality,” she said.
Tan thanked the people for their support and giving recognition to the structure.