By Cathy Apelacio

General Santos City (20 October) -- Aimed at drawing public concern to save the bodies of water from further destruction, the Fishes of the Ocean "On-The-Spot Painting" on Monday was also poised as the country's bid to break the Guinness World Record for the longest painting on continuous canvas.

In Region XII, at least 117 students and professional artists from SocSarGen (South Cotabato, Sarangani, General Santos City) joined the On-The-Spot Painting with the determination to "complete a 3.4-km painting featuring the three bodies of water, the fresh, brackish, and the marine waters."

Inspired by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources office (BFAR), the event is expected to break the record of Iran as the title holder of the Guinness World longest painting on a continuous canvas.

"The Philippines has a big chance of beating Iran as the world title holder for a longest painting on a continuous canvas since ours will definitely be longer than that," said Tessie Manguramas, regional information officer of BFAR XII.

The event held at Lagao Central Elementary School was in line with the celebration of the 43rd Fish Conservation Week, which kicked off October 15 and ends on the 21st. It adopts the theme "May Buhay ang Dagat."

Manguramas said the spot painting was simultaneously undertaken with other 14 regions including Metro Manila. "This work of art when join together will give us more or less a total of 6kms continuous canvas surpassing that of Iran which is only 5kms."

She said she was "impressed with how these students could beautifully make a painting of fishes of the water in such a haze."

Manguramas also explained that the painting of each participating region will have "to comprise the three bodies of water depicting fishes common to the place."

"The event sought to promote public awareness on the need to protect and conserve the country's fisheries and aquatic resources," she added.

The painting also served as "medium to show the oneness and inter-connectedness or pagkaka-ugnay-ugnay of different aquatic ecosystems including the distinct fish species and habitats in the various bodies of water in the country."

Earlier Manny Domaot, planning officer of BFAR-XII said the event will ultimately bring the people of SocSarGen proud once the spot painting will make it to the Guinness World.

"We thank all the people who have made this momentous activity very successful," he stressed pointing out that it is really the duty of the people to protect the aquatic environment being one of the primary sources of income in the country.

According to Manguramas, the participants to the event were mostly pupils/students 10 years old above from at least 15 schools in SocSarGen as well as teachers and amateur and professional artists who were previously oriented on the guidelines as well as the rules set by the Guinness World Records before the scheduled event.