Filipino becomes shortest man

18-year-old stopped growing at the age of two

SINDANGAN, the Philippines - A Filipino blacksmith's son who stopped growing when he was a toddler was declared the world's shortest man on Sunday as he celebrated his 18th birthday.

Measuring just 59.93 centimeters, Junrey Balawing is the oldest of four siblings - the rest all of normal stature - born in the rural town of Sindangan on the Philippines' southern island of Mindanao.

"Officially he is the world's shortest man," said Craig Glenday, editor-in-chief of the Guinness Book of World Records, who measured Balawing in front of cheering relatives and villagers.

The previous record holder was Khagendra Thapa Magar of Nepal, who was measured in 2010 at just over 67 cm.

"Thank you to all of you for supporting my son, the world's shortest man," Balawing's father, Reynaldo, told a crowd of reporters and photographers.

Balawing then blew out a candle on a cake specially made for him, before telling the crowd in a tiny voice in the local dialect: "Kapoy (I'm tired)."

A throng of well-wishers, including politicians, witnessed the official measurement and then handed him wads of cash which his parents said would go toward the family's meager savings.

Balawing's father said he had always believed his son to be special.

He said he had been sickly as a toddler and stopped growing when he was 2 years old, but local doctors who examined him could not diagnose the problem.

His mother, Concepcion, said Balawing has difficulty standing for long periods and has to be assisted when walking.

The couple at first enrolled Balawing at a regular school, but eventually had to pull him out because of his safety - children would crowd around him and on one occasion nearly crushed him in their curiosity, his relatives said.

His uncle, Paulino Empag, who is the local village chief, said friends and relatives were very protective of Balawing and some considered his special condition a lucky charm for the rural, superstitious community.

"He is a very special boy. He has trouble speaking and standing up, but he is God's blessing to his family and to the community," he said.

After the official announcement, Empag said the family was expected to return to their modest home in the village and celebrate Balawing's birthday.

"Noodles and meat have been prepared. We're just happy for him," Empag said.

Empag said he hoped Balawing would learn from his predecessor, Khagendra, and turn his new-found fame into something financially tangible for his impoverished parents.

"We would like to congratulate Junrey Balawing of the Philippines for being the world's shortest man. This is the way nature works," Min Bahadur Rana Magar, chairman of Khagendra's foundation, said.

"Khagendra's record was a blessing for him and his family. He entertained everyone he met with his dances and quirks."

Khagendra's stint as the world's shortest man saw him travel to more than a dozen countries and make special television appearances in Europe and the United States.

He had also become the official face of Nepal's tourism campaign.

Agence France-Presse

(China Daily 06/13/2011 page12)