CEBU CITY — The Department of Education Central Visayas (DepEd 7) has set a Guinness World Record by organizing the "Largest Rondalla Ensemble" on Friday, June 28, at the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex.

The event, dubbed "Let's Play Schools," brought together 554 rondalla players from school divisions in the province of Bohol and the cities of Bais, Bogo, Dumaguete, Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue, Tagbilaran and Talisay.

They performed for 11 minutes, setting the world record.

The event, hosted by Ibabao-Estancia Elementary School, was organized by Barangay Ibabao, led by Barangay Captain Romulo Chavez, in coordination with Anthony Consejo, the conductor.

Slavsky Ybanez, a trainer from the Bogo City Division, told The Manila Times that "it was an honor receiving the Guinness certification for the group, which signifies we have officially achieved the world record."

He added that they practiced for months to get the performance right, highlighting the challenge of training different students to play one piece.

The rondalla is an ensemble of stringed instruments played with the plectrum or pick, generally known as plectrum instruments.

Last year, the City of Bogo Science and Arts Academy won the grand prize in the Youth Rondalla category at the National Music Competition for Young Artists at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila.

They also won the award for the Best Interpretation of the Contest Piece.

The record-setting event in Mandaue City highlights the musical talent of young musicians across the region.

Local leaders, including Mayor Jonas Cortes, Rep. Lollypop Ouano-Dizon and DepEd 7 Director Salustiano Jimenez, attended the event.

Cortes expressed his gratitude to the students who made it happen.

"I'm overjoyed to see this large gathering of our very own rondalla musicians to showcase to the whole world the talent of Mandauehanons, Filipino talent," he said.