ALCALA – Barring any rain, this fourth class town by the bank of the Agno river is on its way to land in the Guinness record book when it puts up the world’s longest grill and the world’s barbecue on April 29.

“We pray that there shall be no rain. Otherwise it will spoil the fun,” said Mayor Manuel Collado, who is leading in the massive preparations for these two world-record breaking feats ever to be tried in this town.

He said the grills are all ready, together with the charcoal that would be needed. They have also conducted three dry-runs and improved their systems from lessons learned during each dry run.

With more than a month to go yet before April 29, the people of Alcala are confident the world records for their town are now within reach.

Alcala is eyeing to break the world grill record of 32.84 meters of 107.7 feet made by the residential home Haus Ostertal, St. Wendel Werschweiler in Germany on May 14, 2004 as part of the home’s 10th anniversary festival.

The rustic Ilocano town, which produces rice, corn and little tobacco, will also try to beat the longest barbecue measuring 1,007.56 meters (3,305.54 feet) created by the people of Dagupan City, only some 45 kilometers north of Alcala, which was registered as part of its Bangus Festival on May 3, 2003.

Collado said they have already built 150-meter long grill, made of steel and galvanized iron in order to beat Germany’s Guinness world record, and intend to beat Dagupan’s record by putting up a three-kilometer barbecue that will span six villages.

At least 70 welders were employed to work on the grills for months at the town plaza. The municipality spent P300,000 for their labor alone, aside from the materials that were used.

The meat and milkfish that would be charcoal-cooked are not yet in but the suppliers said these will be delivered a day or two before the activity. At least 2,000 sacks of charcoal have already been purchased.

“This idea (of breaking world records) did not come from us. It came from our town mates abroad who agreed to bankroll the project,” explained Collado.

“They suggested we hold this activity. Instead of dancing all night in the plaza in which the ordinary people may not be able to participate, they said they would rather have this kind of activity where people from all walks of life may join,” Collado said.

The overseas Alcala residents, who have deep attachments at home already bought all the grills to be used at U.S. 100 dollars per grill of three meters. 1,000 grills were made for the activity.

The money is under the care of the Rang-ay ti Alcala Foundation headed by Eduardo Tolentino, being reserved for some projects of the municipal government.

“All the money that would be derived would go to the foundation and nothing to the general fund of the municipality”, Collado explained.

It was Tolentino who contacted Alcala’s overseas residents in North America, Canada, Hawaii, Europe, Australia and Hong Kong through the Internet and all gladly responded not only to join the homecoming but to support Alcala’s plan to earn a place in the Guinness Book.

He also secured the required bid numbers from the London-based Guinness Corporation to ensure that if records are really broken, they are entered in the world record book.