by Dr. Genevieve Balance Kupang

On January 22, 2026, at Dagitab Amphitheatre, Mt. Camisong Forest Park and Events in Itogon, Benguet, witnesses gathered to validate a vibrant convergence of art, intricate geometry, craft, and human creativity. Baguio City crochet artist Adelaida Guia aimed to set a Guinness World Record for the Largest Crochet Mandala by an Individual.

The world record pursuit embodied the intersection of mandala wisdom, contemporary craft excellence, and the Cordilleran values of patience, precision, and communal celebration that define this mountain region in Northern Philippines.

Guia brought her vision to life through countless hours of crochet work. Originally from Lucena, Quezon, she now calls Baguio City home and has embraced the Cordilleran artistic traditions that surround her. Her chosen medium—crochet—is itself a meditative practice requiring focus, rhythmic repetition, and dedication. Each crochet stitch became a row of meditation, as the mandala grew into an artwork celebrating both individual artistry and universal spiritual symbolism.

Mandala: Universal Symbol

Civil engineers Aldrin Balangin and Thadeus Jericho “TJ” Garcia measure the area, diameter, and radius of the mandala—using electronic surveying equipment and Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software for accuracy.

Mandala, a Sanskrit word meaning “sacred or magic circle,” symbolizes wholeness and cosmic order across cultures. “From the moment we are born, we are surrounded by mandalas,” explained Dr. Genevieve Kupang, one of the witnesses. “Our very eyes—pupils and irises—are mandalas through which we see the world’s beauty, including our Cordilleran landscapes and the wealth of creation from Kabunian, our Supreme Being. We were first nurtured in our mothers’ wombs—a mandala—and our cosmic Mother Earth, another mandala.”

Kupang’s research across cultures reveals the mandala’s universal appeal: Tibetan Buddhists use it as a cosmic diagram, Native Americans for healing rituals, Christians in Gothic cathedral rose windows, and Filipinos in the parol—the Christmas star radiating hope and blessings. Now, from the Cordillera mountains of the Philippines, Guia adds her voice through the largest crochet mandala ever attempted by an individual.

Cordilleran Wisdom, Creative Excellence, and Baguio’s Creative Identity

Guia’s mandala holds a commitment to beauty through patient craftsmanship, community generosity, and reverence for Kabunian’s divine creativity in every stitch. Mt. Camisong—approximately 30 minutes from Baguio City—ties to the artist’s residence. Her art contributes to Baguio’s status as a UNESCO Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art, celebrating indigenous weaving, wood carving, silver work, crafts, and folk arts evolving through innovation and creativity.

A Mandala Researcher Witnesses History: Guinness Attempt in the Cordillera Mountains

Witnesses were selected for their expertise in culture, craft, education, and engineering—including Dr. Genevieve Kupang, contacted by Baguio volunteer and local arts supporter Ms. Leslie Dulfo to serve as one of the Official Witnesses.

Dr. Genevieve Balance Kupang, serving as official witness, interviews artist Adelaida Guia about the creation of her mandala: crochet hook specifications, four-ply thread sourcing, and the timeline of work.

Among them was Dr. Genevieve Balance Kupang, International Relations Officer and Dean of the Graduate School at Baguio Central University, who was invited by author, artist-supporter, and volunteer Ms. Leslie Dulfo to serve as an official, impartial witness.

Dr. Kupang brings a global perspective to the role; her dissertation in Applied Cosmic Anthropology explored mandala practices and labyrinth (a walking mandala) across eight countries, including France, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Nepal, the Philippines, and the USA. Her work with Pressenza further highlights the role of mandalas in peace-building and cultural preservation. Beyond her academic research—which includes meditating in the UNESCO-listed labyrinth of Chartres Cathedral—she holds several leadership roles, including Peace Education Coordinator for the World Council for Curriculum and Instruction and Historian for the World University Rankings for Innovation (WURI).

Prof. Constance D. Florentin, retired St. Louis University faculty, current Baguio Central University part-time faculty and consultant, served as the second witness—her education and community service expertise ideal for this milestone. A follow-up article will feature her reflections.

Artist Adelaida Guia and BCU Prof. Constance D. Florentin (College of Hospitality and Tourism Management, craft teacher) share a creative duet.

Mandala as Prayer for Peace

Beyond aesthetics, Guia’s mandala embodies Dr. Kupang’s core finding: every mandala embeds a sacred prayer for bountiful life, abundance, prosperity, peace, and wellness. “Embedded within every mandala is a sacred prayer,” Dr. Kupang noted. “Creating one is intentional, meditative, and relational.” Her co-researcher, Slovenian mandala artist Stanislav Ujhazi (now in Japan), calls it “a symbol of oneness and complete perfection, uncovering inner life insights in relation to the cosmos.”

In a world of climate crises, conflicts, and inequality, crafting the mandala counters with patient creativity—sacred spaces of beauty, harmony, and healing that ripple to communities.

Community Celebration

The official witnesses. From left to right: Prof. Constance D. Florentin, Dr. Janice Alejandrino, Dr. Genevieve Kupang, and Mr. Robert DeLa Peña revel in joy atop Alapaap cantilevered viewing deck, savoring Itogon’s breathtaking mountain panorama.

The event at Mt. Camisong drew support from Baguio Central University’s leadership, with invitations extended to University President Dr. Margarita Cecilda B. Rillera and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Elma D. Donaal. Their support in allowing Kupang, Florentin, Alejandrino, and Dela Peña, to be witnesses signified institutional recognition of the partnership between artistic innovation and academic excellence, between individual achievement and community celebration.

As witnesses gathered to observe Guia’s record attempt, the atmosphere reflected the communal values central to Cordilleran culture. This was not merely one artist’s achievement but a collective celebration of creativity, cultural heritage, and the human capacity to create beauty that transcends individual ambition to serve communal wellbeing.

Mt. Camisong President Oliver A. Samala joins witnesses Drs. Janice Alejandrino, Genevieve B. Kupang, Prof. Florentin; Artist Adelaida with husband Philip Guia; Ms. Leslie Dulfo; Engineers TJ Garcia, Aldrin Balangin, Engr. Banawa; and Mr. Robert DeLa Peña.

A Sacred Act of Creation

“Let us now witness this sacred act of co-creating with the Divine, the Ultimate Artist,” Kupang concluded in her statement. “May the light of your heart shine brighter and brighter. May healing, good health, and kaginhawahan—wellness, prosperity, and peace—envelop us all.”

As the Baguio-Benguet community awaits official validation from Guinness World Records, one thing is already clear: Adelaida Guia has achieved something profound. She has woven ancient wisdom, technical mastery, and cultural heritage into a masterpiece that invites contemplation, inspires wonder, and radiates a prayer for beauty and creativity.

In the sacred circle of her mandala, countless crochet stitches unite to create wholeness—a metaphor for how individual creative acts, rooted in cultural tradition and animated by good intention, can contribute to the healing and harmony our world urgently needs.

Electric Ascent Souvenir. Kupang at the wheel, beaming with Alejandrino, Dela Peña, and Florentin post-mandala meet.

Visitors can find the Guia family’s crafts at the Abiakak booth, Mt. Camisong. Their offerings showcase a diverse range of talent—from intricate indigenous bead-work and necklaces to charming crochet animal figures—proving that their creative mastery is both a family collaboration and an enterprise.

Photo credits: Abiakak Philip Guia

###############

About the Author:

Dr. Genevieve Balance Kupang is Dean of the Graduate School and International Relations Officer at Baguio Central University, a mandala researcher, and a regular contributor to Pressenza on topics of peace education and cultural preservation.

Photo Credits: Rhacson Pagada