MANILA: A hotel in the Philippines now has something to crow about - a Guinness Book of World Records accolade for the biggest chicken-shaped building in the world.
The quirky hotel is a recent addition to the Campuestohan Highland Resort, a local tourist attraction, in the central province of Negros Occidental.
The building is 12m in width, 28m in length and 35m tall. This height is about 13 floors in a Housing Board block, with each floor about 2.6m high.
It is the brainchild of local businessman Ricardo Tan, also known by the nickname “Cano”.
Dubbed “Manok ni Cano Gwapo” (“Handsome Cano’s chicken” in both Tagalog and the region’s Hiligaynon dialect), the hotel features 15 air-conditioned rooms equipped with television sets and large beds that can accommodate groups or families. It also has a viewing deck, according to Philippine news outlet Philstar, offering visitors a bird’s eye view of the surroundings.
Room rates start at 4,500 pesos (US$77) per night.
Located in Talisay City, the resort has been operating since 2012 and features a wave pool, food establishments and other accommodation, including bonita huts and log cabins.
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Tan had a vision “to make something with a wow factor that can really leave a footprint of admiration to the public”.
Tan described himself as a dreamer and said he wanted to create the unthinkable, in an article on the Guinness Records site.
Asked why he chose a rooster for the building design, Tan told the Guinness Book of World Records that it is a nod to the gamefowl industry in Negros Occidental.
He added that the “calm and commanding, imposing and strong” figure of the rooster reflects the attitude of the locals.
Conceptualisation and planning of the project took less than six months, according to the article.
Construction began on June 10, 2023, and was completed on Sept 8, 2024, hampered by challenges such as frequent storms and typhoons in the region. - The Straits Times/ANN
