Sorsogon gets Guinness record for ‘pili’ brittle
Sorsogon officially entered the Guinness World Records on Thursday for making and cooking the largest “pili” nut brittle, a beloved delicacy deeply rooted in the province’s culture and livelihood.
The record-setting activity served as the highlight of the Kasanggayahan Festival 2025, drawing thousands of residents and visitors to witness the historic event.
Mothers, home cooks, students and workers in “pasalubong” centers were among the 260 volunteers who worked inside the provincial gymnasium, stirring giant vats of caramelized sugar and pili nuts for almost five hours.
“We were all tired, but when we saw the final product, we were proud. This is for Sorsogon,” said a volunteer cook who identified herself only as Carmela.
The finished brittle measured 144.16 square meters, or a third of the size of a standard basketball court, with a thickness of 0.59 millimeters. It used 1,430 kilos of pili nuts supplied by local farmers.
Provincial administrator Eric Ravanilla said the record attempt was more than just a competition.
“This showcased unity and highlighted the importance of the pili industry to our people,” he said in a Viber message.
About 90 percent of the country’s pili production comes from Bicol, said Lovella Guarin, information officer of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Bicol. DA records show that 13,435 farmers grow pili in 142,405 hectares of plantation in the region.
A number of pili processors have been exporting their products to the United States, Canada, Japan, Hong Kong and South Korea.
Bhem Berango, information officer of the Department of Trade and Industry in Bicol, said Sorsogon had exported P4.95-million worth of processed pili this year.
Defining moment
Cheers erupted as Austin Clark Johnson, official adjudicator of Guinness World Records, formally declared Sorsogon the record holder for the “Largest Nut Brittle/Praline” (pili kunserba) on Thursday.
Gov. Edwin Hamor called the feat a defining moment for Sorsogon.
“It’s official … Today, we didn’t just make history but we proved to the world that Sorsogon is truly the Pili Capital of the World,” Hamor said.
In a telephone interview, Herbie Aguas, Department of Tourism Bicol regional director, said the event was a powerful promotion of the local pili industry.
“Sorsogon is home to vast pili plantations. This record puts our product and the people on the world map, which has a positive impact on tourism,” Aguas said.
