More than stars dotted the skies over the Philippines on Friday when thousands of burning lanterns floated into the darkness, creating an ethereal glow as their messages of world peace floated upward and away.
A crowd of about 15,000 people stood outside in the town of Miag-ao, Iloilo, anxiously waiting for a countdown that would begin their world record attempt for the most sky lanterns flown at the same time, according to the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
They didn't hold on to those hot paper bags filled with fire for nothing: local news reported that a Guinness World Records representative declared the feat a new record.
A video by Y&B Production captured the lantern lighting and the excitement in the crowd.
A Thai manufacturer built the lanterns using bamboo, rice paper and tissue paper dipped in wax, according to the Philippine Daily Inquirer. Organizers claimed the environmental impact of sky lanterns was far less damaging than fireworks or rubber balloons.
Video shows people releasing their lanterns and watching them slowly floating upward, propelled by the heat of a flame. "World peace through inner peace," was written on many of the lanterns.
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Participants released 15,185 lanterns within 10 minutes over the football field at the University of the Philippines Visayas, according to the Manila Bulletin.
The event beat last year's record in Romania, when 12,740 lanterns became glowing orbs over the city of Iasi.
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