Guinness: Filipino world's shortest man

SINDANGAN, Philippines -- He may be the shortest man on Earth, but Junrey I. Balawing has become a giant in the eyes of his countrymen.

Balawing, 23 1/2 inches tall and weighing 12 pounds, and the son of a blacksmith and a homemaker in Zamboanga del Norte province on the island of Mindanao, was recognized by Guinness World Records yesterday. The announcement, on his 18th birthday, came as Filipinos celebrated their freedom from Spain 113 years ago.

Khagendra Thapa Magar of Nepal held the former record, 26.4 inches. The shortest man in history, Gul Mohammed of India, 22 inches tall, died in 1997.

-- McClatchy Newspapers