As former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte approaches his 80th birthday on 28 March, a global movement is quickly gaining momentum. Organizers are hoping to set a Guinness World Record for the largest spontaneous peaceful and prayer rally in history.

The rally aims to show united support for Duterte, who is under the custody of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, the Netherlands.

The worldwide, synchronized event will take place on Duterte’s milestone birthday and is planned as a 12- or 24-hour non-stop demonstration, with people joining from different parts of the world. It will be a peaceful rally, occurring simultaneously across multiple countries and time zones to send a powerful message of solidarity.

With roughly 2.3-million overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) living in 190 countries, the movement has the potential to gather together millions of people. Many OFWs have been directly impacted by Duterte's leadership, making their involvement in this rally even more significant. These workers are often described as the backbone of the Philippine economy, so their participation will amplify the rally’s global impact.

Duterte’s legal battle; rally’s significance

The rally comes at a time Duterte is facing serious legal challenges, particularly regarding his controversial war on drugs and allegations of human rights violations. Since his arrest, rallies have erupted both in the Philippines and abroad, demonstrating that he still has a strong, loyal following.

Protests have taken place in major cities across the Philippines, including Manila, Cebu, and Davao, where demonstrators marched waving "Duterte Strong" banners while chanting his name.

Meanwhile, Filipinos in countries such as the United States, Canada, in the Middle East and Europe have organized solidarity events and peaceful protests. Last Sunday, rallies were held in 61 cities across the Philippines and at least seven countries.

Despite his legal issues, Duterte retains strong support, especially among those who supported his tough stance on crime and his "sovereignty first" approach to governance.

His supporters argue that his leadership was necessary to fight corruption, combat drug-related crime, and strengthen the Philippines' position on the world stage.

Aiming for Guinness record

Organizers are not only aiming to raise awareness about Duterte’s legal challenges but also to break some major records. They’re targeting the Guinness World Record for the largest spontaneous peaceful rally or prayer event ever held.

The current record is held by a 2011 anti-austerity protest in Spain, in which 1.5-million people participated.

The Duterte rally organizers hope to surpass that number and set a new global benchmark for peaceful demonstrations.

In addition, they’re also aiming to break the record for the longest continuous global prayer rally. The current record was set by the International Prayer Council in May 2012 with over 9,500 leaders from 86 nations gathering for the World Prayer Assembly in Jakarta, Indonesia, which had an estimated 2-million participants.

The rally for Duterte is intended to start a continuous, coordinated global prayer event, uniting people around the world in support of the former president.

The rally will be over either 12 or 24 hours, synchronized across various time zones. People in different countries will be joining at the same time.

Call for global participation

The rally organizers have reached out to leaders, influencers, and event coordinators across the world, urging them to join the effort and help make the historic event happen.

A final planning meeting is scheduled to iron out the details, and the organizers are asking supporters to spread the word far and wide.

With less than two weeks to 28 March, the movement is hoping to engage as many people as possible, encouraging them to participate in what promises to be an unforgettable demonstration of global solidarity.