World's shortest man 2011 - Junrey Balawing Smallest man in the world

World's shortest man 2011 - Junrey Balawing Smallest man in the world

ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE, Philippines - Guinness World Records may declare on Sunday a Zamboanga del Norte resident as the world's smallest man.

From his looks and his height, it's easy to mistake Junrey Balawig for an infant.

But on June 12, Junrey - the eldest of 4 siblings - is turning 18 years old.

His family held a simple celebration for him before his trip to a health center in Sindangan to meet with officials of Guinness World Records.

Junrey is a contender for the world's smallest man.

"Masaya ako na si Junrey ang pinakamaliit na tao sa buong mundo. Proud kami na makikilala sa buong mundo ang anak namin," said his mother, Concepcion.

Guinness officials weighed and measured Junrey but declined to release the figures just yet.   

Doctors and other local health officials say an endocrine imbalance appears to be the cause of his condition. He also appears to lack normal growth hormones, according to Dr. Lolita Hamry, municipal health director for Sindangan.

Balawing mugged pleasantly for the cameras Saturday as Glenday and other Guinness officials visited the town to take measurements for the record books, clearly relishing being at the centre of attention.

"He can understand what you say to him, but he's not that articulate," Hamry said. "His mind is really that of a 1-year-old."

Delia C. Jamisala, a nurse at the centre, described Balawing's case as baffling. "He's had complete immunizations," she said. Neither his parents nor his three siblings share his condition. "Maybe it's genetics. But (otherwise) Junrey is completely healthy."

He is believed to be 23 inches tall, smaller than the current world's shortest man - Khagendra Thapa Magar of Nepal - who stands 26.4 inches.

If the claims are true, Balawing will not only be the shortest living man, but the shortest living man in history, a statement from the Guinness World Records said on Saturday.

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Edward Nino Hernandez - World's shortest living man set Guinness Record by Colombian man

Edward Nino Hernandez is in many ways a typical 24-year-old Colombian male. He loves to dance reggaeton, dreams of owning a fast car and wants to see the world.

Top on his list of people he would like to meet are Jackie Chan, Sylvester Stallone and former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe.

                   Colombian shortest man Edward Nino Hernandez photo

He is slightly taller than a piece of carry-on luggage and weighs just 22lbs (10kgs).

And he has just been officially certified as the world's shortest living man by Guinness World Records, measuring 27ins.

Nino, who works part time as a dancer, said:'I feel happy because I'm unique.'

He also reveals he has a girlfriend - an 18-year-old who is just under 5ft.

Although he has cataracts in both of his eyes that blur his vision and, require urgent surgery that the family can't afford, the budding actor has won a part in a new film, playing a drug thief.

He may like being in the spotlight, but Nino said there are some drawbacks to being the world's smallest man.

                                    Colombian shortest man picture

'It bothers me that people are always touching me and picking me up,' he said.

Nino's mother, Noemi Hernandez, said of her oldest of five children: 'He hasn't grown since he was two years old.'

She added that doctors never could explain why Nino is so small.

'They never gave us a diagnosis,' Mrs Hernandez, 43, said from her home in Bosa, a poor district of southern Bogota.

She said Nino weighed just 3.3lb (1.5kg) when he was born and was just 15 inches long.

Doctors were at first intrigued as to why he was so small and studied him until he was three years old, but then 'lost interest'.

She and her husband, a security guard, lost a daughter who was born similarly small in 1992.

Their youngest child, Miguel Angel, 11, stands 37ins tall. The other three boys are of normal height and appearance.

Nino is mentally sharp and laughs easily though it's sometimes hard to understand his high-pitched speech and his stubby fingers make writing difficult.

He had to repeat several years of school before dropping out aged about 13.

His mother said he loves to travel - though he hasn't been outside Colombia - and likes to play dominoes and checkers.

'He only gets depressed when he's shut in at home,' she added.

However, it is unclear whether Nino's fame will last long.

Khagendra Thapa Magar of Nepal is expected to take over after he turns 18 in October. He measures about 22ins and is currently recognized by Guinness as the shortest living teen.

The previous smallest man in the world was He Pingping of China, who was 1.5 inches taller and died in March.

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