Can I have a short please? Tiny teen enjoys his first beer as he becomes world's new smallest man
By Daily Mail Reporter
Junrey Balawing sips a beer nearly as big as him as he celebrates becoming the world's smallest man.
The 22-inch Filipino turns 18 on Sunday when Guinness World Records will award him the crown - which he takes from Nepal's 26.4-inch Khagendra Thapa Magar.
Mr Balawing said: 'I am so excited! I am small, but now I am a man.
'I have tried beer for the first time. I like it but can only have a little. I want a beautiful wife.
'I know she will probably be taller than me. I can't wait for my party.'
Celebration: Junrey Balawing from the Philippines will be awarded the title of the world's smallest man on his 18th birthday this weekend
Meet the parents: Junrey Balawing with his mother and father, Reynaldo (L) and Concepcion in the Philippines
His proud mother Concepcion, 35, and 37-year-old father Reynaldo, from a tiny village near the town of Zamboanga del Norte, have been invited to a reception with the local mayor.
Mrs Balawing said: 'We've been told the people from Guinness need to measure Junrey three times in one day to confirm his height. Only then can he be named the smallest man in the world.
'It's very exciting because we are a poor family and things like this have never happened before.
'I can't believe Junrey is going to be famous all over the world and people are flying from countries like Britain and America to see him.'
The young man is the same size as a one-year-old and loves to ride on top of his father's shoulders or be carried by his mother.
Tiny teen: Junrey is so small most of his 18th birthday presents are bigger than he is
His family said he stopped growing after his first birthday and has remained the same size ever since.
His mother said she first noticed something was wrong as Junrey approached the age of two but no doctor was able to help.
She said: 'He was always sick and we noticed he wasn't growing so we took him to see a doctor but they were baffled.'
Recently, his father said: 'I was picked up by police one time then brought to the mayor's office.
'The mayor told me that on Junrey's birthday there will be an important visitor who will come and I should bring Junrey with me.
'It was only then I realised Junrey was about to become famous far beyond our little village.
'There's going to be a big party for Junrey in the town attended by lots of important people.'
Too tall: Nepalese man Khagendra Thapa Magar, at 26.4 inches, is now only the world's
second smallest man.
Regards,
N-News
