Hot air balloon fiesta takes flight in Tarlac
CAPAS, TARLAC—At least 27 gigantic hot air balloons of various shapes filled the early morning skies here on Friday, a day before Valentine’s Day, signaling the start of the three-day 26th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta (PIHABF) at New Clark City.
The cool February air—often associated with the “love month”—provides ideal flying conditions, as propane-heated air inside the balloons becomes lighter than the surrounding atmosphere, allowing the massive inflatables to rise.
What began in 1994 as an effort to uplift the spirits of residents of Pampanga devastated by the 1991 Mt. Pinatubo eruption and subsequent lahar flows has evolved into one of the country’s most anticipated annual aviation events.
The first hot air balloon festival was spearheaded by former tourism secretary Mina Gabor at the height of the lahar crisis in 1994 at the Clark Freeport Zone Parade Grounds.
She was assisted by Filipino balloon enthusiast Capt. Joy Roa, South Korean pilot Paik Sung-kee, and John Emery of British Airways.
Other activities
The following year, the event was transferred to the Omni Aviation grounds beside the Clark Aviation Complex, where additional aerial activities were introduced.
This year’s fiesta features drone racing, paramotor formation flying, paragliding, hoverbike demonstrations, kite-flying exhibitions, as well as ground attractions such as car drifting shows and radio-controlled racing and combat events.
Hundreds of spectators from across Central Luzon and nearby provinces flocked to New Clark City to witness the colorful balloon flights.
Capt. Joy Roa, PIHABF director, said 22 special-shaped balloons are among those participating in the Feb. 13 to Feb. 15 event, which he described as “a weekend of everything that flies.”
Balloonists from the United States, Belgium, Switzerland, Brazil and Macedonia are taking part in this year’s festival.
Johan Vander Meiren of Belgium said it was his second time joining the Philippine balloon fiesta.
Meiren’s witch-shaped balloon, named “Babbe,” was inspired by a real woman from his village of Beselare who was accused of witchcraft and burned at the stake some 300 years ago.
Jack Semler, a balloonist from Indiana in the United States with 25 years of flying experience, brought a ghost-shaped balloon named “Boo,” designed by his wife and completed last year.
Ashley Moore of England is joining the Philippine festival for the first time and plans to compete in the marker-dropping contest known as the “hare and hound” event.
The competition challenges balloonists to drop a marker as close as possible to a predetermined target while adjusting altitude to catch varying wind directions and maneuver toward the landing point.
