EVERYTHING that flies—paragliders, ultralight planes, microlight aircrafts, sky divers, sky jumpers, remote control planes, helicopters, aerobatic gliders, radio-controlled jet turbine model aircrafts, kites—took to the skies and put together a spectacular show for four days at Clark Field, Pampanga, during the Valentine weekend of February 12 to 15, 2015. But the star of the show and what really blew everyone away at the 19th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta was undeniably the breath-taking flight of beautiful and colorful hot air balloons every morning.
A project of the Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta Foundation (PIHABF Foundation), the annual hot air balloon fiesta is the biggest gathering of aviators in the country and one that tourists, both local and foreign, looked forward to witnessing every year. It takes place at around this time every year, and people really take the trip, be it a road trip or a short flight to the Clark International Airport, to see it. This year was no exception. Judging from the turnout the daily turnout of spectators, mostly families and groups coming in droves, causing traffic to build up along the main road leading to the Omni Aviation grounds and filling up all the parking slots available in the area, the 19th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta was obviously a huge success. It also proved that Clark Field was truly the home of the hot air balloon fiesta. While it attracted a sizable crowd when it was held in Porac, Pampanga, in 2014, this year’s edition turned out to be one for the books in terms of audience attendance.
While a lot of spectators opted to watch the flight of hot air balloons in the early mornings from outside the perimeter fence, a number of people decided to go for a closer look and a more intimate experience by paying the Php300 entrance fee per head to go inside the venue and see the hot air balloons at close range. The entrance fee, after all, served as a contribution to the PIHABF Foundation.
As early as 4:30 a.m., crew members already started getting their colorful and beautifully designed hot air balloons ready for flight, and one by one they rose up to the sky, powered by bursts of flame that sent torrents of hot air up into the balloons. Aside from the regular reverse teardrop shaped hot air balloons, drawing oohs and aahs as they gently glided up into the sky were hot air balloons in the shapes of a pink elephant, a huge brown-and-white beagle, a red barn house with animals, old Mother Goose’s giant shoe house with ”kids” clambering up to the roof and a “girl” holding on to the a giant shoestring for dear life, a pink fat elephant, a pink octopus, a bright sunflower and the head of Vincent Van Gogh. They went where the wind took them, up against the backdrop of Mount Arayat in a distance, then going higher and higher and becoming smaller and smaller until they disappeared from sight. The hot air balloons flew back in at dusk.
In between, a lot of activities took place, including a Philippine Flag jump, paragliding exhibition, ultralight and microlight aircraft formation flights, aerobatic shows, sky diving exhibition and tandem sky jumps by the Philippine National Police (PNP), remote control aerobatics show and RC display, light aircraft balloon bursting competition, kite flying exhibition, radio-controlled jet turbine model aircraft demonstration, and helicopter flight display.
Since the event took place during Valentine weekend, the PIHABF Foundation and Asian Air Safari offered hot air balloon rides for U.S.$300 for those who really want to personally experience what it’s like to be flying in a hot air balloon. On Valentine’s Day, February 14, a special activity, Hot Air Balloon Night Glow, took place at 6:00 p.m., which had the hot air balloons tethered to the ground but being lit up in a magical interplay of light and color as a mini Kapamilya concert took place within the Omni Aviation grounds. Adding pomp and festivity to the event were the food trucks and booths at the venue.
The 19th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta turned out to be a Valentine’s event like no other!
