Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta

Last updated

Philippines International
Hot Air Balloon Festival
Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2.jpg
Balloons being inflated during the 20th Festival
Genre Hot air balloon festival
DatesEvery February
FrequencyAnnual
Location(s) Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga (1994–2018)
New Clark City, Tarlac (since 2024)
Country Philippines
Founded1994
Attendanceapprox. 100,000
Website https://www.philballoonfest.net

The Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta (PIHABF) is an annual four-day air-sporting event that takes place between January and February at the Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone.

Contents

It is one of the longest-running aviation sports events in the Philippines. The fiesta hosts over 100 balloon pilots from around the world and attracts approximately 100,000 visitors annually. [1] [2]

From 1994 to 2018, it was usually held at the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga.

History

Hot air balloons fly over Clark Freeport Zone during the 20th Fiesta. Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta.jpg
Hot air balloons fly over Clark Freeport Zone during the 20th Fiesta.
Night glow display: Hot Air Balloon Festival in Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga Hot air balloon fiesta.JPG
Night glow display: Hot Air Balloon Festival in Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga

The Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta (PIHABF) was first hosted in 1994 at the Clark Parade Grounds in Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga as an initiative of then Tourism Secretary Mina Gabor, John Emery of British Airways, and South Korean ballonist Sung Kee Paik. [3] [4] [5] It was meant to help nearby communities recover from the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo. [6]

From its inception the festival is an international event with the inaugural edition seeing 21 hot air balloon pilots from eleven countries [7] Angeles City became known for the PIHABF. [8]

The event was held annually until 1998. It was not held in 1999 due to funding issues and concerns that it could affect flights from the Clark International Airport. [6] The annual event returned in 2000.

The festival was not held in 2014 with the Department of Tourism hosting a similar hot air baloon event in April of that year. [9]

The festival was canceled in 2019 due to the organizers unable to secure commitment from its government partners in time. [6] In 2020, the event was held at the San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite, the first time it was held in the Calabarzon region outside its customary venue at the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga. [10] [11]

This followed a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic with the event returning in 2024. [12]

For the next five years from the 2024 edition, the festival will be held at the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac. [13] The Skydiving Philippine Flag Jump was held for the very first time. [14]

Summary

YearEditionVenueRef.
201116th Clark Freeport Zone [15]
201217th [3]
201318th [16]
2014Not held
201519th Clark Freeport Zone [17]
201620th [18]
201721st [19]
201822nd [20]
2019Not held
202023rd San Lazaro Leisure Park [11]
2021–2023Not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic
202424th New Clark City [21]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Hot Air Balloon Fiesta flies high over South of Manila in 2020". January 7, 2020.
  2. ↑ "Asia Album: Highlights of Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta". Big News Network.com. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  3. 1 2 Malig, Jun (February 10, 2012). "Hot air balloons color skies, lift up spirits". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Inquirer Central Luzon. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  4. ↑ Orejas, Tonette (January 21, 2000). "Balloon contest revived in Clark". Philippine Daily Inquirer. PDI Central Luzon Desk. p. 15. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  5. ↑ Macatuno, Allan (February 12, 2017). "Balloon spreads ashes of founder of international hot air balloon fest". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 Viray, Patricia Lourdes (December 31, 2018). "Hot air balloon fiesta 2019 canceled". The Philippine Star. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Hot Air Balloon Fiesta soars at Clark". The Manila Times. February 7, 2007. Archived from the original on May 26, 2007.
  8. ↑ Ong, Jula Valencia; Bumanglag, Maria Elizabeth; Dela Cruz, Uriel Ivan; Figurado, Marviric; Morales, Precious Angela; Rosario, Mark Kevin (August 10, 2020). "Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta (PIHABF) as a Festival Destination Image of Angeles City". Asia Pacific International Events Management Journal. 1 (2). Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Safety issues raised over hot air balloon fest". Philippine Daily Inquirer. January 8, 2014. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta flies again, this time in Cavite". The Philippine Star. March 8, 2020. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  11. 1 2 "PH's hot air balloon festival opens in Cavite". Philippine News Agency. Archived from the original on June 2, 2021. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  12. ↑ "Hot Air Balloon Festival to return after 3-year hiatus". ABS-CBN News. August 22, 2022. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  13. ↑ Orejas, Tonette (January 9, 2024). "New Clark City to host int'l hot air balloon festival in February". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  14. ↑ Cerezo, Anna (February 17, 2024). "3-day Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta kicks off". ABS-CBN . Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  15. ↑ "The 16th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta". The Telegraph. February 10, 2011. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  16. ↑ Bautista, Roehl Niño (February 22, 2013). "PHOTOS: Fly away to the 18th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Festival". GMA News. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  17. ↑ "19th PH Int'l Hot Air Balloon Fiesta in photos". Lifestyle.INQ. February 12, 2015. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  18. ↑ Dizon, Justine (February 11, 2016). "Hot air balloon fest takes off in Clark zone". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  19. ↑ "21st Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta sa Clark, Pampanga, nag-umpisa na ngayong araw" [21st Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta sa Clark, Pampanga, starts today]. Radyo La Verdad (in Filipino). February 9, 2017. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  20. ↑ "WATCH: Hot Air Balloon Fiesta kicks off with aerobatics". The Philippine Star. February 8, 2018. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  21. ↑ Cayabyab, Charlene (January 10, 2024). "Tarlac province to host 24th hot air balloon fiesta". SunStar. SunStar Publishing Inc. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
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