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Philippines International Hot Air Balloon Festival | |
---|---|
Genre | Hot air balloon festival |
Dates | Every 2nd week of February |
Frequency | Annual |
Location(s) | Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga |
Country | Philippines |
Years active | 1994–1998, 2000–2024 |
Founded | 1994 |
Attendance | approx. 100,000 |
Website | https://www.philballoonfest.net/ |
The Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta is an annual four-day air-sporting event held between January and February at the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga. [1] It was initiated by Nelson Mayo in the late 1990s[ citation needed ]. It is one of the longest-running aviation sports events in the Philippines. The fiesta draws over 100 balloon pilots from around the world and attracts an audience of approximately 100,000 visitors annually. [2]
The Fiesta's programming has changed and developed over the years. In addition to hot air balloons, some of the attractions present have been: [2]
The Mount Pinatubo volcano erupted in 1991, devastating the Central Luzon region of the Philippines. To jumpstart the local economy and spirit, the Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Festival was introduced in 1994.
Tourism secretary Mina Gaborand, martial artist Sang-kee Paik, British Airways General Manager John Emery, and German aviation enthusiast Max Motschmann worked together to engineer the festival. They wanted to develop the Philippines into one of the leading sports aviation and travel destinations in the Asia-Pacific region. [3]
After the success of the 1994 festival, participation increased to 27 balloons, including a basketless one-man balloon and two entries from the Philippines. The 1995 festival also saw the introduction of ultralight planes to the events.[ citation needed ]
In 1996, responsibility of the event was transferred from the Department of Tourism to Air Ads, Inc. under Captain Joy Roa. Between 1996 and 1998, the growing popularity of the festival was expanded to include other aero-sports activities:[ citation needed ]
Aerobatic stunts and precision maneuvers courtesy of the Blue Diamonds and later the Red Aces of the Philippine Air Force also became a regular attraction of the festival. [4]
In 1999, financial challenges led to the festival's temporary discontinuation.[ citation needed ] The event resumed in 2000, featuring 12 balloons and 18 light planes from Thailand, Japan, and Singapore, which participated in an air rally that has since become a regular part of the celebrations.[ citation needed ]
The year 2003 marked a significant departure from the conventional ballooning format. This departure was manifested through the introduction of specially crafted balloons, including ones shaped as a flying newspaper from South Korea and a large dog from Japan. [5]
The 2006 festival featured 30 multicolored hot air balloons and more than a hundred balloon pilots. It drew approximately 60,000 visitors to the event. [6]
In 2017, the 21st Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta showcased 30 hot air balloons. [7] The award-winning Twinz Aerobatic Paragliders, as well as former members of the British Red Devils participated in the event. The Fiesta's main theme was "Exchange of Cultures," a tribute to aviation's contributions in "making the world smaller." Apart from aviation enthusiasts, the Fiesta also invited artists and performers from around the world including Turkish folk dancers, carpet makers, and ceramic masters; international singers from South Africa, Samoa, New Zealand, and Zimbabwe; and the Amganad Music and Dance Ensemble from Banaue, Philippines. [8]
In 2020, the PIHABF was not held at its usual venue in Clark, Pampanga citing a "lack of government commitment" to be involved in the event amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, the organizers held a hot air balloon festival, which they dubbed "Flying Carnival 2020", at the San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite. [9] [10]
This fiesta went on hiatus in 2021. [11]
The 24th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta was held in New Clark City from February 16 to 18, 2024 with the inaugural Skydiving Philippine Flag Jump ceremony. [12]
18 hot air balloons participated. Each balloon reached sizes of up to 30 meters and soared up to 12,000 feet. [13] [14]
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