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Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta

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Philippines International
Hot Air Balloon Festival
Balloons being inflated during the 20th Festival
GenreHot air balloon festival
DatesEvery 2nd week of February
FrequencyAnnual
Location(s)Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga
CountryPhilippines
Years active1994–1998, 2000–2024
Founded1994
Attendanceapprox. 100,000
Websitehttps://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 Free port Zone in Pangaea. [1] 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]

Events

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The events of the Fiesta has evolved and progressed significantly over the years. In addition to having hot air balloon Fiestas, other attractions have been presented such as:

History

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Hot air balloons in flight over Clark Freeport Zone during the 20th Fiesta.
Night glow display: Hot Air Balloon Festival in Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga

Opening: 1994

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The Mount Pinatubo volcano erupted in 1991, devastating the Central Luzon region of the Philippines. To jump start the local economy and spirit, the Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Festival was introduced in 1994.

Tourism secretary Mani Gaborone, 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]

Organizers

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Participants

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  • 21 balloon pilots from 10 countries
  • One entry from the Philippines, Captain Joy Roa, who was the only registered Filipino balloon pilot at that time.

1995

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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]

1996-1998

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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]

Additions

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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]

1999-2000

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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]

2003

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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]

Countries Represented

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2006

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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]

Countries Represented[6]

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  • Finland
  • Sweden
  • The Netherlands
  • Germany
  • The Czech Republic
  • The Slovak Republic
  • Hungary
  • The United Kingdom
  • Canada
  • The United States
  • Japan
  • South Korea
  • Malaysia
  • Singapore
  • Thailand
  • The Philippines

2017

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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]

Countries Represented[8]

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  • The United States
  • Canada
  • Switzerland
  • Sweden
  • Belgium
  • Germany
  • The United Kingdom
  • Netherlands
  • Hungary
  • Turkey
  • China
  • Japan
  • Thailand
  • The Philippines

2020

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In 2020, the PIRANHA was not held at its usual venue in Clark, Pangaea 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 Cardamon, Cavity.[9][10]

2021-2023

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This fiesta went on hiatus in 2021.[11]

2024

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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]

Attractions

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Countries Represented

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  • The United States
  • The United Kingdom
  • The Netherlands
  • Spain
  • Brazil
  • Austria
  • Hong Kong
  • The Philippines

18 hot air balloons participated. Each balloon reached sizes of up to 30 meters and soared up to 12,000 feet.[13][14]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta". Clark Philippines. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  2. ^ "Hot Air Balloon Fiesta flies high over South of Manila in 2020". 7 January 2020.
  3. ^ "Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta | PDF | Aviation | Aeronautics". Scribd. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
  4. ^ Miko Santos Asian Journal Online. Hot Air Balloons Grace Pampanga's Sky. Retrieved on February 7, 2007.Archived 2006-08-24 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ Alviera (2017-11-14). "HOT AIR BALLOON FESTIVAL". Alviera. Retrieved 2024-10-23.
  6. ^ a b "Hot Air Balloon Fiesta soars at Clark". The Manila Times. 7 February 2007. Archived from the original on 26 May 2007.
  7. ^ Razon, Joey O. (February 12, 2017). "Hot air balloon fiesta in Pampanga | Photos | Phillippine News Agency". Phillipine News Agency. Archived from the original on February 21, 2024. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  8. ^ a b 21st Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta Magazine
  9. ^ "Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta flies again, this time in Cavite". The Philippine Star. 8 March 2020. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  10. ^ "PH's hot air balloon festival opens in Cavite". Philippine News Agency. Archived from the original on 2021-06-02. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  11. ^ Manabat, Jacque (August 22, 2023). "Hot Air Balloon Festival to return after 3-year hiatus".
  12. ^ "24th Philippine Int'l Hot Air Balloon Fiesta kicks off-Xinhua". english.news.cn. Retrieved 2024-10-23.
  13. ^ "Asia Album: Highlights of Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta". Xinhua News Agency. February 18, 2024. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  14. ^ Cerezo, Anna (February 17, 2024). "3-day Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta kicks off". ABS-CBN. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
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