Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta

Philippines International
Hot Air Balloon Festival
Philippines International; Hot Air Balloon Festival
	Balloons being inflated during the 20th 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 (PIHABF) is an annual four-day air-sporting event held between January and February at the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga. ^[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 approximately 100,000 visitors annually.^[2]^[3]

Events

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

Skydiving
Flag jumping
Microlight demonstrations
Rocketry demonstrations
Small plane flybys and fly-ins
Remote-control airplane and helicopter flying exhibitions
Freestyle aerobatics
Precision maneuvers
Light airplane balloon bursting
Ultralight flying formation and floor bomb dropping
Kite-making and choreographed kite-fly
Hi-start launch gliding
Control-line aircraft flying
Pylon racing
Banner towing
A remodeling symposium
Race between ultralights and motorcycles

History

Opening: 1994

The Mount Pinatubo volcano erupted in 1991, devastating the Central Luzon region of the Philippines. To boost the economy and lift the spirits of its residents, the Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Festival was introduced in 1994.

The festival was jointly organized by former Tourism Secretary Narzalina Lim, aviation enthusiasts Max Motschmann, and British Airways General Manager John Emery, in collaboration with other local and international partners, aiming to position the Philippines as a premier sport aviation and travel hub in the Asia-Pacific region. ^[4]^{[better source needed]}

Organizers

Department of Tourism (Philippines)
The Hot Air Balloon Club
Clark Development Corporation
British Airways

1995

After the 1994 festival, participation grew to 27 balloons, including a non-basket one-man balloon and two entries from the Philippines. The 1995 festival also saw the introduction of ultralight planes to the event.^{[citation needed]}

1996-1998

In 1996, 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

Skydiving
Paragliding
Motorized hang gliding
Remotely controlled model aircraft
Kite-flying

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.^[5]

1999-2000

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

The year 2003 marked a significant departure from the conventional ballooning format with the introduction of specially crafted balloons, including one shaped like a flying newspaper from South Korea and another resembling a large dog from Japan.^[6]

Countries represented

Malaysia
South Korea
Japan
Germany
United Kingdom
Sweden
The Czech Republic
Netherlands

2006

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.^[7]

Countries represented^[7]

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

2017

In 2017, the 21st Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta showcased 30 hot air balloons.^[8] 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.^[9]

Countries represented^[9]

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

2020

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.^[10]^[11]

2021-2023

This fiesta went on hiatus in 2021, due largely to the Covid-19 pandemic.^[12]

2024

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.^[13]

Attractions

Parachute gliding
Helicopter flying
Jet exhibitions
Drone racing
Ultralight airplane flying
Air shows by Jet para Hawk Paramotor flying by the Global Stars Team Aerobatic from the United Kingdom
Kite Flying Exhibition
Fireworks display