February is also Hot Air Balloon month
I have always looked forward to February not because it is the month of love but for something much hotter than hundreds of intimate lovers on a romantic evening. I hate PDA's, and I prefer to be affectionate and romantic in private. So frankly, I am not anticipating a romantic February, but instead the feeling of excitement goes for the Hot Air Balloon festival.
The Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Festival is the country’s biggest aviation event that started around 14 years ago and is held annually during the second week of February. I remember around 5 to 8 years ago, we would always see those hot air balloons in the sky early in the morning while I was bringing my son to school. We weren’t attending the event then, we were just admiring them fly near my son’s school which is just a short distance from where those balloons take off. It was exciting to see those colorful balloons racing to the sky as high and as far away as they can. Seeing one might just be as ordinary as it can be, but seeing almost 25 of them lined up early in the morning sky is altogether a different experience. And seeing them up close is a once in a lifetime chance.
And so three years ago, I went to see the Hot Air Balloon Festival officially. I paid for the entrance fee, and I went inside the festival grounds. I was not just admiring them from outside the Clark perimeter which I usually do, but that time I attempted to get as close to the balloons as I possibly can. It is a four day-whole day event, and the main attraction are the colorful hot air balloons, which unfortunately, you can only see during their early morning flight at 5 to 7 in the morning and at the afternoon which is the day’s culminating event. But in between the time where the hot air balloons are in flight, the whole festival in busy with other activities like the numerous exhibits, games, photo-ops, flying exhibitions, paragliding, skydiving and even kite flying for kids and enthusiasts. The event was used to be held at OMNI Aviation grounds, but with the influx of increasing spectators, they transferred to the nearby and bigger Air Force Grounds right at the edge of the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport runway.
I have been attending the festival for the past 3 years. This year may not be altogether different from the previous years, but still it is something to look forward again. Perhaps there may be a different sets of balloons coming from different parts of the world (I miss the square Whiskas, by the way), or they may be the same sets from last year. Nevertheless, I am still looking forward to this year’s event, and a nice green grass to picnic while watching the colorful balloons up in the sky.
Oh… by the way, have I told you that they glow in the dark?
evey... hindi ako sure 150 USD yata pwede sumakay...
phelps... dancing balloons ba yun???