Hot air balloon fest kicks off in Lubao

MALOLOS CITY, Philippines – All roads lead to Lubao town in Pampanga today for the biggest annual hot air balloon festival in Southeast Asia.

Organized by the newly formed Pilipinas Hot Air Balloon Festival Inc. (PHABFI) in coordination with the Department of Tourism (DOT), the four-day event is expected to draw at least 100,000 local and foreign tourists.

Ronaldo Tiotuico, DOT-Central Luzon director, said more participants have registered for the annual festival which was moved from the Clark Freeport to Barangay Prado Siongco in Lubao town.

In an interview with Radyo Bulacan yesterday, Tiotuico said at least 35 hot air balloons in different colors and shapes from nine countries, including France, Germany, the United States, Malaysia and South Korea, are taking part in the festival.

 â€œThis is the biggest annual hot air balloon festival in Southeast Asia and we are inviting everybody to come and see,” he said.

Tickets for the festival are priced at P200 each, lower than the P250 charged when the festival was staged at the Clark Freeport.

Tiotuico said those coming from Manila can exit at the San Fernando Toll Plaza along the North Luzon Expressway and head all the way to Lubao, the last town of Pampanga when going to Bataan.

Since there are road projects on the Gapan-Olongapo Road on the east side of Lubao, Tiotuico advised visitors to turn right to the Lubao megadike, follow the Lubao bypass road, then turn right to the Gapan-Olongapo Road.

He said visitors can also use the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway, then exit at the Dinalupihan interchange and turn left to the Gapan-Olongapo Road toward Hermosa town in Bataan and then Lubao town.

Tiotuico said they are hoping that there will be no rain during the festival. Lubao town experienced a heavy downpour Tuesday night.