CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga – At least 27 hot air balloons will be participating in the annual Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Festival inside the Clark Economic Zone in Pampanga.

According to Sonny Lopez, Public Affairs manager of Clark Development Corporation (CDC), among the countries that have confirmed their participation in the Feb. 10-13 event aside from the Philippines are the United Kingdom, United States, Japan, Hungary, Finland, Thailand, South Korea and Malaysia.

Lopez said visitors will be able to experience a 45-minute hot air balloon flight for only P250 per adult and P150 per child. Tour schedules are 7:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.

There will also be sky diving and paragliding exhibitions as well as rocketry and radio-controlled model aircraft demonstrations. (Franco G. Regala)

Hearing nixed after accident
BAKUN, Benguet – A vehicular accident which caused injury to seven persons, who are mostly members of various militant organizations, forced members of the House committee on national cultural communities to cancel their scheduled hearing on Thursday on the alleged controversies surrounding the ongoing exploration of the Royalco Philippines in some parts of Barangay Gambang here.

Ifugao Rep. Teodoro Baguilat, Jr., chairman of the House committee on national cultural communities, said the accident is a bad omen based on existing cultural practices. (Dexter A. See)

Cavite boosts anti-crime drive
IMUS, Cavite — Chief Supt. Samuel D. Pagdilao Jr., Police Regional Office (PRO) 4-A director, has ordered the deployment of an augmentation force in Cavite to help the provincial police enforce crime prevention measures in the area.

Pagdilao said a platoon from the PRO 4-A will assist the Cavite Police Provincial Office (CPPO) in conducting checkpoints, patrols and other strategic operations in the area.

The police general also directed Senior Supt. Danilo L. Maligalig, PPO director, to exert all efforts in solving the crime incidents in the province. (Anthony Giron)

Police recover stolen vehicles
CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga -- Chief Supt. Alan La Madrid Purisima, Central Luzon police regional director, together with the Highway Patrol Unit 3, Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit 3, Regional Crime Laboratory Office 3 and other Special Investigation Task Group members, showed the media the 16 stolen vehicles they have recovered.

In a press conference held here the other day, Purisima said they have scored significant gains in their campaign against carnapping with the recovery of the stolen vehicles. (Freddie C. Velez)