Ronaldo Tituico, Regional Director of the Department of Tourism (DOT) Region III beamed that a bigger and more exciting four-day show next week will certainly wow the crowd as a giant dog and newspaper complete the pageantry of some 24 uniquely designed animated hot air balloons from various countries.

Aside from the Philippines, participating countries include the United States, United Kingdom, Finland, Germany, Sweden, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Korea.

The country’s hot air balloon club with its president Capt. Joy Roa of Air Ads, Inc. is the lead organizer of the affair, supported by Clark Development Corp. (CDC), DOT, 600th Air Base Wing and Air Transportation Office (ATO).

Reynaldo Liwanag, president of the Angeles City Four Wheelers Club, will spearhead his team in providing search and rescue operation for hot air balloon fliers should there be hitches along the way.

Special ground activities will be featured such as games and entertainment like children’s playoffs, fun booths, food plaza, trade fair and exhibits and more.

In between hot air balloon flights, the Angeles City skyline will be revved up with stunning air sporting events like sky diving and flag jump, ultra lights aerobatics, light airplane rally, helicopter flight demo, hang gliding, remote-controlled aeromodellers, choreographed kite flying, agriculture plane spray demo, airplane vs. motorcycle race, hot air balloon night glow, RC plane flying demo, to name a few.

Former Tourism Secretary Mina T. Gabor launched the now 12-year-old hot air balloon show, exactly three years after the Mt. Pinatubo blast. The event served as a very successful tourism and economic buffer for Pampanga, especially Angeles City, after the devastation.

Since then, the hot air balloon fiesta became an annual celebration that has managed to attract participants from all over and has spawned further creativity in hot air balloon models through the years.

Spectators are advised to join the participants and fliers as early as 5 a.m to have a look at the fly-out and fly-in launch of the event. Adults, children and students will be charged a standard entrance fee of R100.