Hot air can make dreams come true and take flight

On a humid and cloudy Thursday morning on an airfield in the Clark ecozone in Pampanga, hundreds of people crowded along the fence line of the Omni Aviation complex as they jostled for a better view of the hot air balloons seemingly coming to life before their very eyes.

 

As the balloons are filled with hot air, visitors raised their cameras – some endowed with long expensive glass. Most of the tourists tried capturing images of anything with their smartphones. The colorful blobs fought the strong winds for a good chance of flight.

 

Having just inflated a balloon, Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez was all smiles and said the annual Hot Air Balloon Festival is a “modern face” of tourism in the Philippines.

 

A few days earlier, he jammed with balloonists and pilots, where he said that “we have established that fun in the Philippines is seen from almost any angle,” taking note of the breathtaking view one can see from the skies.

Setting the mind free  

Hopping onto the balloons and other flying machines for a joyride will set one back US$250 and so, not surprisingly, most visitors of the 18-year-old event are contented to keep their feet on firm ground.

 

Couples and families brought mats. Some had tents to fend off the ground's early morning cold, which later turned to scorching midday heat. 

 

On this first of four days of the festival, Cyrian Agujo chilled in a tent as his girlfriend Steph Ongkiko blew bubbles, not minding that they lined up at the Omni Aviation Complex at 4 a.m.

 

“Parang wala kang iniisip,” said Steph about their first time visit. “(Pang-)relax. (Para) kapag sa trabaho natin, gusto mong mawala ang stress nang kaunti,” added Cyrian.

Childhood dreams  

This annual gathering of flight enthusiasts and their varied forms of aerial indulgence has not only attracted tourists who dream of touching the clouds, but also had snapshooters scrambling for passes beyond the fence to get close to the action.

 

“Everytime they have this festival, they have something new,” said professional photography icon John Chua, who has been a festival regular since it started. “Just watching (the attractions), parang it's a paradise for photographers.”

 

Soon enough the sun came out strong. Sand stuck to sweat more often with every gust of wind as kids tried to run against it to lift their kites. This simple toy inspired aerobatic pilot Maynard Halili to realize his childhood dreams of flight in his 40's.

 

“I was flying my kite and I looked beyond my kite. (There) was a gleaming airplane. This was a post war situation. 1950's, and this American flyer was doing loops, rolls, and everything. And I said that when I grow up, I'll fly just like that,” said the 67-year-old pilot, who has been “married” to a yellow Bellanca since 1999. 

 

“Coming from a poor family, I couldn't fulfill my dream until I became successful,” he told GMA News Online.

 

Halili has flown in loops and rolls for years but he praised this year's festival guests, the Breitling Jet Team, for being “superbly graceful.” 

Cold sweat  

Kapuso leading man Dingdong Dantes got a backseat experience in one of the advanced aerobatic jets.

 

“Mahirap pero masarap,” said Dingdong, who was glad he crossed something off his bucket list. 

 

“Literally meron akong cold sweat,” he said after the aerobatics.

 

TV personality Bianca Valerio was the lone girl who rode the jet that day. “I thought I was crying but it was sweat,” she told GMA News. “It was so fun I totally forgot about my fear of heights!”

 

Back on the field, the crowd has dispersed. Some sought shade, some have left for home, all feeling sticky thanks to heat, wind, and sand. But it was Thursday, and more people have “visit the Philippine Hot Air Balloon” on their to-do lists ready to be crossed out this coming weekend. Again, people will line up at 4 a.m. and jostle for better positions behind the fence for a good view of the balloons.  

It was the first day of the 18th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Festival. The annual celebration of flight had just begun.  — ELR/KG, GMA News The 18th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta is being held at the Clark Freeport Zone from Feb. 21 to 24, 2013. Tickets at P250 each available at SM Ticketnet outlets. Visit http://www.philballoonfest.net/ for more info.