MALOLOS
CITY—All roads leads to Lubao town in Pampanga for the
biggest annual hot air balloon festival
in South East Asia starting April 10.
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 international and domestic tourists.
It will start on April 10 and will end on April 13.
Ronaldo
Tiotuico, director of DOT Central Luzon Office said that as the annual festival
moved from Clark Freeport Zone to Barangay Prado Siongco in Lubao town this
year, more participants have registered to join.
In
a live interview over Radyo Bulacan, Tiotuico confirmed that 35 to 38
multi-colored and differently shaped balloons from nine participating countries
are joining.
Flying
the balloon will start as early as 5:30 AM, while at night, glow in the night
hot air balloons will also served as an attraction.
The
glow in the night balloon will be showcased on Friday and Saturday nights,buts
such will be allowed for lift off as all nigh glow balloons will be tied on an
anchor.
Tiotuico
said that there will be balloons that tourists can ride, but it will also be
tied to an anchor.
“This
is the biggest annual hot air balloon festival in South East Asia and we are
inviting everybody to come and see,” he said.
The
director also said that as early at last week, participating international
balloonist have arrived and in the country and tour other parts of the country
before the starting their preparation for today’s events.
Some
of the participating balloonists came to as far as France, Germany, the United
States, Malaysia and South Korea.
Tickets
for the annual festival is P200 each, which is lower than the P250 charged in
the past when the festival was held in Clark Freeport Zone. Tickets will be sold at the gates.
With
regards to road directions, Tiotuico said that those coming from Manila can
exit at San Fernando Toll Plaza along the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and
head all the way to Lubao, the last town of Pampanga when going to Bataan
province.
However,
there are road constructions along the Gapan-Olongapo Road on the east side of
Lubao.
For
this, Tiotuico advised visitors to turn right to Lubao megadike and follow the
Luba by-pass road, then right again on Gapan-Olongapo Road.
He
said that tourist can also use the Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway, then exit at
the Dinalupihan interchange and turn left on the Gapan-Olongapo Road towards
Hermosa town in Bataan, then Lubao town.
As
this developed, Tiotuico said they are keeping their fingers crossed that there
will be no rains during the festival
However,
Lubao town experience heavy downpour on Tuesday night. Dino Balabo
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