This weekend, with everything that flies
AS my Tiya ‘Pina would say, Walastik! You’d think that after 22 years doing the Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta (PIHABF), they’d run out of surprises.
But this year, Capt. Joy Roa and his intrepid volunteers pushed the act to the edge with the Wing Walkers: That’s a blonde Emily Guilding and a brunette Kati Hobbs balancing on the double wings of Boeing-Stearman Model 75 biplanes.
Look up and watch safely from terra firma of the Omni Aviation at Clark Pampanga as the British duo of the AeroSuperBaticsLtd wingwalking team performs death defying aerobatic maneuvers while their pilots do loops, rolls, and upside-down turns. Wingwalking acts performing today push the boundaries of their sport and art while not forgetting the roots of their barnstorming tradition.
Blue Eagles fly high, Green Archers shoot. From February 8 to 11 (tomorrow, Thursday, to Sunday, PIHAF is back to live up to its fame as one of the Philippines’ most exciting fiestas with overflow crowd at “A Weekend of Everything that Flies”:
• Skydivers jump from 1,000 feet. To pump the adrenalin, you can sign up to do tandem sky diving with professional skydivers.
• Hot air balloon rides from 12 countries, discovery flights (helicopter rides, ultra-light, micro-light and glider planes).
• Romeo can pop the question to Juliet: Go ahead, ask her from 1,000 feet up in the sky to tie the knot (and threaten to jump if she says “No”).
• Fiesta pilots exhibit skills maneuvering planes and gliders; paragliders fall from the sky; young pilots at balloon-bursting competition; hobbyists demonstrate remarkable twists and turns with radiocontrolled aircraft.
• Acrophobia? No problem. The Fiesta teems with earth-bound activities: Kite flying for the young and the young at heart; flying schools demonstration and instruction on airplanes; airplanes dropping flour bombs; drones racing; remote control model plane performances; road racers burning tires on the asphalt.
• For the kids, there’s horseback riding; first-take-off on camel rides; William Tell apple-on-the-head archery; feeding the animal menagerie; unique finds from the Fly Market; and many more.
• Concert nights with foreign musical artists performing alongside Filipino artists and bands at the One World Music Cultural Exchange Concert. ABS-CBN artists performances on the weekend with fireworks display and balloon nightglow on last night of the Fiesta.
This year’s Hot Air Balloon Fiesta has more, and even MORE – 26 hot-air balloons from all over the world (11 new special-shaped ones like the Matryoshka Russian Doll, Beefeater Queen’s Guard, Giant Strawberry, Captain Jack, Vostok Balloon, Master Yoda, Morris the Donkey, etc.). Early morning balloon flights are followed by non-stop flying activities.
With over two decades flying high, PIHABF mounts a thrilling aviation event in the country. Aviators from all over the world participate at the various flying activities and cultural exchanges.
Early birds are treated to a flag jump for the Philippine national anthem. (Differently, instead of the flag going up the flagpole, the flag descends with the skydiver.) The three bands of the Philippine Armed Forces – Navy, Army, and Air force – compete in playing the national anthem and perform their otso-otso numbers on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. The adjudged winner performs on Sunday.
Php 500 entrance tickets, (PIHABF Foundation Scholarship Fund supports underprivileged but deserving students pursuing a career in aviation). Tickets available at the Fiesta’s website, Ticketnet outlets, or at the event gates. Visit philballoonfest.net,follow @philballoonfest on Twitter and Instagram, and like @PIHABF on Facebook.