Pampanga’s Balloon Fest To feature Taiwan’s Top Hot Air Balloon

This year’s 2016 Lubao International Balloon Festival, which will run from April 14-17, 2016 at Lubao, Pampanga, will feature Taiwan’s Taitung No. 1 Hot Air Balloon called “Kid’s Hooray”.

This was after the Taitung County Government and the Lubao International Balloon Festival Inc. (LIBF) signed a “memorandum of understanding” (MoU) to have a better collaboration to further promote hot air balloon festivals in the region.

They have also invited the LIBF to join the Asia Hot Air Balloon Alliance which aims not only to promote Hot Air Balloon Festivals but also multi-destination travel in Asia.

During the event, Taiwan’s Taitung County Government Tourism Department Vice-Director Wang will lead two pilots and Taitung’s “Kid’s Hooray” during the launching ceremony on April 14.

“Kid’s Hooray”, which is the first ever legally registered balloon in Taiwan, was a created by five elementary students in the East Rift Valley of Taitung, Taiwan.

Taitung is the third largest county in Taiwan, located in Eastern Coast and they are much known for their hot air balloons because of their strategic location.

“Kid’s Hooray” serves as a good-will ambassador representing Taitung, which has already flown in countries, such as Australia, Vietnam, Canada, New Zealand and Spain.

The Taitung County Government expressed confidence that participating in the LIBF would enhance Taiwan-Philippine substantial relation and people-to-people understanding.

Wang noted that Taiwan’s participation in the balloon festival symbolized the friendship between pilots of Taiwan and those of the Philippines under the bright sunshine in the heartwarming province of Pampanga.

This is the third Lubao Hot Air Balloon Festival in Pampanga and is the biggest annual hot air balloon festival in the Southeast Asia. A total of 40 beautiful balloons will join the festival.

Concerts, aerial and land exhibitions, street activities, games and many attractive events are prepared for all the guests. The organizers expect to draw more than 100,000 visitors to this event.

The 2016 Lubao International Festival is organized by the LIBF & Forthinker, Inc in cooperation with the Arts, Culture and Tourism Office of Pampanga (ACTO) and with the support from Provincial Government of Pampanga. (PNA) RMA/ANP