LUBAO INTERNATIONAL BALLOON FESTIVAL 2015 IN LUBAO, PAMPANGA
If you missed the February’s annual hot air balloon festival, then here’s another chance for you to check out and see another hot air balloon festival that will be held in Pradera Verde, Prado Siongco, Lubao, Pampanga.
The balloon fest for Lubao will be on March 26-29, 2015, with entrance fee of PHP250 per day and you can buy tickets in all SM Tickets branches nationwide and also at the gate.
HOW IT ALL STARTED
This balloon fest in Lubao started last year when the long running Philippine Hot Air Balloon Festival was cancelled for 2014, many residents of Pampanga and also fans of the hot air balloon event were sad to know that there will be no 2014 balloon fest, ENTER: Mr. Noel Castro Jr., chairman of Pilipinas International Balloon Festival, Inc. (PIBF), he and his new team organized a new event last April 2014 in a 250-hectare facility near the biggest wake board park site in Pradera Verde, Prado Siongco, Lubao, Pampanga, their event name is entitled “Lubao International Balloon Festival”, The balloon festival carries Lubao’s name for awareness of its existence, the festival will help promote not only the city of Lubao, but also the locals there.
I asked what we can see in Lubao, Mr. Castro Jr. said that Lubao is one of the biggest producer of sampaguita, also a city in Pampanga with the largest wake board site.
The event is organized by Pilipinas International Balloon Festival Inc. (PIBF) together with the Arts, Culture and Tourism Office (ACTO) and Pampanga Provincial Government.
THE HOT AIR BALLOONS OF LUBAO
Last 2014 the event experienced a flight and glow of 30 hot air balloons with different shapes and sizes, a total of 55,000 people visited the 2014 Lubao International Balloon Festival, it was a successful event for that year and then for this year, the organizers are expecting more visitors from all over the country because they will bring not only 30 balloons…but its 40 hot air balloons are expected, I guess this is the biggest number of participants ever for a hot air balloon fest.
40 colorful hot air balloons coming from countries all over the world, with 15 specially shaped balloons like Darth Vader, Yoda, Humpty Dumpty, Froggy and more will fly every morning and do a night glow in the afternoon. Mr. Castro Jr said that the most awesome part of the fest is the night glow of the balloons, during the afternoon schedule of the fest, the balloons will just fire up their burner to make it glow, these activities made a lot of wow factor to audiences and it was dubbed as the most romantic setting in Lubao, for this year the organizers are planning to add fireworks display and hopefully add those giant “parol” lanterns add more glow during the night.
They showed to me a photo of Lubao’s very own hot air balloon, the balloon marked a new logo for Lubao and the festival with a beautiful drawing of a sampaguita flowers. The Lubao official hot air balloon will join the fest this March 26-29 after doing its test flight in Spain.
The organizers informed everyone that the balloon flight will still depend on the wind and weather condition in Lubao. If it rained or a sudden strong gust of wind in the morning or at night, expect a cancellation of any balloon activities on ground, this is for safety precautions of the pilots and also audiences of the fest.
Let’s all pray to have a nice weather on March 26-29
RIDE THE HOT AIR BALLOON
I got info from the organizers that the cost to ride the hot air balloon in total flight is PHP 10,000.
The basket of the balloon can hold 3 people + a licensed pilot, if you are interested to ride a balloon, then contact the organizers at lubaoibf@gmail.com / +63 926 521 9398 or +63 942 0768
ACTIVITIES, SIDE SHOWS AND CONCERTS
The entire festival will feature a different attractions, everyone can join and participate in the carnival area, watch the animal show, water balloon fight, do paint ball, watch motor paragliding, watch fireworks display at night, dance and party with DJ music, watch the Mabalacat culture show and many more.
One of the highlights of the fest is the rock live act of KAMIKAZEE on March 28, The performance of The Voice Of the Philippines Season 2 Final 4 on March 27, and live band act of Mitoy and the draybers on March 29.
Don’t forget that all food that will serve and sell at the fest are all local cuisines of Pampanga.
Expect a lot of sisigs and also camaro.
HOW TO GO TO LUBAO?Going to Pradera Verde, Barangay Prado Siongco, Lubao, Pampanga
From NLEX
- Take the North Luzon Expressway and then take San Fernando toll exit
- Turn left towards Jose Abad Santos Ave. (formerly Olongapo-Gapan Rd.)
- Head towards the town of Lubao, passing Gua-gua-Sta.Rita intersection and Golangco Intersection (Brgy. Prado Siongco is the last barangay of Lubao before Bataan)
- The venue is at the right side of the highway, before the Pampanga and Bataan welcome arch
- Take SCTex toll plaza heading towards Subic
- Take Dinalupihan toll exit; then turn left to Lubao
- The venue is right after the Bataan-Pampanga welcome arch
Commute tips and directions to Lubao, Pampanga
1. Ride Genesis or Victory Liner bus going to Olangapo or Balanga, ask the bus conductor if they will pass by Lubao, Pampanga
2. If the bus will pass Lubao, then ask the bus to drop you off at Pradera Verde where the Hot Air Balloon Festival will take place
3. All bus liners takes a bus stop over in Lubao
4. Genesis bus stop over terminal is a walking distance away from Pradera Verde
5. For Victory Liner, its a 15 minutes away from Pradera Verde
TICKETS
Tickets are priced at P250 and can be purchased at SM ticket booth outlets orwww.smtickets.com. For more information, please visit www.lubaoibf.com orfb.com/lubaoibf and @lubaoibf via Instagram and Twitter.
LIBF 2015 is sponsored by San Miguel Corporation, San Miguel Beer, Petron, Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdog, Magnolia Ice Cream, Magnolia Pure Water, Victory Liner, Resorts World Manila and Click The City. Media partners include Inquirer.net, Diva TV Asia, Universal Channel Asia, Lifespots Magazine, Mellow 94.7,wheninmanila.com and the Philippine Bloggers Network @pbnetworkph
LUBAO INTERNATIONAL BALLOON FESTIVAL 2015Website: http://lubaoibf.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LubaoIBF
Instagram: www.instagram.com/lubaoibf
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lubaoibf
Mr. Noel Castro Jr. ( far right) and his team for Lubao International Balloon Festival
Yoda balloon expected to fly this March 26-29
The sky will turn blue…when this Smurf starts to fly
The empire will strike back….
A sample of night glow of a hot air balloon
From the afternoon til evening.
Expect these balloons to light up the ground of Lubao
My favorite balloon for this year ahahah
this is so cute!
Kamikazee will be disbanded for 2016 (band will take a rest), this is your last chance to see them perform for the last time through out 2015. Visit the balloon fest and see how they will rock the ground of Lubao.
And oh…its Bimby Aquino!
