Fly High

Swiss chef Chris Locher has been living in Clark, Pampanga with his family for over a decade now. And every year during the Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta (PIHABF), he gets to be part of it through activities in his kitchen.

As the chef patrone of the C’Italian Dining restaurant in Clark, Chef Locher says that for this year’s PIHABF, which is now on its 16th year, he and his team “have been really busy” as they prepared to cater to “600 to 700 guests on a daily basis” due to the influx of visitors, mostly participants to the fiesta.

“We’re basically fully booked from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.,” he says. “It’s work and at the end of the day, you have to make sure that even if the restaurant’s operations are busy because of the PIHABF, the customers are still happy.”

Locher says the PIHABF is “one of the well-organized events” in Pampanga and is something that helps put the Philippines in a good light. “Unfortunately, I have been too busy that I can't attend the festival but my family goes there and they go see the hot air balloons, go kite flying, and participate in the different activities there such as taking pictures of the aircrafts on display there. They usually have fun.”

In 1994, the PIHABF was organized to positively aid the development of the Pinatubo-ravaged local economy of Central Luzon and to help promote the Philippines as a premier sport-aviation and tourist destination in Asia. The accessible Omni Aviation Complex in Clark, says Holland-based RJP balloon company managing director Rien Jurg, is a good venue for a hot air balloon flying event with a wide, grassy field matched with an apt tropical climate.

Through the years, the PIHABF has become a “popular international sports aviation event” that continues to attract local and foreign visitors and hot air balloon enthusiasts. It was reported that “over 80,000 visitors flocked to the event last year.” Featured activities in the PIHABF include skydiving and aircraft flying demonstrations, aerobatic and paragliding shows, balloon bursting and photo competitions, among others.

“Partnering with PIHABF is our way of supporting tourism in the country,” Caltex brand manager Veronica Pangilinan says. Caltex is one of the numerous companies and brands that sponsored this year’s PIHABF. “We are proud to be associated with this kind of event that draws enormous attention to the country’s environment and tourism industry,” Pangilinan shares.

Event director Capt. Joy Roa is enthusiastic about the continuous positive contribution of PIHABF to the country’s travel and tourism trade. “You only have to look at the hotels and restaurants in this area; almost every place is fully booked. The PIHABF’s contribution to the Philippine economy and the community is immeasurable, and this is a pleasant activity as you put a smile on everyone’s faces.”

This year, Roa says that 28 hot air balloons from different countries around the globe participated. “We are also currently celebrating 100 years of aviation here in the Philippines. We have a replica of the first plane that flew in the country on display right now,” he adds. Around 100,000 visitors are expected at the 16th PIHABF.

[ Clark Freeport Zone Wiki ]