SCHOOL KIDS GET HOT AIR BALLOON RIDE
Clark Field, Feb. 3, 1998 - School children will join representatives of the local and international press in a spectacular sight-seeing of Pinatubo-damaged Central Luzon while safely snuggled in gondolas dangling from colorful hot air balloons.
The media and public rides on February 6 are part of the Philippine Centennial Hot Air Balloon Festival activities lined up at the former US Air Force base inside Clark Field.
Other events for the day include ultra-light aircraft bomb dropping, remote-controlled aircraft flying, sky diving, friendly kite flying and the first competition in balloon flight task briefing.
The annual Philippine Hot Air Balloon Festival first soared in 1994, through the efforts of Tourism Secretary Mina Gabor.
Gabor was assisted by balloon enthusiast John Emery, who began organizing the festival. Emery was one of the founding members of the Dane Group of balloonists based in the United Kingdom. Using his extensive network of contacts, Emery was able to mount the Philippine's first Hot Air Balloon Festival that year.
The festival, which started as a one-day affair, has grown into a week-long celebration with growing local and international participation.
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