CLARK FREEPORT -- The Clark Development Corporation (CDC) has announced that at least 25 countries are expected to participate in the 14th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta (PIHABF).

CDC Tourism and Promotions Office (TPO) manager Noemi Garcia said the CDC and Hot Air Balloon Club of the Philippines (HABCP) have forged an agreement for the holding of the event slated from February 12 to 15 next year.

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Garcia added that a memorandum of agreement was signed by CDC president Benigno N. Ricafort and HABCP president Joi Roa at the Café Mesa here on November 12.

More than 100,000 spectators are expected to attend the four-day event that would be held at Clark's Civil Aviation Complex beside the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport.

Some 19 balloons flew Clark skies during last year's hot air balloon festival where pilots from the Philippines, Sweden, United States, Hungary, Thailand, Malaysia, Germany, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Finland, Japan, Switzerland, England, and South Korea participated.

The previous event also featured four paragliders, three from Malaysia and one from France. The pilots flew thrice daily for the whole duration of the event.

"We are already drawing plans to make the next hot air balloon fiesta a bigger and spectacular event as part of CDC's bid to transform Clark into a tourist haven north of Manila," Garcia said.

For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Davao.

(November 15, 2008 issue)
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