Thousands flock to Lubao’s International Balloon and Music Festival

The Lubao International Balloon and Music Festival was held from March 23 to 25 this year. Photo: Ruston Banal

LUBAO, Pampanga — On March 23, strong gusts of wind hindered balloonists from taking off to the skies of Lubao, and event officials had to cancel hot air balloon flights on the first day of the Lubao International Balloon and Music Festival.

Instead, the balloons were inflated while tethered to the ground for the people’s viewing pleasure. Ultralight planes, a new addition to the festival’s roster of attractions, saved the day as they decorated the skies and soared throughout the day.

The first concert made up for the morning’s lack of balloon flights and was a huge hit among festival-goers. They rocked out to songs from music sensations Kyoto and Ex Battalion. Well-known OPM band Silent Sanctuary played classic and new songs as people swayed to the music. Last act of the night Moira serenaded the crowd and made them tear up as she and her boyfriend performed Ed Sheeran’s “Perfect.”

On its second day, the Lubao International Balloon and Music Festival truly went five and up! The winds mellowed down as the sun went up and 30 colorful hot air balloons painted the skies of Pradera Verde, official venue partner of LubaoIBMF.

“It’s very fulfilling that we do it every summer,” said event chairman Noel Castro, when asked how he feels about the event reaching its five-year milestone.

“The wind condition in Lubao is perfect for flying the balloons,” he added.

Among the 30 balloons that flew during the three-day festival, there were eight in special shapes that piqued the interest of spectators. The Cristo Redentor or Christ the Redeemer balloon, piloted by Brazil native Renato Mathies, was particularly noticed because of its timeliness as Holy Week approached.

Maymay Entrata and Edward Barber, better known as the love team MayWard, made a special appearance on Saturday’s morning program. They attracted a huge crowd as they performed “Mahal Kita Kasi” and other popular songs. They also got to ride a tethered hot air balloon.

An exciting new day activity for LubaoIBMF 2018 is the Off-Road event. Rolf King of the National Association of Filipino Off-Roaders (NAsFOR) said of joining the event for the first time, “We’re very proud to have been invited by the hot air balloon festival of Lubao. You have activities both ground and air. I think it’s a very complete event.” A car show on the festival’s second day catered to vehicle enthusiasts as they anticipated the night’s concert.

Indie bands Autotelic and December Avenue opened the second night of the music festival. Michael Pangilinan went on next with his Himig Handog-winning “Pare Mahal Mo Raw Ako.” Crowd favorite Sarah Geronimo and special guests Jona Soquite and Ronnie Liang capped off the night in an emotional yet energetic set.

The fun and merriment carried on to third and final day of the festival while picturesque hot air balloons rose to the sky and landed in Bataan. Chase crews went after the pilots, helped the them put away the balloons, and brought them back to Lubao.

Morning entertainment was provided by the adored McLisse love team who provided a good dose of “kilig” to a big host of people. They performed a few songs including “If We Fall in Love.” There was a special performance where McCoy De Leon handed out flowers to lucky ladies watching; he fondly gave the last of the roses to Elisse Joson.

Ultralight planes once again graced the skyline of Pradera Verde as the rallycross activity provided by the Philippine Rallycross made its LubaoIBMF debut. The Off-Road attraction also continued their operations, providing great amusement to adrenaline junkies.

The final concert saw the most number of attendees, with OPM newcomers Ben&Ben and The Ransom Collective kicking it off as festival-goers went wild over their songs. The night got even more heated up when UDD hit the stage and performed to the crowd’s delight. Last but certainly not least, Bamboo ended the music festival with a bang as people jumped up and down in sync to his songs.

“Every time before I sleep, when we finish the balloon festival [for the day], I don’t want to go again. But every morning, when the balloons fly out, I feel like my stress also goes out,” said assistant event director Eugene Lee. “Especially during the Night Glow, I feel like I’m having a fantastic moment.”

The Night Glow is a special portion of the festival where balloons come out and are lit up for a unique display in between sets of each night’s performers.

The event drew 30,000 spectators per day on average. In between balloon flights and concerts, they were treated to various activities and attractions like archery, outdoor zoo, carnival rides, and plenty more.

Press release from the Lubao International Balloon and Music Festival