30,000 attend Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta in Clark

NEW CLARK CITY, Philippines — Nearly 30,000 people gathered over three days for the 26th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta in New Clark City, underscoring the area’s growing role as a sports tourism and events hub, organizers and officials said.

Branded “A Weekend of Everything That Flies,” the event featured sunrise hot air balloon ascents, night glow exhibitions, paragliding demonstrations and paper plane competitions.

International pilots from Macedonia, Brazil, Switzerland, Belgium and the United States joined local participants, giving the festival a global presence.

The festival was staged in New Clark City, a development managed by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), which oversees the transformation of former military lands into mixed-use economic centers.

BCDA President and CEO Joshua M. Bingcang said the turnout reflects efforts to convert state assets into public spaces that generate economic and social value.

“This event is aligned with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to ensure that major developments directly improve the lives of Filipinos and generate real economic impact for our communities,” Bingcang said, referring to Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr..

He added that the gathering demonstrated how infrastructure investments can foster tourism and community engagement, citing the presence of returning overseas Filipinos, foreign visitors and local residents.

The Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta was led by founder and event director Captain Jose Mari “Joy” Roa, who partnered with BCDA to mount the large-scale aviation and family-oriented event.

Christian Tell Yap, governor of Tarlac province, said the festival delivered a boost to the local economy, with hotels, tour operators and small businesses seeing increased activity during the weekend.

“This boosted the province economically and socially. There was a clear ripple effect on hotels, tour operators, and small businesses,” Yap said, adding that the provincial government aims to sustain tourism-driven growth in Central Luzon through similar initiatives.

New Clark City, located in Tarlac north of Manila, has been positioned as a venue for major sporting competitions and public gatherings as part of the national government’s infrastructure modernization push.