Back with a vengeance after a hiatus of six long years, Southeast Asia’s largest hot air balloon extravaganza last week has put Lubao town back at the top of tourism destinations north of Metro Manila.
Fittingly dubbed “Back on Air,” the Lubao International Balloon and Music Festival 2025 organized by the Blue Skies Hot Air Balloon AdVentures Assn. Inc, at the sprawling Pradera Verde featured a mix of hot air balloon exhibitions, live music, and family-friendly attractions drawing some 75,000 spectators from April 11 to 13.
(Contributed photo)
No less than 26 hot air balloons – both the standard egg-shaped and customized into cartoon characters – coming from Australia, Canada, France, The Netherlands, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea and the Philippines punctuated the summer sky in a dazzling display of color and motion.
In the evening, a magical experience came from the hot air balloon night glow, dissolving into the electrifying music performances of various Filipino artists, notably Bamboo, Ben&Ben, Mayonnaise, The Juans, Alamat, Darren Espanto, Kyle Echarri, AL James, Silent Sanctuary, Zack Tabudlo, and Juan Karlos capping off the night with high energy and emotion.
(International balloon pilots and the organizers feted with farewell dinner by Vice Gov. Lilia “Nanay” Pineda)
As the LIBMF 2025 took a bow, with gratitude to the Lubao local government and private partners for the successful event that reinforced the status of Lubao as a key destination for tourism and entertainment in the Central Luzon region and beyond, the festival served as a sneak peek to greater, indeed, grander things happening in Lubao. Not bound by seasons, as the hot air balloon festival is. But, on hand throughout the year.
Comes now Pradera Islands Theme Park, world-class but Filipino in character.
Photo credits: LIBMF by Gerald Gloton/Pradera Islands by Borj Meneses
