Taiwan’s Taitung No. 1 Hot Air Balloon will join this year’s 2016 Lubao International Balloon Festival which will run from April 14-17, 2016 at Lubao, Pampanga.
Taiwan’s Taitung County Government Tourism Department Vice-Director Wang will lead 2 pilots and Taitung’s most popular balloon “Kid’s Hooray” during the launching ceremony on April 14. “Kid’s Hooray” is the first ever legally registered balloon in Taiwan. The design was a created by 5 elementary students in the East Rift Valley of Taitung, Taiwan. Taitung is the third largest county in Taiwan, located in Eastern Coast and they are much known for their hot air balloons because of their strategic location. “Kid’s Hooray” serves as a good-will ambassador representing Taitung, which has already flown in countries, such as Australia, Vietnam, Canada, New Zealand and Spain.
In 2016, the Taitung County Government and the Lubao International Balloon Festival Inc. (LIBF) have signed a “memorandum of understanding” (MoU) to have a better collaboration in the future and to further promote hot air balloon festivals in the region. They have also invited the LIBF to join the Asia Hot Air Balloon Alliance which aims not only to promote Hot Air Balloon Festivals but also multi-destination travel in Asia. The Taitung County Government is confident that by participating in the Lubao International Hot Air Balloon Festival this would enhance Taiwan-Philippine substantial relation and people to people understanding.
According to Vice-Director Wang, Taiwan’s participation in the balloon festival symbolizes the friendship between pilots of Taiwan and those of the Philippines under the bright sunshine in the heartwarming province of Pampanga.
This is the third Lubao Hot Air Balloon Festival in Pampanga and is the biggest annual hot air balloon festival in the Southeast Asia. A total of 40 beautiful balloons will join the festival. Concerts, aerial and land exhibitions, street activities, games and many attractive events are prepared for all the guests. The organizers expect to draw more than 100,000 visitors to this event.
The 2016 Lubao International Festival is organized by the Lubao International Balloon Festival, Inc. (LIBF) & Forthinker, Inc in cooperation with the Arts, Culture and Tourism Office of Pampanga (ACTO) and with the support from Provincial Government of Pampanga.
Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines
12th April, 2016, Manila
