At 3:00AM, I was carefully driving to Ayala to pick up my friend from his work. He will then drive us to Clark to witness the 18th Philippine Hot Air Balloon Fiesta (PIHABF). It has been the common advice to arrive there early to get the best spots for photographs. It is also best to arrive early to watch the balloons being set-up and rise up to the sky.

We arrived just as the balloons were rising. The Philippine flag had been released already. The "weekend of everything that flies" has started. There was not much crowd as expected, probably due to the rainy Friday we had in Manila.


It was cloudy day that morning but soon the sun was smiling. Both the balloon and the real thing.


The crowd filled the skies with kites they bought from the booths in the area. Last time I flew a kite must have been 15 years ago. This time, the boys tried to give it a go and partly succeeded.

Captain Maynard Halili did his performance with a yellow plane with a fabric body. It was entertaining to watch this yellow plane against the blue sky. At one point it seemed like it was plummeting down to crash.

Finally, the moment I've been waiting for has arrived. Engines roared and everyone was quiet as the Breitling Jet Team did their stunts.

The Breitling jet team definitely made the Php250.00 entrance fee worth every cent. I have never imagined I would get to watch jet planes perform live. The kids on the field must have been so amazed. PIHABF continues to be an event for family, friends and even couples. Can you just imagine getting a proposal while riding a hot air balloon? It's like no way out other than saying yes or your $250 down the drain.
For next year, we plan to go there in the afternoon, spend the night at Clark and wake up to the flight of the balloons. And just like this year, must pack picnic mat, sunblock, umbrella and water.

Remember the novel "Around the World in Eighty Days"? The most common cover for that work would be Phileas Fogg and Passepartout in a hot air balloon, ready to go around the world. But did you know there was never a mention of the hot air balloon as one of their modes of transportation? And "balloon" was mentioned once throughout the whole novel.

Phileas Fogg may not have experienced a hot air balloon but this coming weekend, you can get the chance to witness not one but around 30 hot air balloons from 15 countries in the 18th installment of the Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta (PIHABF). Get to experience a "weekend of everything that flies".


Secretary Jimenez opened the press conference last February 19 at the Peninsula Manila's Garcia-Villa Function Room. His short speech was then followed by an AVP on the past balloon fiestas and sights in the Philippines. Maestro Ryan Cayabyab then opened the floor for some fiesta music brought to you native musicians from Dumaguete. The fiesta music made the guests get up and dance to each beat!



Speaking of guests, this year PIHABF is proud to bring the world-famous Breitling Jet Team to the country for the first time to perform their precision aerobatic show for the Philippine audience.

Don't they look dapper in those jackets? I wanted on for my own!

The Breitling Jet Team is the world's largest professional civilian flight team based in France.

Get to see specially shaped balloons like Humpty Dumpty, Space Shuttle and Tulip during the event. The three-day event will also feature aviation school displays, food booths, a fly market, the hot air balloon glow, radio control UFO flyers and an OPM concert.

OPM icons like Ogie Alcasid, Gary Valenciano, Cookie Chua, Dingdong Avanzado, Jessa Zaragoza, Wolfgang, The Dawn, Imago, Kjwan, Spongecola, Joey Ayala, Pepe Smit, Urbandub, Gloc9, Noel Cabangon and Ebe Dancel will be among the performers this February 22 and 23, 2013.

The 2013 PIHABF is presented in partnership with the Clark Development Corporation (CDC), the Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC), the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) and the Department of Tourism (DOT).

For more information (and schedule of activities), visit www.philballoonfest.net or log on to the official PIHABF Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pihabf

This basilica is filled with childhood memories. I remember a little girl who would visit with her family every Holy Week. We would drive through SLEX and go on church hopping. I remember a random afternoon when the church was empty and quiet.



The image of a dark Jesus in a black horse became familiar over the years. I remember running around the biggest church in Asia in my pretty Sunday dress.

Years passed and we visited other towns and churches. This year, I returned to the basilica like it was something new and old at the same time. We've both changed. The "Taal" sign was different.

This was the first time I was able to go up the bell tower. Perhaps my mother never knew we could pay Php50.00 to see the view of Taal town. I remember the old adoration chapel at the side.

The bell tower offers a panoramic view of the town as the wind blows in your face.



It's like seeing the place with a different set of eyes.

This won't be the last time I'll visit the basilica again.

Wrong turns. Right instead of left. Unnecessary toll gates. Our road trip to the heritage town of Taal could not get anymore memorable. Originally, this is our plan in a nutshell:


We arrived at Taal Town by 1:00PM. We were hungry and excited as we have been on the road for more than expected. We turned right instead of left upon exiting Star Tollway (Lipa). We were i n the road to Tanauan rather than Taal. We turned around, went in a loop before finally getting on the right road. I should have known it was the road passing by Mataas na Kahoy. We passed by Cuenca, Alitagtag then Sta. Teresita.

So near, yet so far from Taal town

We relieved upon seeing the town marker.



We were famished so we went straight to Taal Bistro located at Calle A. delas Alas. The bistro is near the market and just a few steps from the municipal hall.



 We ordered the Bistro Chicken and Tapang Taal together with java rice. Waitress said java rice was good for 3-4. It was heaps of rice that even our hungry selves could not finish.



Tapang Taal was pork instead of your usual beef tapa.



Bistro Chicken was tasty (or was it because we were really hungry?).



Total damage to our wallets was Php160.00 per person. Not bad considering I had two rounds.

Afterwards, we started our tour at 2pm - four hours later than our original plan. We got to visit Taal Basilica, Our Lady of Caysasay, Villa Vicencio and Casa Gahol (Francisco's cafe). Most of the houses are open 9am to 4pm on Sundays so best be there by morning to visit all houses.

In the end, here's the lesson for the day:



*ramble (/ˈrambəl/):
(verb) Walk for pleasure in the countryside, typically without a definite rout
(noun) A walk taken for pleasure in the countryside