LUBAO, Pampanga – Thirty one hot air balloons from 18 countries will become part of the colorful skies above this municipality in the forthcoming Lubao International Balloon and Music Festival (LIBMF) 2019 on April 5,6 and 7, 2019.
“This will be a banner year for Lubao and we are about to feature 10 special shaped balloons that will be flying in Philippine skies for the first time,” says event chairman Noel Castro during a press conference last Saturday at the Pradera Verde.
Among the participating 31 balloons will come from the local sponsors namely SM Supermalls, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), Isuzu D-Max and the Municipal Government of Lubao while the 27 other balloons will come from 18 different participating countries.
Bernie Bituin Launch Master, Rambo Ortega Head Organizer Capt Robert Aguilar Pradera Verde Flying Club joined Castro in the news briefing with journalists from Pampanga and Bataan.
Now on its 6th year, the LIBMF 2019 is organized by Lubao International Balloon Festival, Inc. (LIBF) together with Forthinker, Inc., in cooperation with the Arts, Culture and Tourism Office of Pampanga (ACTO) and with support from the Provincial Government of Pampanga led by Governor Lilia “Nanay Baby” G. Pineda.
About 30,000 to 40,000 tourists from around the country and abroad are expected to visit the LIBMF event which also lined up several mainstream and up and coming local music artists including for the nightly music festival.
For the LIBMF’s music festival, the artists that will perform during the three-day event include Ben and Ben, JK Labajo, I Belong To The Zoo, and December Avenue on the first night (April 5); Gloc 9, Apl de Ap, Al James, and Shanti Dope, on the second night (April 6); while Bamboo, This Band, and Moira dela Torre will finally conclude the third night (April 7).
Other exciting activities inside the Pradera Verde will also be available to spectators such as off road and rally cross, balloons’ night glow, ultralight planes, motor paragliding shows, and bazaar featuring toys, clothes, souvenir items foods, and toy versions of the balloons.