Clark Field Pampanga was filled with people, young and old alike, last February 7-10, 2008, as they gather to watch participants from different countries and companies prepare to inflated their balloons in the wee hours of the morning. As the sun slowly peak into the horizon, the balloons are carefully prepared and checked constantly to ensure the safety of everyone.

As the Hot Air Balloons started to take off, people waved goodbye and cheers filled the air, as balloons of different shapes, carries a small basket filled with about 5-8 people, slowly disappeared into the sky.

“A weekend of everything that flies!” is the theme of this year’s 12th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta. Local and foreign pilots offer fun flights in balloons, fixed-wing aircrafts and ultra lights to the public at reasonably discounted prices.

The Philippine Aeromodellers Club performs freestyle aerobatics, pylon racing, gliding on hi-start launch, banner towing, helicopter flying exhibitions and an aero-modeling symposium.

The Kite Association of the Philippines (KAP) – an all-volunteer, non-profit, nongovernmental cultural organization – participates in the fiesta to develop and promote the art of kite making and kite flying.

The Philippine Flightsimmers Group promotes flight simulation through the Internet. Although based in the Philippines, the Group's friends from all over the world make “group flights” to wherever they want to go, like say, from Cebu to Sydney or even Europe.

The annual event has two objectives, that is to promote the Philippines as a sport aviation destination in Asia and to increase public awareness of hot air balloons as an aviation sport.