From hot air balloons of funky designs down to aerosports and lectures, the Philippine Hot Air Balloon Fiesta (PIHABF) does not limit itself to enjoyment but also aims for education, especially in aviation. 

For Captain Joy Roa, PIHABF’s President and Founder, bringing children closer to their potential aspirations in aviation serves as one of the main advocacies of the annual event. 

“Because the young, to open their eyes, but the old will of course need to support them and they have to understand, my children want this course for a reason,” he said. 

“I think it would have been great if the school children would have been able to visit, learn something, and we had a lot of seminars which will of course encourage them to start a career in aviation,”  he continued. 

Roa then addressed that pursuing a career in aviation is not easy, zooming in on financial aspects, but he said that the ‘investment’ towards the field is worth it as the job is in demand in Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong and Singapore. 

“Well, you know, all aviation is expensive. Number one, gasoline is expensive. Number two, tuition is expensive,” he mentioned. 

“To get the proper skill, you know, you have to invest in the equipment also,” he added. 

On the side of sports 

Opportunities in the three-day event are not limited to aviation as it also extends to sports–especially air sports. 

“Right? We joined the Southeast Asian Games, then we'll have the Olympics. I want Filipinos to improve,” he shared. 

“We have a new skill, they have a new skill to develop their eye and hand coordination,” Roa furthered. 

Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) also vowed for the construction of more training facilities to further encourage children to engage in sports. 

BCDA Investment Promotions and Marketing vice president Kenneth Peralta said that a facility in Camp John Hay in Baguio and another 20 hectare property in New Clark City Sports Complex will start its construction by the end of the year.