Morning is arriving, and large clouds – remnants of the previous day’s constant rains – are hovering above the Clark Freeport Zone, about an hour and a half north of Manila. Gradually, the clouds give way to sun rising from the horizon punctuated by Mount Arayat. Crowds who have sacrificed sleep to be at the grounds at the crack of dawn are greeted with the good news – weather reports have forecasted a nice, albeit cloudy, day. With good visibility, the weekend schedule for this year’s Hot Air Balloon Fiesta goes on as planned. Now on its 18th year, the festival – dotted with hot air balloons from participants all over the world, fairs from various aviation schools from the Philippines, and a host of other shows both related and not to flying – perhaps best
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