The Pinay Solo Backpacker

Last year, I enjoyed the Philippine International Hot Air Balloon but I didn’t get to see the balloons glow at night.  So this year, my main intent is to witness the hot air balloons at dusk.

Left for Pampanga at around 12 noon. Boarded Victory liner in Cubao. The trip took just 1 and 1/2 hour. I’m confident that I wouldn’t get lost because I’ve traversed that route before.

At 3pm, I was standing outside Clark field, upon seeing the huge banner, I immediately took out my camera and tried to take a photo of it.  But then..ooops! Battery empty! Arggghhh! Not again!!!

Good thing I wasn’t inside the field yet so I crossed the street and boarded a jeep back to Main Gate.  I started thinking of  what to do while sitting uncomfortably inside the crowded vehicle. I  planned to go back to the cheap motel in Dau where my sister and I ended up staying last year, an hour cost Php100,  I could take a rest and charge at the same time but that’s quite far from Clark.  What about SM Clark?  But I’m not even sure if  the establishments there would allow me to charge. So as soon as the jeep stopped at Main gate, I searched for a small store where I can charge. I saw an internet shop beside a restaurant.  Hmm..charging while surfing the net is a great idea! I entered the cafe and asked the staff, he then asked his supervisor I guess and told me NO. I insisted, “I will pay for it and I’ll also rent the internet”. NO, said the guy. So I entered the restaurant beside it and asked the staff if I could charge without even telling her that I will dine there and withour hesitation, she said YES. “Magkano? ” , I asked. She said it’s 10pesos only for about an hour. Because they we’re pretty nice to a poor solo traveler and I am starving too, I  tried their menu.

The small restaurant is called William C. Sisig and sisig is their specialty.  The establishment is located at Main Gate sisig.  in Clark, Pampanga fronting Jollibee.

I stayed for an hour at the restaurant and after I’m done charging I went to SM City with the primary intent of using their wash room to clean myself.  I just realized lately that SM has played a major part on my travels.  Whenever I need to wash myself for free, I run to the nearest SM mall.

I was quite amused with SM Clark upon seeing the hot air balloon replicas. So after taking some pictures, I went straight to the washroom, cleaned my dusty face and feet, and head off to Clark.

It’s already 5pm and the field is still crowded.

the Aetas selling bamboo flutes outside the field

While waiting for the Hot Air Balloon Glow, I roamed around the field and as always, the cute little kids everywhere never failed to amuse me.

As the sun fade away and the dusk  slowly emerges…the other paragliders  started flying… 

The balloons are slowly set on the field, getting ready not to fly…

but to stand tall and still with their glowing light inside.

As the night gets darker the balloons started glowing…

It was an amusing sight, but I didn’t enjoy it as much as last year.  It was so brief and the balloons  failed to light all at the same time,  just around  2-3 times and I didn’t get to have a glimpse of the balloon at first, if not for one kid that abandoned the space she’s standing at I couldn’t have taken a full shot of the balloons.

fireworks display ended the event

I had difficulty going back. It was the last show. Heavy traffic is expected.  I walked a couple of meters away from the gate along with a couple of spectators. There’s a lot of vehicles but no one wants to offer a free ride to Main Gate. The few jeep that passes by are all full. I thought of walking all the way to Clark but it’s just too far.  After waiting for about an hour on the roadside. I started walking , I was determined to walk to Main Gate.  Suddenly, after a few steps,  I saw the people running towards my direction and as I look back, I saw an empty jeep. I ran as fast as I could and I was lucky enough to grab a sit.

At Dau bus station, the buses are full and there’s a couple of chance passengers like me.  Upon seeing a non-ac bus  approaching the station, I immediately made my way to the crowd just to get in. “12 people only”, the driver was shouting.  I was the 11th person  and I ended up at the far end of the bus.  The trip was uncomfortable due to the heat and crowd, I was the only girl sitted  on the end. But I still managed to sleep during the trip because I was too tired.

The Hot Air Balloon Fiesta is still a great event and will surely attract more visitors in the upcoming years.  But I sure hope the organizers will also come up with a means of  transportation  for ordinary people like me.  While I was there standing on the road with the other spectators,  I realized how many of the watchers  are commuting just to watch this event yet there’s not even a designated jeep stop where people can line up and ride the jeep back to Angeles.  Or perhaps much better if there’s a shuttle service too, at least if there’s not enough jeep then people can opt to pay for a shuttle ride or even best,  a free ride!

The Pinay Solo Backpacker would like to thank Rose, the staff of William’s Sisig for her kindess.  She allowed me to charge at their restaurant without any hesitation.

her name is Rose, a staff at William Sisig, my savior =)

How to get to Clark Free Port Zone, Pampanga for the Hot Air Balloon Festival:

Ride a bus that’s bound to Dau, Pampanga (Victory Liner,  Baliwag Transit see contact info below) Fare is below Php 200.

then from Dau Bus Station walk left to Caltex Gas station (you should pass by the jeepney station to SM Pampanga)

cross the street, you should be on the other side of  Caltex

ride a jeep headed to Main Gate. fare is Php 7.00

then from Main gate, ride a jeep to Clark. fare is Php 10.

Baliwag Transit

2nd Ave Kalookan City

Tel: (02)3634478 or 4331 telefax: 0236757886

33 EDSA, Cubao Quezon City

New York-EDSA, Cubao Quezon City

Tel: (02)9123343 * (02)9129131 or 32 * (02) 9123361

Victory Liner

713 Rizal Ave Ext. Kalookan City

Tel (Main Office) (02)8335019 or 20

EDSA cor East Ave Kamias, Quezon City

Tel (02)9231296 * (02) 9207396

EDSA near Aurora Blvd, Cubao Quezon City

Tel (02) 7274688 or 4534

Espana cor Galicia St, Sampaloc, Manila

Tel (02) 7411436

By Car:

NLEX, SCTEX – Take the North Luzon Expressway from Manila and continue past Dau toll plaza — but do not take the Dau exit. Pull to the right and take the SCTEX on-ramp. From the SCTEX toll booth, take the southbound lane to Clark South exit. You will be entering Clark through the Yokohama complex. At the stop light, turn right into Roxas highway. The Balloon Fiesta will be to your right

NLEX, Dau- Getting to the Clark Special Economic Zone by car is easy. One simply needs to take the North Luzon Expressway from Manila and exit at Dau, Mabalacat. Take a left turn towards Angeles City and make an easy right turn into Clark itself. After entering the main gate, proceed along Roxas highway, and the Balloon Fiesta will be to your right.

The car trip should take about an hour and a half from Manila.

 
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