MANILA, Philippines — For love of sport, Capt Joy Roa is at it again this year with A Weekend of Everything That Flies  —  the 17thPhilippine International Hot  Air Balloon fiesta on Feb 9-12, 2012, at Clark.

The balloon floats because of buoyant force – the same force that acts on objects in water (Archimedes' principle). The amount of lift (or buoyancy) depends on the difference in temperature between the air inside and outside the balloon.

There’s also a lot of hot air going around in the corridors of officialdom, but since they aren’t encapsuled in a balloon, they don’t give a lift but just pass wind.

There are more than 20 participating hot-air balloons from 12 countries of all colors and shapes… like castle, bear, Coca-Cola, mushroom, snowman, even Darth Vader.

Pilots are all serious hobbyists, like the CEO of Garant Moebel international furniture chain, Hans Dieter Lautehn, who is an annual participant and happiest in the serene altitude of his baloon.

Unlike the Zeppelin which has a rudder for direction and propeller to power it, the hot air balloon depends on the pilot’s skill in navigating the ups and downs and the drift of the wind.  Bring your passport!

Best time to catch the show is early morning when they’re gearing for flight and the start of the ”chase” of the “fox” …or to see backdrop lit in the early evening. .

If you’re an early riser, catch the flag ceremony at crack of dawn as the tricolor is “hoisted” downwards by a skydiver.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin invited the participation of some ASEAN Air Forces; and US Air Force Pacific Commander General Gary North committed two F 16’s to do aerial exhibit.

More rubber-necking shows include a glider flight performance by German pilot Rolf Dunder.  After World War I, the Allies made airplanes verboten to Germany… so the Luftwaffe trained on gliders – which made them even more skillful pilots in WW 2!

There is a balloon-bursting show – not by plumping on a baloon ala Will Time, Big Time, but by acrobatic ultra-light planes bursting balloon targets.

Catch those daredevil paragliders powered by oversized electric fans… Follow the profi and amateur remote-controlled drawn-to-scale airplanes.

SARANGOLA NI PEPE.   See the sky fill with traditional and innovative kites.  Orly Ongkiko, secretary general of ASEAN Kite Assn, flies them in flight formation.

DIPLOMATIC ROW.  Capt. Roa invited the envoys of participating hot-air balloonists and pilots.

Bring umbrellas, sunglasses, hats, and sunblock!  As advertised, you name it…anything that flies…at this year’s Hot-Air Balloon festival!

INTERNATIONAL.  North Korean refugees who made it to South Korea flew balloons with mooncakes, socks, and goodies to help the poorer brethren across the 38th parallel celebrate a happier Lunar Year.

FEET ON THE GROUND.  Ooh la-la!  Nears and dears are still reeling from the ohrwurm of last Saturday’s philharmonic/RJ/Spirit of ’67 …Oscar Violago’s undying red-letter tribute to his bride of the Sixties, Bootise, who debuted her 65th year at the Red Shangri-la last weekend.  Husbands will be hard-put to match this Valentine. FEEDBACK: jaz_aide@yahoo.com