LEGAZPI CITY, May 2 -- At least 17 colorful, gigantic hot air balloons will hog the limelight with Mayon Volcano as a fitting backdrop at the Old Legazpi Airport here for the first-ever Bicol Loco Hot Air Balloon Festival from May 3 to 5.

In an interview on Thursday, Ako Bicol (AKB) Party-List Rep. Elizaldy Co said the balloons would be up as early as 5:30 a.m., for about two hours on each day.

He noted that all the balloons would be flown by foreigners.

Co said he wanted to make Bicolanos happy and experience different levels of excitement, which is the AKB's reason for coming up with the Loco Festival.

"It's our investment for our Bicolanos, with our ultimate goal being to create jobs. This is just marketing. We want to promote Bico...