Classic Jeeps Shine At Hotair Balloon Festival

March 2, 2011 - PRLog -- Once every year, for the past 16 years, all eyes of the hotair ballooning world are on Clark Field, Angeles City, Pampanga, Philippines with the annual staging of the Philippine International Hotair  Balloon Fiesta.



           For this year’s recent four-day extravaganza, showcased were not only local talents but eight other spectacular international hotair balloonist from other parts of the globe. This attracted throngs of visitors who came by the tens of thousands from faraway Metro Manila, Central, Northern and Southern Luzon. Vehicle parking alone stretched up to two kilometers long. People from all walks of life came, tagging along with them even their 3-year old kids and their teen-aged sons and daughters.



           Aside from the hotair balloons, there were also a lot of exciting and interesting side events and exhibits. There were giant and colourful kites, support armaments of the Philippine Air Force and even the historic jets of the world-acclaimed PAF Blue Diamonds.            



           But what really wowed the vast crowd was the display of restored classic WWII jeeps. Organized by the Military Vehicles Collectors Club of the Philippines (MVCCP), the display showcased nine well-restored jeeps ranging from the MB Willys to the Ford GPW to a finely-crafted MB Willys master kit from local assembler and exporter MD Juan Enterprises. These were loaned by the passionately jeep-loving MVCCP members from six regions of the country.



           Six of the classic jeeps even had authentic WWII machine guns mounted on them, complete with vintage magazines. A 1942 Ford GPW had an authentic canteen and food tray. Others had authentic canvass tool kits, axe, shovel, jerrycans and even Army helmets.



           Even the jeep owners came dressed for the occasion, the better to relive the glory days of the jeep during WWII. Most came as US Army and Navy officers. One wore a Philippine Scout uniform for added drama. Still others even arrived as Japanese Imperial Army officers to complete the picture. They all gamely posed while reenacting WWII for the unending line of camera-clicking fathers, mothers, teens, kids and even old folks. The balloon fiesta quickly turned into a big WWII photo event!



           MD Juan sales manager Elvie Calderon says that given the enthusiasm of the crowd, jeep restoration and collection is surely alive and kicking in the Philippines. “And it will continue to do so for a long, long time for as long as Filipino teens and kids retain their very warm and enthusiastic response to a new-found appreciation of the classic jeep, its very vital role in winning WWII and of the Filipino WWII heroes who rode on them”, she concludes.

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MD Juan Enterprises® is a business conglomerate engaged in the fabrication and exporting of metal works, metal stamping, automotive accessories, parts and assemblies, military products and security products.

Our company is the pioneer in machine pressed metal jeep parts in the Philippines. We pride ourselves in our extensive Research & Development, which has designed and developed many new jeep styles, better molds and dies for auto parts, sophisticated military products and even the first bullet proof ballistic material developed in the country.