BAGUIO CITY – Instead of fireworks, an Isabela-based doctor used kites to welcome the New Year.

Dr. Delfin Pilones Jr., 50, flew three giant kites with the message “Joy and Peace in Our Hearts” at the Baguio Athletic grounds here.

“These kites are symbols of hope. We have encountered a lot of reports saying that life is going to be harder in 2009. But by seeing these colorful kites at the start of the year, we can still see hope in our everyday lives, despite the problems and economic hardships that we are going to face this year,” he said.

He said flying kites is a peaceful way of celebrating the New Year.

Pilones used the rainbow colors in his kites to capture, he said, the spirit of joy and hope.

The giant kites measured 22 feet long and 11 feet wide. Their tails measured 45 feet long.

Pilones used taffeta cloth and bamboo as materials for his kites.

He and his four children traveled from Santiago, Isabela, to this city to fly the kites. He brought along his mother, Marcela, 75, and his Baguio-based siblings and friends to make the activity a family affair.

“Kite flying is a good way to foster bonding among family members. Each member of the family is involved in making and flying the kites,” Pilones said.

“We want our children to treasure these memories throughout their life so when they grow up they could appreciate this kind of bonding and tradition, something that they could pass on to their children.”

Pilones started flying kites when he was four years old.

In 2003, he seriously pursued kite making while working as a pediatrician in Isabela.

He won awards in kite flying festivals and has been designing kites of various shapes, sizes and themes.

At his home, Pilones has a collection of 50 kites. Ten of them are replicas of the Philippine flag, which are flown every May 28 to celebrate National Flag Day.