{"id":30226,"date":"2025-07-24T17:28:53","date_gmt":"2025-07-24T09:28:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.techbeatph.com\/wproot\/?p=30226"},"modified":"2025-07-24T17:39:06","modified_gmt":"2025-07-24T09:39:06","slug":"afads-defense-show-fires-up-at-smx-pasay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.techbeatph.com\/wproot\/afads-defense-show-fires-up-at-smx-pasay\/","title":{"rendered":"AFAD\u2019s Defense Show Fires Up at SMX Pasay"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><!--StartFragment --><\/p>\n<h2>AFAD\u2019s Defense Show Fires Up at SMX Pasay<\/h2>\n<h3>Thirty-One Years of Precision and Progress<\/h3>\n<p>In its 31st edition, the <strong>Defense &amp; Sporting Arms Show<\/strong> organized by the <strong>Association of Firearms and Ammunition Dealers of the Philippines Inc. (AFAD)<\/strong> returned to the <strong>SMX Convention Center<\/strong> in Pasay City, AFAD\u2019s Defense Show Fires off\u2014figuratively, of course.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-30230\" src=\"http:\/\/www.techbeatph.com\/wproot\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/9d9b5020-6b9b-4262-87cf-7c9958e02d8b-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.techbeatph.com\/wproot\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/9d9b5020-6b9b-4262-87cf-7c9958e02d8b-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.techbeatph.com\/wproot\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/9d9b5020-6b9b-4262-87cf-7c9958e02d8b-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.techbeatph.com\/wproot\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/9d9b5020-6b9b-4262-87cf-7c9958e02d8b-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.techbeatph.com\/wproot\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/9d9b5020-6b9b-4262-87cf-7c9958e02d8b-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.techbeatph.com\/wproot\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/9d9b5020-6b9b-4262-87cf-7c9958e02d8b.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Running from <strong>July 23 to 27<\/strong>, the event featured <strong>over 40 exhibitors<\/strong>, countless enthusiasts, and a renewed sense of purpose. This year\u2019s showcase wasn\u2019t just about steel, barrels, and optics\u2014it\u2019s about legitimacy, responsibility, and the shifting tides of firearm regulation in the Philippines.<\/p>\n<p>AFAD spokesperson <strong>Alaric &#8220;Aric&#8221; Topacio<\/strong> made it clear: \u201cThis year, the industry\u2019s feeling a bit of wind in its sails.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3>AFAD\u2019s Defense Show Fires National Support for the Conversation<\/h3>\n<p>Lawmakers have been listening, and that\u2019s news.<\/p>\n<p>Recent <strong>Congressional developments<\/strong>\u2014including amendments to ammunition purchasing limits\u2014gave exhibitors and sports shooters a morale boost. Think of it as finally being seen after decades in the shooting shadows.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-30229\" src=\"http:\/\/www.techbeatph.com\/wproot\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/d08777f2-887f-4ed0-948b-93834719f953-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.techbeatph.com\/wproot\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/d08777f2-887f-4ed0-948b-93834719f953-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.techbeatph.com\/wproot\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/d08777f2-887f-4ed0-948b-93834719f953-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.techbeatph.com\/wproot\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/d08777f2-887f-4ed0-948b-93834719f953-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.techbeatph.com\/wproot\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/d08777f2-887f-4ed0-948b-93834719f953-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.techbeatph.com\/wproot\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/d08777f2-887f-4ed0-948b-93834719f953.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s the big change:<br \/>\n\u2022 From 50 rounds, <strong>non-sports shooters<\/strong> can now purchase <strong>up to 500 rounds<\/strong><br \/>\n\u2022 <strong>National Team members<\/strong> get access to <strong>5,000 rounds<\/strong> for training and competition<\/p>\n<p>Not only does this increase support for medal-winning athletes\u2014it also helps law-abiding gun owners train seriously, instead of counting shells like ration coupons.<\/p>\n<h3>Tributes to Champions Who Aim True<\/h3>\n<p>One of the emotional high points? A <strong>tribute to the Philippine National Shooting Team<\/strong>, fresh off a stellar run at the <strong>International Practical Shooting Championships in the Czech Republic<\/strong>, where they bagged <strong>16 gold medals<\/strong>\u2014despite having limited ammo and short prep time.<\/p>\n<p>Yes, you read that right: less ammunition, fewer training days, and still walking out with medals. That\u2019s discipline, grit, and precision firing on all cylinders.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Guest Speaker Atty. Rafael Calinisan (Napolcom)<\/strong> was\u00a0invited as guests to honor these athletes and reinforce the importance of responsible ownership and organized shooting sports.<\/p>\n<h3>Iloilo Shooters Prepare for Global Standoff<\/h3>\n<p>From Pasay to Panay\u2014AFAD and the National Team are already focused on the upcoming <strong>2nd IPSA Action Air World Championship<\/strong>, happening from <strong>July 26 to August 3 in Iloilo City<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>With <strong>200 elite shooters<\/strong> from <strong>40 countries<\/strong>, it\u2019s not just a match\u2014it\u2019s a global measuring stick.<\/p>\n<p>Topacio expressed optimism, hinting at another strong Filipino performance on home soil.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s hope the air rifles stay sharp and the adrenaline doesn\u2019t get the better of the sight alignment.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-30227\" src=\"http:\/\/www.techbeatph.com\/wproot\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/6bb7fa81-95a9-4636-947f-0b678eb11270-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.techbeatph.com\/wproot\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/6bb7fa81-95a9-4636-947f-0b678eb11270-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.techbeatph.com\/wproot\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/6bb7fa81-95a9-4636-947f-0b678eb11270-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.techbeatph.com\/wproot\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/6bb7fa81-95a9-4636-947f-0b678eb11270-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.techbeatph.com\/wproot\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/6bb7fa81-95a9-4636-947f-0b678eb11270-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.techbeatph.com\/wproot\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/6bb7fa81-95a9-4636-947f-0b678eb11270.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>Seminars for Shooters\u2014Old and New<\/h3>\n<p>This year\u2019s expo wasn\u2019t just for experienced marksmen. There were <strong>seminars and educational workshops<\/strong> on:<br \/>\n\u2022 Firearm basics<br \/>\n\u2022 Safe handling and cleaning<br \/>\n\u2022 Proper storage<\/p>\n<p>Law enforcement agencies were on-site to help guide attendees through the maze of acquiring a <strong>License to Own and Possess Firearms (LTOPF)<\/strong> and <strong>Firearm Registration (FR)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>The vibe was practical, not preachy. And for curious newcomers, it was a soft launch into responsible ownership\u2014no pressure, just answers.<\/p>\n<h3>What\u2019s on Display\u2014From Tactical To Timeless<\/h3>\n<p>Expectations were high, and exhibitors delivered.<\/p>\n<p>Among the firearm and gear specialists participating:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Trust Trade<\/strong>, <strong>PB Dionisio<\/strong>, <strong>Squires Bingham<\/strong>, <strong>Twin Pines<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Nashe Enterprises<\/strong>, <strong>Metro Arms<\/strong>, <strong>Shooter\u2019s Guns &amp; Ammo<\/strong>, <strong>Stronghand Inc.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Armscor Shooting Center<\/strong>, <strong>Jethro Int\u2019l<\/strong>, <strong>Topspot Guns &amp; Ammo<\/strong>, <strong>Lock and Load<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Magnus Sports Shop<\/strong>, <strong>Frontier Guns<\/strong>, <strong>Speededge<\/strong>, <strong>Greyman Elite<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>And dozens more covering everything from <strong>ranged optics<\/strong> to <strong>leather holsters<\/strong>, <strong>ammunition<\/strong>, and <strong>tactical apparel<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Whether you&#8217;re a competitive shooter or an enthusiast who loves collecting\u2014there was something for every trigger temperament.<\/p>\n<p>And yes, no shortage of conversations about which models to try, how to clean a 1911 without feeling like you\u2019re diffusing a bomb, and which ammo brand leaves your barrel looking less like a smoky chimney.<\/p>\n<h3>Advocacy Through Action, Not Intimidation<\/h3>\n<p>AFAD continues to fight for recognition\u2014not just as a trade group, but as stewards of responsible ownership.<\/p>\n<p>The organization\u2019s advocacy extends beyond commerce. It calls for:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Fair regulation<\/li>\n<li>Streamlined access to training<\/li>\n<li>Clear support for athletes<\/li>\n<li>Better community education<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>As Topacio puts it, \u201cThis isn\u2019t just an arms show\u2014it\u2019s an industry stepping up to show the country what \u2018responsible\u2019 truly looks like.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>And with public officials, medalists, and business owners all showing up to support\u2014it\u2019s starting to look like the message is finally hitting the target.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><!--EndFragment --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>AFAD\u2019s Defense Show Fires Up at SMX Pasay Thirty-One Years of Precision and Progress In its 31st edition, the Defense &amp; Sporting Arms Show organized by the Association of Firearms and Ammunition Dealers of the Philippines Inc. (AFAD) returned to the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, AFAD\u2019s Defense Show Fires off\u2014figuratively, of course. Running&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":30228,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,1629],"tags":[14273,14268,14275,14276,14282,14279,14272,14271,14277,14274,14278,14285,14270,14284,14283,14269,13574,14280,14281],"class_list":["post-30226","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lifestyle","category-news","tag-500-rounds-ammo-law-philippines","tag-afad-defense-show-2025","tag-afad-gun-ownership-education","tag-aric-topacio-afad","tag-armscor-smx-convention","tag-czech-republic-shooting-championship","tag-firearms-regulations-philippines","tag-ipsa-action-air-iloilo-2025","tag-jonvic-remulla-smx-firearm-show","tag-ltopf-seminar-pasay-smx","tag-nicolas-torre-iii-afad-guest","tag-philippine-firearm-laws-update","tag-philippine-national-shooting-team-tribute","tag-responsible-gun-ownership-ph","tag-shooting-sports-in-philippines","tag-smx-guns-and-ammo-expo","tag-tactical-gear-expo-manila","tag-top-exhibitors-afad-show","tag-trust-trade-firearms-display"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.techbeatph.com\/wproot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30226","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.techbeatph.com\/wproot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.techbeatph.com\/wproot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.techbeatph.com\/wproot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.techbeatph.com\/wproot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30226"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.techbeatph.com\/wproot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30226\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30233,"href":"https:\/\/www.techbeatph.com\/wproot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30226\/revisions\/30233"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.techbeatph.com\/wproot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/30228"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.techbeatph.com\/wproot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30226"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.techbeatph.com\/wproot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30226"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.techbeatph.com\/wproot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30226"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}