TACS EXPO CEBU 2018 IS NOW OPEN

THE BEST TACTICAL, SURVIVAL AND ARMS EXPO in the country opened its doors to the public, here in Cebu, and to the rest of the Visayas and Southern Philippines as well, on June 15, 2018 at the Cebu Trade Hall, SM City Cebu. Despite an online registration arrangement that was instantly filled in by a lot of people, yet there still was a long line of people who registered on the actual site.

 

Of course, most people came to process or renew their firearms registration and individual licenses to own and operate a firearm and, to some extent, their license to carry outside of their residence, which the Philippine National Police (PNP), through the Firearms Explosives Office (FEO), is accepting for processing at the TACS EXPO CEBU. It is a One-Stop Shop for present gun owners and for future ones. You do not need to travel from one office to another as it is all there.

You can take the drug test, neuro-psychiatric examination, notarial services, copier services, photo booth, NBI clearance, Director for Intelligence clearance, gun safety seminar and everything relating to documentation about firearm ownership. It is all there except gun proficiency, which is held at the indoor firing range of ARMSCOR Global Defense Inc. in D. Jakosalem Street, a distance of about 10 minutes on a fine day. Coaster vehicles are made available for free for such contingency to ferry all gun ownership applicants.

 

 

TACS EXPO is an original concept of ARMSCOR Global Defense which they started last year in the National Capital Region to increase awareness on self-defense, self-reliance and preparedness. This year, they have calendared it in three installments: twice at NCR in February and November and, for the first time, in Cebu on this month. Actually, the February episode was a success that a mini TACS EXPO was immediately organized in April which was held at Camp Crame. Certainly, for TACS EXPO, Cebu was a good choice.  

On the first day of TACS EXPO CEBU, no other than the Chief of the PNP, Director General Oscar Albayalde, came to grace the opening. He was assisted by ARMSCOR chief executives led by its President, Martin Tuason. Rock Island Armory, the main product line of ARMSCOR Global Defense, took up the center booth along with its subsidiary, Squires Bingham International Inc.

 

Other exhibitors came to put up their products on display either as profit-oriented establishments or as partners of TACS EXPO 2018:

•         Thiago Military Supply

•         Forge Philippines

•         Alpha Zero

•         QBC Sporting Supplies

•         True Weight Inc.

•         Gibrosen General Merchandise

•         Mamot

•         Preppers Point Cebu

•         Makati Medical Foundation/Steramist

•         Bul Ltd.

• HL Health Center Inc.
• Sightron

•         Philippine Air Force

•         Philippine Army

•         Philippine Navy

•         Philippine Coast Guard

•         Cebu City Police Office

•         Office of the Civil Defense Central Visayas

•         Philippine Red Cross Cebu Chapter

•         Disaster and Emergency Responders International

•         Camp Red Bushcraft and Survival Guild

There were also resource speakers touching on relevant topics and interactive workshops starting early afternoon. The first topic was about “Improvised Rescue Techniques Using Common Household Materials” by Joebert Tolentino of DERIN-CERT; Following that is the “FAQs on Firearms Ownership” by the PNP-FEO. This author came next with “Adventure Travel: The Lure of the Long Trails”; and then “Urban Survival After a Disaster” by Per Christian Thrane Neis of FAMC Motorcycle Rescue Foundation.

 

After a short break, “READY 101: Family Preparedness” gets discussed by an emergency management consultant, Martin Aguda; before the day ends, it gets capped by this blogger with his favorite topic of “Knife Carry Rights and Ethics”. For the first time, the general public gets to learn about knife ethics and the many influences of their right of ownership and to carry are subjected to which may turn out good or bad for them.

This author is officially participating in the TACS EXPO CEBU 2018 as an event blogger and as resource speaker. That participation extends to my organization – the Camp Red Bushcraft and Survival Guild – wherein the organizers provided us the free use of a booth to display our love of our craft and our love of bladed tools with which privilege is not given en gratis to any Cebu-based outdoors leisure and hobby group.

 

The TACS EXPO CEBU will stay up to June 18, 2018. Please visit the Cebu Trade Hall of SM City Cebu and register on site. Avail of the PNP-FEO One-Stop Shop for firearms ownership offered by the TACS EXPO CEBU on spaces provided for that. While waiting for approval of your LTOP or your PTCFOR, explore the booths for everyday carry items and gun accessories or you may sit in a good spot and listen to topics discussed by people who are the best in their fields. What are you waiting for?     

Document done in LibreOffice 5.3 Writer

Photo number 10 by Silverio Tolitol Jr

Photo number 11 by Dennis Chiong