I spent the fourth and final day of World Pet Expo 2026 not simply as a visitor, but as an exhibitor representing GPH Vet Business.
And after seeing the event from inside the booth, one thing became very obvious:
Pet owners came ready to shop.
Sunday was not as packed as the peak days, but there was still a substantial crowd inside the World Trade Center. It was noticeably busier than the first day, and even on Day 4, people continued moving from booth to booth, asking questions, checking products, and buying.
When I reached our GPH Vet Business booth, marami pa ring tao.
And yes, ang dami ring namili sa amin.
That was probably my biggest takeaway as an exhibitor. People were not merely sightseeing. They were genuinely interested in products for their pets and were willing to spend.
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BUSY BOOTHS AND ACTIVE SHOPPING
Around the expo, you could see the same behavior. One of the longest queues I noticed was at the Lucious Dog Food booth. Shopping bags were everywhere, and many booths remained active even during the final hours of the four-day event.
The stage was busy as well. During my visit, a Pitbull activity was ongoing, drawing owners and enthusiasts, while other programs helped maintain foot traffic throughout the venue.
Of course, being an exhibitor also lets you notice the practical side of running a booth.
Parking was challenging enough that we parked near Star City and walked to the World Trade Center. Fortunately, entering through the exhibitor entrance was quick.
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ONE WEAK SIGNAL
The bigger challenge inside?
Mahina ang signal ng Smart at Globe.
For exhibitors who depend on mobile data for communication, online transactions, and coordination, this is something that would hopefully improve in future editions.
But beyond the sales, World Pet Expo was also a good opportunity to reconnect with the veterinary and animal welfare community.
I bumped into Dr. Prex Chua, interacted with members of VETSOC, and met Atty. Heidi Cagouia of Animal Kingdom Foundation and Dr. Rey Del Napoles of the Quezon City Veterinary Group.
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A GROWING PET INDUSTRY
And walking through the expo made me appreciate something bigger.
Filipino pet owners are becoming more involved in the lives of their animals.
- They research more.
- They ask more questions.
- They look for better products.
- And clearly, they are willing to spend more for their pets.
This growing attachment also explains why expectations toward veterinarians and veterinary clinics have become higher. Pet owners are more attentive because, for many of them, these animals are no longer “just pets.”
They are family.
For GPH Vet Business, World Pet Expo 2026 was a worthwhile experience. We met clients, fellow professionals, students, suppliers, pet owners, and a lot of new faces.
More importantly, we were able to experience firsthand just how active the Philippine pet industry has become.
Thank you to the organizers of World Pet Expo 2026, the exhibitors, partners, participants, and everyone who worked behind the scenes to make the four-day event possible.
Despite the weak mobile signal inside the hall, the strongest signal we received was from the pet owners themselves:
They are interested. They are engaged. And they are spending for the animals they love.
GPH Vet Business will definitely be back next year.
Dr. Geoff Carullo is a Fellow and the current President of the Philippine College of Canine Practitioners.
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