Over the past few days, I’ve seen numerous comments about the International Pet Summit (IPS) 2026 held at the SMX Convention Center from July 24 to 26. Many described the event as overcrowded, with long queues, heavy foot traffic, and moments when visitors had to push their way through the crowd.
Were those observations valid?
Yes.
There were times when the venue became extremely crowded.
As a visitor, delegate, or pet owner, I completely understand why that experience could be frustrating.
But as someone who attended the event from a different perspective, that of an exhibitor, I’d like to share another side of the story.
Why We Almost Didn’t Join
Ironically, GPH Vet Business almost did not become part of IPS 2026.
When the IPS organizing team, particularly Ms. Conie Vidallo, first invited us to exhibit, we were hesitant to commit.
The reason had nothing to do with the event itself.
Earlier this year, around February 2026, businesses across the country were dealing with uncertainty brought about by the conflict between Iran and Israel. Fuel prices increased, logistics became more expensive, and like many entrepreneurs, we became very cautious with every major business decision.
To be honest, during those months, we weren’t even sure how our business would perform by July.
Only when fuel prices gradually stabilized did we finally decide to participate.
Looking back, I’m glad we said yes.
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Sometimes, Success Creates New Challenges
From what I observed, the physical layout of IPS was not drastically different from previous years.
What changed was the number of people who came.
Attendance exceeded what many of us expected.
Thousands of pet lovers, families, veterinarians, students, exhibitors, and industry partners gathered under one roof.
That level of support is something every event organizer hopes for.
Of course, with that came challenges.
Crowd control, registration, queue management, and visitor flow are areas that can always be improved.
Constructive criticism is important because it helps every future event become even better.
The View From the Exhibitor’s Side
Was there pushing?
Yes.
Was it crowded?
Definitely.
But from the perspective of exhibitors who invested in booth space, manpower, logistics, and months of preparation, the overwhelming attendance translated into strong engagement, excellent product exposure, and meaningful business opportunities.
For weeks before IPS, our team prepared our inventory and even cleaned our warehouse to make sure we had enough products, promotional items, and freebies to bring to the event.
Many of the products we offered were surplus stocks that allowed pet owners to purchase quality veterinary products at very affordable prices.
Seeing continuous lines of visitors at our booth wasn’t stressful.
It was rewarding.
At the end of the day, an exhibition is successful when exhibitors feel that their investment generated value.
From our standpoint, IPS certainly did.
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Education Remained the Heart of IPS
While many people naturally focused on shopping and promotions, I was equally happy to see that education remained at the center of the event.
I was honored to deliver a lecture on behalf of the Philippine College of Canine Practitioners (PCCP), discussing responsible pet ownership and veterinary topics with fellow pet lovers.
One of my favorite moments was the PCCP Quiz Challenge.
A total of 507 participants answered the questions simultaneously inside the hall.
Imagine that.
More than 500 people enthusiastically joining a veterinary knowledge competition.
That alone tells us something about today’s Filipino pet owners.
People are no longer interested only in buying products.
They also want to learn.
Even more memorable, the winner of the ₱5,000 cash prize happened to be seated right beside me.
Sometimes the best moments in an event are the unexpected ones.
Celebrating the Human-Animal Bond
No International Pet Summit would ever be complete without the pet fashion show.
Watching pets and their owners wearing matching outfits brought smiles to everyone inside the venue.
Beyond the costumes, it reminded us why events like IPS exist in the first place.
They celebrate the extraordinary relationship between people and the animals they consider family.
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Will We Be Back?
Without a doubt.
Yes.
Every event teaches us something new.
IPS 2026 reminded us to prepare more inventory, bring more manpower, and think of even better ways to serve Filipino pet owners.
Congratulations to the entire International Pet Summit organizing team, headed by Chairman Ms. Edna Segismundo and Co-chairman Dr. Corazon Occidental, and to everyone who worked tirelessly behind the scenes.
Organizing an event attended by thousands of passionate pet lovers is never easy.
No event is perfect, especially when attendance exceeds expectations.
There will always be lessons to learn and improvements to make.
But if the biggest criticism is that too many people wanted to attend, perhaps that is also one of the clearest signs that the Philippine pet industry continues to grow.
From everyone at GPH Vet Business, thank you for allowing us to become part of IPS 2026.
We’ll be back next year.
And next time, we’ll be even more prepared.
Dr. Geoff Carullo is a Fellow and the current President of the Philippine College of Canine Practitioners.
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