The Association of Reservists and Reservist Administrators of the Philippines Inc. (ARRAPI) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) hosted their National Reservist Convention, gathering 4,500 Philippine reservists onsite at One Ayala Mall and an additional 48,000 online, marking what organizers called one of the largest assemblies of the country’s reserve force.
The joint event, the 2025 AFP National Reservist Convention and the ARRAPI 2nd General Membership Conference, highlighted the expanding role of reservists in national defense, disaster response and community resilience under the theme, “Adapting to an Evolving Security Environment: Reservists at the Forefront of Cooperative Defense.”
ARRAPI chairman Colonel Michael Romero, a business leader and former congressman who led the convention along with AFP Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Reserve Force Development (OJ9) Chief Major General Gerold G. Gagan, cited the readiness of the force.
“In those moments, help arrives not with fanfare, but with boots on the ground and hearts ready to serve. From Batanes to Sulu, our reservists stand ready to protect, respond and help our people recover,” said Romero, who is chairman of the board of Globalport 900 Inc and chief executive of Harbour Centre Port Terminal Inc.
Gagan described the turnout as historic and record-breaking, reflecting the reserve force’s growing professionalism and readiness. He said the scale of participation reaffirms the reservists’ role as a critical pillar of national defense.
National Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. served as the guest of honor.
The convention also featured international participation from the United States National Guard, including Hawaii Adjutant General Major General Philip Mallory and Guam Adjutant General Colonel Watson, along with 30 U.S. National Guard members, underscoring strong defense cooperation and interoperability.
Discussions covered continuous recruitment, training and increasing reservist roles for community and national security, including efforts to transition community defense centers into defense command centers.
Romero encouraged the existing roster of reservists to vigorously entice the enlistment of more recruits, spreading the responsibility to fulfill duties in view of changes in the national and global security landscape.
