SAFE Shooting! A timely reminder to all participants of the "Baguio Centennial Invitational Shootfest/Mayor Peter Rey A. Bautista Cup" slated Nov. 6 to 8 at the Philippine Military Academy, Fort Del Pilar Shooting Range.

Surely the organizers have considered all safety concerns for the level two PPSA sanctioned competition.

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For most of the gun lovers participating in the competition, one thing to be taken into consideration is the registration of firearms to be used by the participants and their personal well being in handling their firearms. Aimed to promote awareness, consciousness, interest in the sport and for the promotion of gun safety and responsible gun ownership we hope all participants are responsible enough to be in the competition.

As dangerous as it is, I thank the organizers for the detailed information of the competition from the briefing of participants to the course of fire with the fellowships and especially the safety of both participants and spectators.

Of all that is prepared by the organizers, the most important is the player himself on how he will perform in the match and how well versed he is on the rules and regulations as well as the match itself.

Remember, a shooter has a maximum of one to two hundred rounds of ammunition to shoot down targets in seven stages from short, medium, and long courses to earn a maximum 765 points to win the shoot fest.

All these will be of no use if the participants would be ruled out by my favorite rule in a shooting competition, but not for a participant, DISQUALIFICATION! or DQs awarded to participants by range officers.

With guns, bullets, and targets as instruments, we should consider the most important factor, the "PLAYER". With discipline, talent and skill, strengthened by confidence and focus, which I suppose is practiced during their pre-game routine and most importantly the attitude toward the competition, will entail the full benefits of a safe, sound and fruitful endeavor. Be a responsible gun owner.

To all in the Baguio Centennial Shootfest/Mayor Peter Ray A. Bautista Cup, congratulations!