In Bustos, Bulacan, where narrow streets echo with laughter and dreams run as wide as the rice fields, a quiet revolution is unfolding every Saturday night. Under floodlights borrowed from hope and fueled by sacrifice, young boys and girls lace up their boots not just to chase a ball, but to chase a better version of themselves. This is Bustos United Football Club (BUFC) — a grassroots force proving that football, when guided by heart and purpose, can shape character, unite families, and lift an entire community.
Founded in 2018 by Mark Keril Gumasing, together with Kenneth Domingo and Gaudencio Perlas Jr., BUFC was born from a simple but powerful conviction: if you guide the youth early, you change their future. What started as a small initiative has grown into a living classroom where discipline is taught before tactics, respect before results, and unity is prioritized over individual glory.
A Legacy Reclaimed: The Story Behind Bustos United Football Club
The name Bustos United Football Club carries with it a proud footballing heritage. From 2002 to 2008, Bustos rose as a dominant force in Bulacan Province, consistently competing and excelling in the Central Luzon Regional Athletic Association (CLRAA) Meet. That era culminated in 2008, when the team earned the honor of representing the region at the Palarong Pambansa, marking one of the most significant achievements in the town’s sporting history.
The word United reflects continuity across generations. BUFC was named not only to remember past success, but to revive the values that built it—discipline, resilience, humility, and collective purpose. United by history and driven by responsibility, the club seeks to restore that legacy by developing a new generation of players who honor the name Bustos both on and off the pitch.
More Than a Game, A Way of Life
At Bustos United Football Club, football is not an escape from reality; it is preparation for it. President and Head Coach Mark Keril Gumasing built the club around a mission that extends far beyond trophies: steer young people away from vices, instill discipline, and teach them how to live with accountability and purpose.
Here, humility is celebrated as much as skill. Players are reminded that talent opens doors, but attitude keeps them open. Coaches train voluntarily, often sacrificing personal time, because they believe mentorship is as important as matchday tactics. In Bustos United, every drill carries a lesson, every session a reminder: how you play reflects who you are.
From 16 Dreamers to 80 Believers
The club’s growth mirrors the trust it has earned. Beginning with just 16 registered players, BUFC now proudly mentors 80 active members, spanning age groups from 7 years old to senior level, including dedicated divisions for girls and futsal players. Structured age categories — 7–10, 11–13, 14–16, and 17+ — ensure that development is progressive, safe, and sustainable.
Beyond the club, Bustos United Football Club has become a trusted partner of schools, handling training for the EDDIS II Elementary Football Team and the Virgen Delas Flores High School Futsal Team — further embedding football into the educational fabric of the community.
Midnight Trainings, Unbreakable Commitment
Every Saturday from 8:00 PM until midnight, players train. The late hours are not ideal, but commitment rarely waits for comfort. Families trust the process. Players show up. Coaches stay until the last drill, the last reminder, the last laugh fades into the night.
Head Coaches Mark Keril Gumasing and Prince Erove Miranda emphasize discipline and attitude above all. Listening is a skill. Respect is non-negotiable. Growth is earned. And when training ends, the club ensures every child gets home safely — often with the president himself waiting until the final player is accounted for.
That’s not management. That’s guardianship.
Inclusive by Principle, Intentional by Design
Bustos United opens its doors wide. Anyone willing to learn is welcome. Discrimination has no place here, only opportunity.
Bustos United Football Club programs include:
- Girls’ and Women’s Football
- Goalkeeper Development
- Futsal Programs
- School-Based Outreach
- One-on-One Exclusive Training
Each program exists for one reason: no child should be left behind simply because access was limited.
Winning with Character
Competition sharpens the lessons learned on the training ground, and BUFC has proven it can compete. The club has made its mark in tournaments such as:
- BASA Cup 2024
- 3rd Ganap Futsal Tournament
- Sporting Quezon City Futsal Tournament
The highlight came when BUFC’s U15 Boys emerged as Champions at Sporting Quezon City, while the U15 Girls proudly secured 2nd Place. These victories weren’t just wins on paper; they were validations of a culture rooted in discipline, teamwork, and trust.
Where Academics Matter as Much as Goals
At Bustos United Football Club, education is not optional; it’s essential. Coach Gumasing personally monitors players’ academic performance every grading period, reinforcing the message that success in football must walk hand in hand with responsibility in school. The results are clear: improved grades, stronger focus, and a deeper sense of accountability.
Supported by parents, schools, the local government, and the Sangguniang Bayan of Bustos, the club continues to stand strong despite financial challenges, proof that community belief can carry dreams when resources fall short.
A Family That Shows Up
One night after training, a young player quietly shared his sadness that his parents couldn’t come home for his birthday. Without fanfare, the club acted. Players from the juniors and girls’ teams gathered. A simple celebration followed.
Later, the boy’s mother sent a message of gratitude, moved by how many people showed up for her child.
That moment said everything.
Bustos United Football Club isn’t just building footballers. It’s building a family.
The Road Ahead
In the next three years, Bustos United Football Club aims to become one of Bulacan’s leading grassroots programs, financially stable, structurally strong, and guided by unwavering values. The dream includes a dedicated training facility: a home where football, education, and community converge.
Until then, they continue, week by week, drill by drill, heart by heart.
Because in Bustos, football is not just played.
It is lived.
One Team. One Goal. One Heart
And for every young Filipino dreaming with a ball at their feet, Bustos United Football Club leaves this message:
Trust the process. Respect your coaches. Stay disciplined.
Play not just to win matches — but to become a better person.
OneFutbol Salute
OneFutbol salutes Bustos United Football Club, not for the trophies they lift, but for the lives they carry.
In a country where grassroots football often survives on sacrifice, BUFC stands tall as a reminder that the strongest clubs are not built on budgets, but on belief. On late nights when most lights are off, they are still training. When resources are scarce, they choose responsibility. When a child needs guidance, they show up, not as coaches alone, but as family.
Bustos United proves that development before decoration is not a slogan — it is a daily practice. They remind us that football’s true power is not measured in goals scored, but in discipline formed, confidence restored, and futures redirected.
To Coach Mark Keril Gumasing, the coaches, volunteers, parents, and every young player wearing the Bustos United badge: your work matters. Your sacrifices echo far beyond the pitch. You are shaping the next generation of Filipino footballers, and more importantly, the next generation of Filipinos.
This is grassroots football done right.
This is community before glory.
This is football with a soul.
OneFutbol salutes you.
Because when one club rises with purpose, Philippine football rises with it.
Call to Action: Support the Journey
Bustos United Football Club continues to face challenges in funding, training venues, and player transportation. Any form of support—financial, operational, or partnership-based- will directly help young athletes continue their journey in football and life.
📣 Follow, support, or partner with Bustos United Football Club:
Contact Person:
Mark Keril Gumasing – Club President
📞 Mobile: 0997-584-9960
📱 Viber: 0908-988-5757
📧 Email: bustosunitedfc@gmail.com
Support grassroots football.
Support the youth.
Support Bustos United Football Club.
