The Extraordinary Journey of Football Club 95 and the Wild Boars Who Refused to Quit
There are football clubs that rise because they have resources, influence, or privilege.
And then there are clubs like FC95 “Wild Boars” of Iligan City — clubs born from nothing but heart, sharpened by rejection, and carried forward by a stubborn belief that football belongs to everyone.
This is not simply the story of a team.
This is the story of a spark that refused to die.
When the Door Closed, They Built Their Own Field
In 2008, three young men — Francis Eric Bastasa, Roy Hayrosa, and Allan Aberilla — stepped out of high school carrying the weight of a familiar heartbreak: they wanted to keep playing, but no club in the city would welcome them.
Most would have stopped.
They didn’t.
Instead, they gathered a few friends and formed a small group called The Youth FC. It wasn’t much — a borrowed ball, dusty fields, and sessions squeezed between responsibilities. But it was fueled by something more powerful than funding or fame:
They simply loved the game. And they refused to let it go.
As the years passed, The Youth FC grew, evolved, and embraced a new identity — FC95, a tribute to their high school batch and the brotherhood that shaped them.
And the nickname?
A legend in itself.
During a gathering, someone served wild boar — a beloved Iligan delicacy. The joke became a name; the name became a symbol; the symbol became a legacy.
The Wild Boars were born — fierce, resilient, unmistakably homegrown.
A Club Built Not by Money, But by People
Most clubs rely on sponsors.
FC95 relied on faith.
Like a tree rooted deep into Iligan soil, the club was nurtured by individuals who believed before anyone else did:
- Engr. Bernhardt “Heinz” Manreza (MSU-IIT)
- Atty. Franz Ablanque
- Marvin Furog (ICNHS Batch ’98)
- Totot Familar (St. Michael’s College)
- Francis Villanueva (MSU Marawi)
- Angelo Dologmandin — now Club President
And many OFWs — including Ramil Andaloc, Ronard Tapdasan, Moses Bastasa, and Dr. Wingleaf Yu — carried the club on their backs from thousands of kilometers away.
Their support didn’t just keep FC95 alive.
It transformed it into a movement — a family bound not by contracts, but by hope.
Football for Every Age, Every Story, Every Second Chance
Step onto the FC95 pitch in Barangay Poblacion and you’ll see something rare: players from age 7 to 40+ sharing the same field, the same joy, the same dreams.
Children learning their first touch.
Teenagers chasing scholarships.
Adults rediscovering their passion.
Seniors proving that age has nothing to do with love for the game.
The club trains every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 3 PM, no excuses, no shortcuts — just consistent, honest work.
A Coaching Philosophy Ahead of Its Time
Under C-License coaches Roy Hayrosa and Allan Aberilla, FC95 embraced a modern approach:
Holistic Player Development in a Game-Realistic Context.
They don’t just teach how to play.
They teach how to think.
From small-sided games to tactical decision-making, every drill is built to sharpen the mind as much as the feet.
And the results?
Players who grew from FC95 now wear jerseys in:
- PFF regional programs
- University teams in Manila and Cebu
- Pro clubs
- National competitions
Proof that greatness can come from the most humble of fields.
The Day Iligan Needed Them the Most
In 2012, Typhoon Sendong tore through Iligan City — a tragedy that left families broken and lives changed forever.
FC95 didn’t stay on the sidelines.
They became first responders.
Players and coaches moved debris, sorted relief goods, comforted survivors, worked with sleepless eyes and heavy hearts. Football took a back seat — humanity took the front.
Weeks later, they travelled to Cebu for the 12th Thirsty Cup.
Not to win.
But to honor.
They played with tears hidden by sweat, dedicating every goal, every sprint, every moment to the victims back home.
They reached the quarterfinals — but their real victory was something no medal could measure.
Champions on the Field, Citizens Beyond It
FC95 does what true clubs are meant to do:
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- Clean coastlines
- Repair public schools
- Uplift out-of-school youth
- Build leaders, not just athletes
For many Iligan youth, FC95 became the second home they never knew they needed, a place where mentorship replaces misdirection, where the pitch becomes a classroom, and where football becomes a lifeline.
Challenges? The Wild Boars Eat Those for Breakfast
The club has never had it easy.
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- Limited mobility for out-of-town tournaments
- Scarce training kits and equipment
- Insufficient sponsorship
But FC95 has something far more powerful than resources:
They have the courage to keep going.
They have the courage to keep dreaming.
They have the courage to keep believing.
A Call for a Partner — Not a Sponsor, A Game-Changer
FC95 dreams of finding a partner that shares their vision — someone who sees their impact, their potential, and their role in shaping the youth of Iligan.
Not a company who wants a logo placement.
But a company who wants to change lives.
For the right partner, FC95 is not an expense — it’s an investment in a better future for Iligan, Mindanao, and Philippine football.
A Club Culture Built on Joy, Sweat, and Brotherhood
Watch FC95 gathered in a huddle before a match.
Listen to their voices rise like a battle cry:
“FC95 Buo! Buo! Buo!
(FC95 United! United! United!)”
It is more than a chant.
It is a declaration.
A promise.
A bond.
A legacy.
To Every Young Footballer in Iligan
If you’re dreaming of football but don’t know where to begin, the message from FC95 is simple:
“Come. Join us.
Let’s build your dream together.”
Because with the Wild Boars, every child is seen, every talent is nurtured, and every dream is worth fighting for.
OneFutbol Salute to The Wild Boars of Iligan
FC95 Wild Boars is the kind of grassroots club the Philippines needs — stubborn in its passion, unshakeable in its purpose, and unbreakable in its unity.
Your journey — from young boys who were turned away, to a force that shapes futures — reminds us all that football is not just a sport.
It is a home.
A community.
A lifeline.
A dream.
Padayon! Wild Boars.
Continue running fearless.
Continue standing proud.
The entire Philippine football community runs with you.
Facebook Page : Football Club 1995 (FC95) “Wild boars”, Inc.
Contact Number: 09352504801
