The EMA Highlanders story of belief, access, and a grassroots development in Bulacan
There was a time when the sound of football did not echo through Marilao.
No steady rhythm of passes.
No organized drills.
No dreams shaped around a ball.
Just empty fields and a game waiting to be discovered.
Then, quietly, without headlines or fanfare, two men decided to change that.
And from the highest ground they could find…
they started something that would ripple far beyond it.
The Rise from the Hills
In 2010, Karl Joseph Mejia and Edgar Mejia built more than a football club, they built a gateway.
What began in the elevated grounds of Golden Hills Subdivision became the heartbeat of a movement. The name Highlanders wasn’t just geography, it became identity. A symbol of rising above limitations, of seeing further than what was in front of them.
At a time when football was nearly invisible in Marilao and Meycauayan, EMA Bulacan Highlanders FC chose the harder path:
Not to wait for talent.
Not to wait for infrastructure.
But to create both.
From Nothing… to Something Everywhere
There were no shortcuts.
So they went to the streets.
To the schools.
To the communities where football had never been introduced.
They brought the game directly to the people.
Free clinics.
Open trainings.
Teacher development.
Relentless outreach.
And slowly — almost imperceptibly at first, something began to shift.
Football started appearing where it never existed before.
Children kicking balls in narrow streets.
Students forming teams in schoolyards.
Communities gathering around a game they were only just beginning to understand.
This wasn’t growth.
This was ignition.
A Club Built on Trust, Not Transactions
In an era where many programs struggle with sustainability, EMA Highlanders took a different route — one grounded in something rare:
Transparency.
Every peso of support.
Every sponsorship.
Every resource.
Reinvested. Accounted for. Shared openly.
It wasn’t just about running a club — it was about earning belief.
And that belief became their strongest foundation.
Parents trusted them.
Players stayed.
Communities rallied.
Because they knew — this was real.
The Work Happens Daily
No shortcuts. No waiting for “next season.”
At EMA Highlanders, development is a daily commitment.
Training sessions run almost every day, creating an environment where players don’t just show up, they grow up in the game.
From first touch to tactical awareness, every session is intentional.
For the youngest:
Joy. Confidence. Freedom with the ball.
For the older players:
Discipline. Structure. Responsibility.
Because here, success isn’t measured by trophies alone.
It’s measured by improvement.
By consistency.
By the kind of person a player becomes.
Guided by People Who Choose to Give
At the heart of the program are people who believe that football can change lives.
Not because they have to.
Because they choose to.
Every training session.
Every outreach activity.
Every opportunity created for a young player.
Exists because someone is willing to give their time, energy, and expertise to something bigger than themselves.
Today, that mission is carried forward by newly appointed Head Coach JM Rayos, alongside dedicated volunteers and football leaders including Coach Arjay Antonio, Ian Gonzales, and Dominic.
Each brings something different.
Experience.
Commitment.
A belief that development should be accessible to everyone.
Behind the scenes, Ian Gonzales also serves as Acting Team Manager, helping guide the club’s daily operations and development programs. Much of the work that keeps the Highlanders moving forward happens quietly, away from the spotlight, carried by individuals who simply care deeply about the mission.
But the effort does not stop with the coaching staff.
Across Bulacan, partner schools and volunteer teachers have become part of the journey.
They open doors.
Create opportunities.
And help bring football to students who may never have had access to the game otherwise.
Many young athletes are able to train under the program free of charge because of these partnerships and the people who continue to believe in them.
And standing behind it all is a volunteer network more than thirty strong.
Photographers.
Social media managers.
Administrators.
Competition staff.
Logistics teams.
Parents.
Supporters.
People from different walks of life united by a shared purpose.
Together, they represent something that has always been at the core of EMA Highlanders:
That football grows strongest when a community chooses to build it together.
Professional standards.
Community heart.
And a commitment to serve that continues long after the final whistle.
More Than a Program — A Pathway
EMA Highlanders is not a one-size-fits-all club.
It is a system designed to open doors.
Girls’ and women’s football.
Goalkeeper development.
Futsal pathways.
School programs.
Even inclusion initiatives for children with special needs.
Because the belief is simple:
Football should belong to everyone.
And when given the right environment, anyone can find their place in it.
Competing, But Never Forgetting Why
From AIA 7s to Skechers Super League, from the PUMA Cup to national competitions — the Highlanders compete.
And yes, they’ve won.
But trophies are not the story.
The story is every player who stepped onto a pitch for the first time because of them.
Every child who found confidence.
Every family that found community.
Every life that changed direction.
Changing the Landscape of Bulacan
What once had little to no football presence… now breathes the game.
EMA Highlanders didn’t just build a club.
They helped build a football culture.
They gave structure to chaos.
Opportunity to the overlooked.
A safe space for those who needed one most.
Street children. Out-of-school youth. First-time players.
All welcomed.
All developed.
All given a chance.
The Real Backbone
Behind every training session is a network that believes.
Parents who show up.
Schools that collaborate.
Local governments that now recognize the impact.
And more than thirty volunteers who dedicate their time across coaching, administration, logistics, media, competitions, and player development.
From independence to partnership, the club has grown without losing its core.
Because the mission has always been clear:
Serve first. Build second. Succeed after.
A Model That Balances Heart and Sustainability
Free programs ensure access.
Affordable academy training ensures continuity.
₱2,500 a month.
Eight guaranteed sessions.
Plus more than ten additional free trainings.
It’s not just a pricing model.
It’s a commitment:
No one should be left behind because of money.
A Culture You Can Feel
At EMA Highlanders, football doesn’t end when training does.
It continues in shared meals.
In laughter after sessions.
In friendships that extend beyond the pitch.
This is not just a club.
It is a family.
And its message is simple, but powerful:
“Believe and Be Different.”
The Climb Isn’t Over
The challenges remain real.
Limited resources.
Distance from major hubs.
Balancing life, work, and passion.
But if there’s one thing the Highlanders understand, it’s this:
They’ve been climbing from the start.
And they’re not stopping now.
The Vision Ahead
In the next three years, they aim to do something bold:
Turn Bulacan into a recognized football province.
Expand their reach.
Strengthen their system.
And when the time is right ,
Step onto the Philippine Football League stage.
Not just as participants.
But as proof of what grassroots football can truly become.
OneFutbol Salute Message
EMA Bulacan Highlanders FC is what happens when football is built the right way , from the ground up, with purpose, with heart, and with unwavering belief.
They didn’t wait for football to arrive in their community.
They brought it there.
They nurtured it.
Protected it.
Grew it.
And today, it lives — in streets, in schools, in every child who now dares to dream with a ball at their feet.
This is more than a club.
This is a movement that started on a hill…
and is now reaching places far beyond it.
And if Philippine football is to rise—
it will be because of clubs like this.
Contact and Inquiries
For those who want to be part of the club—whether as a player, partner, or supporter:
- Facebook (Personal): Kads Mejia
- Facebook Page: EMA Bulacan Highlanders FC
- Viber/SMS: 0917 133 3464
- Email: bulacanhighlandersfc@gmail.com
Everyone is welcome to join, regardless of experience or background.
