In the quiet coastal town of Taft, Eastern Samar—where the Pacific winds carry stories of storms, struggle, and survival—one dream has refused to be broken. It did not begin in a stadium, nor in a schoolyard blessed with perfect grass.
It began on a simple open field, with a handful of boys, a worn-out ball, and a belief that football could be their way out and their way up.
From that humble spark, Tubignon Football Club, also known as Taft Football Club, emerged in 2006. What the town built was not just a team—it was a movement. A shield of hope. A living reminder that greatness does not require grand beginnings, only unshakable passion.
A Club Built By Heart, Not Resources
The club’s founder, Coach Jino Docena, didn’t have equipment, sponsors, or a blueprint for success.
What he had was courage—and a circle of “kuya-coaches” who refused to let the beautiful game fade into silence.
They trained barefoot.
They played rain or shine.
They shared one dream: keep football alive in Taft so the next generation could dream bigger than they ever could.
And slowly, the town listened. Then joined. Then believed.
Taft found its heartbeat.
From A Small Barrio Pitch To The National Stage
Tubignon FC’s journey is a story Philippine football rarely hears enough of:
a grassroots club with no resources, pushing its way into arenas reserved for the strong, the funded, the privileged.
By 2009, the club started entering local festivals.
Then regional battles.
Then national wars.
And when Taft’s boys stepped onto bigger fields, they did not tremble.
They fought.
Their journey produced:
- Palarong Pambansa Qualifiers (since 2017)
- Palarong Pambansa Rank 5 – Futsal
- National SCUAA Podium Finishers
- Multiple Regional Championships
- Players who advanced to UAAP programs
For a town often forgotten in the national map, Tubignon Football Club has forced the football world to take a second look.
The Calling: Training The Next Wave Of Dreamers
Tubignon FC trains players from:
- 7–10 years old
- 11–13 years old
- 14–16 years old
- 17 and above
And they train every single day.
Because in Taft, football is no longer just a pastime.
It is a pathway.
A discipline.
A shield against the distractions and dangers young people face every day.
The Philosophy That Defines Them
At the center of Tubignon FC’s identity is a chant—powerful, raw, and unmistakably Waray:
“DIRE MATUMBA, MALUROS NALA!”
Never fall—and if you do, rise stronger.
It is shouted in practice.
Echoed in matches.
Lived out in daily life.
It is not just a motto for players—it is the soul of the town.
The Coach Who Refused To Give Up
Head Coach Jino Docena, holder of a Coaching C License, has mentored hundreds of young athletes.
He has seen:
- Boys become men
- Outsiders become champions
- Troubled youth become leaders
But his greatest success is this:
He turned football into a second home—a place where every child feels seen, valued, and capable of rising above their circumstances.
More Than A Club—A Lifeline
Some stories in football are bigger than trophies.
One boy, part of the club’s first generation, once stood on the edge of darkness—pulled by addiction, peers, and the harsh realities of a struggling community.
But every training session pulled him back.
Every coach’s guidance kept him steady.
Every moment on the pitch reminded him he was meant for more.
Years later, he came full circle.
He is now a futsal coach, guiding the kids who stand where he once stood.
Football didn’t just save his life.
It gave him a purpose.
And that is the true power of grassroots football.
Programs That Open Doors For All
To make football accessible and inclusive, Tubignon Football Club built programs that reach every corner of the community:
- Girls’ and Women’s Football
- Goalkeeper Training
- Futsal Development
- School Outreach Programs
- FREE training for all players
Here, football is not a privilege— it is a right.
The Community That Refuses To Let The Dream Die
Parents.
Schools.
The LGU.
Volunteers.
Everyone helps.
Everyone sacrifices.
Everyone believes.
In Taft, the club does not stand alone—it stands on the shoulders of a community that understands one truth:
When you invest in football, you invest in children’s futures.
Challenges That Define Their Courage
Tubignon Football Club still battles obstacles every day:
- Limited exposure to elite-level competitions
- Lack of opportunities for national scouting
- Restricted access to advanced facilities
- Financial constraints that hinder travel and tournament entry
Yet the club continues to fight—because their story is not about what they lack, but what they refuse to lack:
Hope.
Heart.
Belief.
Why Support Matters Now
Exposure can change a player’s fate.
A single tournament can open a door to a scholarship, a UAAP team, or a national call-up.
Tubignon/Taft Football Club needs support to:
- Travel to regional and national competitions
- Provide proper equipment
- Expand their programs
- Showcase their homegrown talents
Even a small sponsor can make a life-changing difference.
The Legacy They Are Building
In the next three years, the club’s dream is simple but powerful:
Keep the flame burning. Train the next generation. Grow the legacy of Tubignon.
Football is their language.
Football is their identity.
Football is their future.
And this small town in Eastern Samar—
this community that refuses to fall—
will continue rising, again and again.
A Message From Onefutbol
Tubignon/Taft Football Club is proof that great football stories are born in the humblest places.
They remind us why grassroots football is worth fighting for.
Why every child deserves a field.
Why every dream—no matter how small its beginning—deserves a chance to grow.
Philippine football needs more Tubignons.
More towns that believe.
More coaches who sacrifice.
More communities who stand together.
BE PART OF THEIR STORY. BE PART OF THEIR RISE.
👉 Join the club
👉 Become a sponsor
👉 Support their tournaments
👉 Help a young athlete chase a dream
📞 Tubignon Football Club/Taft Football Club
📱 0916 295 1276
📧 balatomarlon3@gmail.com / tubignonfc@gmail.com
DIRE MATUMBA, MALUROS NALA!
Never fall—and if you do, rise stronger.
For Taft. For Tubignon. For the beautiful game.
