All Agustin Bartolome wanted to do was to spend time with his friends. Nothing fancy: No league, no serious competitions, no trophies — just a few kids tossing a football around on weekends back in 2021.

But what started as a small hobby eventually turned into something bigger — a movement that would later become the Polo Flag Football League (PFFL).

“I was around 12 years old when I started playing flag football. At that time, there weren’t a lot of opportunities to play the sport regularly, so I wanted to create a space for people like me who loved the game,” Bartolome said in an episode of “Off the Court,” the weekly online sports show of DAILY TRIBUNE recently.

“In the beginning, it was just a few of us. We didn’t have a formal league structure or anything. It was more about getting people to come together on weekends to play and enjoy.”

From a handful of players came an idea — and from that idea came a league.

“Eventually, we realized that if we wanted it to last, we had to make it more structured. That’s when we started forming teams, scheduling games, and keeping score,” Bartolome said. 

“It slowly grew from there.”

Now 16 years old and studying at Everest Academy Manila in Taguig City, Bartolome isn’t just a league founder. He’s a student-athlete who juggles classes, competition and community.

A sports enthusiast through and through, he also plays tennis and recently competed in the 2025 Batang Pinoy in General Santos City.

“I’ve been training for a while already. I’ve competed in national tournaments,” he said. “I actually joined Batang Pinoy. It was good but it was a very hard competition. So, a good learning experience and exposure.”

He doesn’t see tennis and football as separate passions, but rather as disciplines that complement each other.

“Well, actually, it benefits both sports because it’s like cross-training. In football, I’m a quarterback and I throw the ball — it helps my serve in tennis,” Bartolome said. 

“Then, my footwork in tennis, where I move side to side, it helps with my football. So, it complements each other.”

Built by passion and support

Running a league is no small feat — especially for a high schooler. But Bartolome made it happen through persistence and a strong support system.

“There were times when it was difficult to manage everything. Balancing school, sports, and organizing the league was tough, but I had a lot of help from my family and friends,” he said.

That support network — of peers, parents and players — has become the backbone of the PFFL’s steady rise. What began as weekend scrimmages has grown into a thriving community, into a dynamic ecosystem.

Now on its third Color Bowl that was held last August at the University of Makati, the league boasts eight active teams and a growing following among young athletes.

“We wanted to make sure everyone felt welcome. It’s not just for experienced players. Even beginners, or people who just want to try it for fun, can join,” Bartolome said.

“I think flag football helps develop a lot of skills that go beyond the field. It teaches you how to work with others, how to make quick decisions, and how to lead.”

Spreading the game

Bartolome’s vision extends far beyond the playing field. He wants to bring flag football to new places, introducing the sport to kids who have never seen a playbook or worn a flag belt.

“I also had two outreach projects already,” he said. “I went to Don Bosco Tondo, and then I was also able to go to Pineda in Pasig, where I was able to teach these local communities how to play flag football because it was a totally new sport to them.”

“So, to add on to that, I want to do more outreach projects. I want to go to more cities.”

His enthusiasm also caught the attention of one of the sport’s biggest advocates in the country — Filipino-American Camryn Bynum, who is currently seeing action for the Indianapolis Colts in the National Football League (NFL).

“Bynum has been having many camps here already. I think he’s had a total of like four camps and he’s also teaching flag football,” Bartolome said. 

“Whenever he comes here to have a camp in the Philippines, he’s always teaching flag football.”

A dream beyond borders

Yet, Bartolome’s goal is simple but ambitious: To turn flag football into a mainstream sport in the Philippines — and maybe, one day, to see Filipinos compete in the international arena.

With the sport’s inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and the 2032 Brisbane Games, the dream doesn’t seem far-fetched.

“My dream is to make flag football more known in the Philippines,” he said.

“If we can get more people playing and having fun, that would be amazing.”

True enough, at a time when most teenagers are preoccupied with school or social media, Bartolome’s drive stands out. He’s not just building a league — he’s building a community.

For him, flag football isn’t just a pastime. It’s a platform to connect people, teach values, and inspire others to lead.

Starting a league from scratch is never easy, especially for someone under 18. But with his family, friends, and growing circle of athletes behind him, Bartolome is ready to keep driving his vision forward — one touchdown at a time.

Yes, for Bartolome, flag football isn’t just a game.

It’s the start of something bigger.