Hogan Spartans in Dubai: A Fil-Am Reunion in the Desert
Looking back at 2021 with Glenn Victa, Dennis, and Isagani—and praying for the safety of our kababayan today.
⚠️ LIVE CRISIS UPDATE: MARCH 12, 2026
Our thoughts are with the millions of kabayan in the Middle East. With regional instability rising, the Philippine government is preparing chartered repatriation flights starting tomorrow, March 13, from Fujairah. Stay vigilant.
The Hogan High School Class of 1985 legacy isn't confined to Vallejo. In 2021, I visited Dubai and reconnected with fellow Spartan Glenn Victa. Sharing the evening were Dennis and Isagani, two kababayan whose hospitality offered me a real look at the "global Pinoy" experience—the sacrifice, the grind, and the community that makes a foreign city feel like home.
💡 DID YA KNOW?
Dubai is the Filipino capital of the Middle East, with over 700,000 Filipinos in the UAE. Deira is the heart of the community—a bustling district where Pinoy culture and food make the desert feel like home.
🇵🇭 TAGALOG WORD OF THE DAY
Kababayan (or 'Kabayan'): From the root bayan (nation/community). It's more than "countryman"—it’s a soulful recognition of a shared origin. When we call someone Kabayan, we are saying: "You are part of my home, no matter where in the world we are."
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