Story Built in the Fire. Rebuilt for Legacy.
The Filipino Institute began with one goal:
To make quality education accessible, affordable, and empowering for Filipinos working abroad.
That dream became a movement.
Founded on November 19, 2015, by Gabriel John Rimando, the institute started in a small training space in Al Quoz, Dubai. A Filipino professional with a background in accounting and a passion for photography, Gabriel had lived and worked in Dubai since 2007. He knew what OFWs needed—not just opportunity, but identity, direction, and dignity.
What began with weekend classes in photography, accounting, caregiving, and computer literacy quickly grew into a full-fledged learning hub. Driven by purpose, the Filipino Institute expanded across the UAE—opening branches in Al Rigga, BurJuman, Business Village, JLT, Sharjah, Ajman, and Abu Dhabi.
Within two years, over 23,000 students had graduated from programs that were practical, affordable, and personally transformative.
From the UAE, FI expanded further—opening campuses in Qatar (West Bay & Al Waab), then Bahrain, and Kuwait in 2016. The dream was growing fast, with more campuses, staff, and stories each month.
But with rapid growth came rising pressure.
By 2024, the weight of expansion without pause, rest, or full systemization led to a full collapse.
Financial systems broke. Team structures strained. Trust was tested. The dream nearly died.
But the Fire Was Not the End.
In the silence of that painful season, something deeper emerged:
The realization that education must not only inform—it must transform.
That building a platform is not enough—you must build people.
And that applause fades, but legacy remains.
The Filipino Institute was reborn.
Not as a business.
But as a mission.
Not for reach alone.
But for rebuilders—like the very founders who chose to stay.
From Then to Now: A New Foundation
What you see today is not a revival of the old system.
It’s a reconstruction—brick by brick, soul by soul.
FI is now a formation-first system—one that includes:
- Academic and technical learning from daycare to doctorate
- Short-term skill and certification programs for OFWs and career shifters
- Leadership and identity formation tracks for families, fellows, and mentors
- Community platforms like FI Circle, FI Summit, FI Awards, FI Magazine, and FI Today
The Legacy Continues
What was once a school is now a Circle.
A global Filipino movement committed to forming servant-leaders, healing stories, and building futures.
Yes, we’ve collapsed.
But we’ve also clarified.
And what’s rising now is not just bigger—it’s deeper, stronger, and built to last.
We no longer build for applause.
We build for peace, purpose, and future-proof formation.