Makiling Pledges Support to Buttons to Hope

Not so many of us have probably heard of the world-class music group Makiling. We're missing a lot.

Makiling was formed by five high school buddies back in December of 1997. Diwa, Otto, Dave, Evan and Wed all met and were classmates at the Philippine High School for the Arts in Mt. Makiling. After finishing high school in summer of 1997, fate put them all together once again as college students at the University of the Philippines in Diliman and Makiling was formed.

The music of Makiling is generally classified as world music. But the band likes to call it “Pinoy world music” for its unique Filipino flavor mixed with influences from Indian, Celtic, Country, Oriental, Moorish, Arabic, Rock and Latin music.

Evan, Otto, Dave, Wed and Diwa

Evan Britanico (bass and vocals), pledges to help his hometown Baao by supporting F.A.R.M. and Buttons to Hope. He offers to give a a portion of every Makiling bundled-album sale, out of his personal copies.

The bundle contains three albums with four CDs and sells for Php1,000 ($20). 10% goes to Buttons to Hope.

Medyo Modern
Release Date: October 01, 2000
Label: Independent
Synopsis: Makiling's first album released year 2000. In this album, Makiling sounds very fresh and very raw, incorporating purely acoustic sounds and still hesitant to use electronic sounds.



Patintero sa Ilalim ng Buwan
Release Date: December 01, 2002
Label: Independent
Synopsis: Makiling's sound starts maturing by incorporating new instruments. Specifically electric guitars and bass. More musical styles were explored such as Latin and Spanish music.The album is also star-studded with special guest artists such as Noel Cabangon, Hannah of Session Road, and Bo Razon to name a few.

Malakas at Maganda
Release Date: December 05, 2008
Label:I ndependent
Synopsis: Makiling's 3rd album, Malakas at Maganda took 6 years in the making. The band is now more confident about their creative direction.Malakas at Maganda is a double album containing 24 original songs. As reknowned Filipina fashion designer Dita Sandico-Ong puts it, "in Makiling's first two albums, they were still rooted to the ground, but in their third album, they took off and flew sky high!"The band's 3rd album features a very diverse track selection but the core Makiling sound is still dominant. This time around, only the band is at work here, intentionally not including any guest artists.

F.A.R.M. is extremely pleased that more and more Baaoenos are willing to help Buttons to Hope in any creative way they can. We, in turn, pledge to support Makiling and Pinoy world music. And to our fellow Baaoeno Evan, we are proud of you and thank you for your goodness!

Let us all buy Makiling! If interested, contact Cathy at 0922-8699264 or email us at farmbaao@gmail.com

F.A.R.M. Flies High with QR!

Did you know that F.A.R.M. travels first class?

Pretty F.A.R.M.ers Jennifer, Jessamyn and Lailani

Only when it's aboard Qatar Airways!

The chica girls of QR begin to obsess over F.A.R.M.! Call it our guilty pleasure but we love seeing F.A.R.M. donned by good-looking people. Exactly what a first-rate accessory deserves!

F.A.R.M.s' casual appeal is so perfect on these girls. And to them, dressing up and accessorizing become easier with F.A.R.M. around.

Thank you Jessamyn for bringing F.A.R.M. to QR. and for rubbing in our face that...

F.A.R.M. is indeed soooo beautiful! (And now we're on cloud 9 :=)

F.A.R.M. Events, Events, Events!

F.A.R.M.ers, get set! Be part of the many F.A.R.M. and Buttons to Hope events coming our way very soon!

1) July 30 to August 1 - F.AR.M. shines in the "Fashionista: Eco-Fashion Fair" @ Emall, Naga City

There will be a fashion show featuring the products of entrepreneurs who are joining the eco-fashion fair. F.A.R.M. will be featured on the opening day, on July 30 at 5pm. F.A.R.M. was invited by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to participate as it practices artful recycling of old, used, discarded buttons. A practice considered very eco-friendly!

The TV Patrol Bicol feature on F.A.R.M., that was shown today, was a collaboration between ABS-CBN & DTI, to promote the upcoming eco-fashion fair.

2) August 20 - La Huerta holds Harvest Festival and launches the RIC Livelihood Project the F.A.R.M. way

Around 30 vegetable farmers, who are undergoing a season-long training @ La Huerta will graduate during the Harvest Fest. The farmers are members of the Baao Vegetable Growers Association, which Bidibidi heads. They have calendared sowing the vegetables so that almost all of the varieties planted on the farm, will be bearing fruits on that date. The farmers come to La Huerta every Thursday to have classroom training and hands-on application.

As featured in our post, From threading buttons to weaving quilts, women members of the Rural Improvement Club (RIC), will showcase their F.A.R.M. cushion covers or yoyo quilts made out of recycled fabric as an official F.A.R.M. product, and their new-found livelihood activity.

3) August 21 - F.A.R.M. sponsors the 5th Sangat Fest Mountain Bike Race

The purpose of the Sangat Fest is to showcase to bikers from all over the country the nice views that can be seen at the Bgy. Antipolo ridges in Baao, Camarines Sur. F.A.R.M. is proud of its birthplace. And supporting activities that promote Baao will always be a part of its agenda.

4) August 22 - F.A.R.M. Inaugurates the Button Hole and holds August Buttons to Hope Meet @ La Huerta

The mighty hole is now roofed and is undergoing finishing touches. F.A.R.M.ers who worked so hard in helping build the Button Hole will be special guests to its inauguration. On the same event, F.A.R.M.ers will hold its monthly meet for Buttons to Hope.

And as part of their bonding activity, F.A.R.M.ers will have an Art Retreat on the side!

5) August 23 - F.A.R.M. sponsors Dinner for a Cause @ the Cafe Des Artes

F.A.R.M., in partnership with the Sisters in the Hood, will sponsor a dinner for F.A.R.M.ers and Baaoenos attending the town fiesta (Aug. 24) to raise funds for Buttons to Hope. As plans are still underway, details on the event will be posted later!

One thing is certain though. If you're coming, come in purple!

6) August 30 - F.A.R.M. joins Garage Sale at the QC Memorial Circle, Quezon City

F.A.R.M.ers will sell used stuff to raise funds for Buttons to Hope on an all-day garage sale activity sponsored by the N@W e-group. F.A.R.M. bracelets will also be sold on this event. We accept donations of old stuff from our willing and good-hearted F.A.R.M.ers and friends.

We hope to see you on these important events! Save the dates!

F.A.R.M.ers Reunite!

It excites us to see old friends and schoolmates reunite and new friends meet up. We spotted some of them. What's the big difference from then to now?

St. Monica Academy (SMA) Batch 90: Qatar-based Jessamyn steals some time with Gigi in Singapore.

SMA '91: US-based Jo go F.A.R.M.ing with buddies Monette and Apple in Baao.

SMA '92: After 15 years or so, Sweden-based Connie and twin Carrie meet up with Jane in Manila !

SMA '93: Susan reunites and bonds with besties Joanna and June in Naga before flying to Norway.

SMA '94: Bestfriends Nadia and Feme party in Manchester, England!

SMA '97 and '84: Both young-looking Sandra and Terrie meet for the first time in Monterey, California.

The big, exciting difference? Now they all wear F.A.R.M.!

Women, F.A.R.M. and Fun! (2)

Day 2 of the livelihood skills training for Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges (CSPC) instructors was all about Artful Recycling.

Bidibidi lectured on how to make fashion accessories out of discarded buttons and used beads; and how to weave yoyo quilts using recycled fabric.

The ladies immersed themselves in a hands-on training on making button bracelets!

Words of gratitude and pleasure and hope were all over.

"Now, I will have my own button jar at home"

"Our activities are fun-filled, laughter-filled and ideas-filled! We love it!"

"What makes this a special accessory for me, is the memory it will evoke whenever I'd wear it: the fun, the laughter, and the re-kindled friendships."

"There is a special feeling of pride in wearing my own F.A.R.M. bracelet."

"My own button bracelet! Wow! It feels good to create!"

"We feel so good! I never thought I would be wearing a bacelet I made myself! I can't believe it. And a necklace, too!"

"I used to throw all the 'baduy' clothes i have, also those that don't fit me anymore. Now, I have fabrics for my own yoyo quilt."

"In my lifetime, I will make yoyo quilt bed covers for all my six children. They will be heirloom pieces. Even when I am gone, they will know I touched every piece of that and they will remember me."

"I rate the 2-day activity a 10! Perfect! If i can rate it more, I would make it 12!"

Bidibidi says, "There is no more fulfilling deed, than one that makes people enjoy, and one that makes people feel good about themselves. This two-day activity has enriched me more, in terms of joy, of new friendships, and a renewed sense of purpose. F.A.R.M. will live on in the hearts of these rural women."

Women empowerment. This is the part where we feel F.A.R.M. has accomplished its purpose.