Buttons to Hope Hall of Fame (3)

Thank you F.A.R.M.ers for continuing to believe in our advocacy and supporting our cause. As of 26 November 2009, the Buttons to Hope project has raised 237,947.75 ($4,935.00) worth of cash and pledges.

Here are the list of our contributors:

1) Bernadette de los Santos, Baao, Philippines - 43.8%

2) Teresa de los Santos-Salah, USA - 14.2%

3) Mariflor Llorens-Taduran, USA - 8.9%

4) Gladys Barrameda-Sadang, Ireland - 6.2%

5) Jezrille Arroyo-Cariaga, Manila, Philippines - 6.1%

6) Jane Barcenas-Bisuna, Manila, Philippines - 4.6%

7) Simonette Brigola-Feria, Manila, Philippines - 4%

8) Jocelie Britanico, UAE- 2.2%

9) Charina Imperial-Francisco, Manila, Philippines - 2.2%

10) Perlie Botardo-de los Santos, USA - 2.2%

11) Pure Panambo, USA - 2.1%

12) Joan Badong-Davis, USA - 1.8%

13) Perfecto Taduran, Manila, Philippines - 1.6%

Check out our list in September and October.

The amounts were raised from production, donations, meeting sponsorships, and sales. Bernadette has been pitching in consistently big amounts because production of the bracelets have been good thanks to all of us. Let us order more, sell more, and we can send more scholars to school!

Thank you from the button of our hearts!

Black and Red

Tomorrow, December 1, let us wear our black and red F.A.R.M. to grieve and seek justice for the victims of the Maguindanao massacre; and to condemn violence and lawlessness in our country...

Let us be one in making the world a better and safer place for everyone. We can.

Spice it up with F.A.R.M.

Beautiful Sandra Sanchez shows her Europe crowd mainstream fashion with an exotic twist.

She pulls it off so nicely with just plain jacket, aviator sunglasses and F.A.R.M.

That gives 'travelling in style' a whole lot of sense.

Spice up fashion with F.A.R.M.

Road Trip to F.A.R.M.

F.A.R.M. has started small, almost unnoticed.

Now it's touching people's hearts. Changing lives. Building dreams.

Award-winning director Ray Defante Gibraltar takes the road trip and joins the journey to change.

Buttons to Hope finds new friends, brighter ideas

F.A.R.M.ers meet monthly to take stock of their activities and monitor the progress of Buttons to Hope - a project that aims to raise a million pesos that would send young Baaoenos to vocational school.

At 23% to target on its sixth month, much has yet to be done.

This month's meeting was held at Teriyaki Dragon Japanese Restaurant and the bill was on Simonette Brigola-Feria

But the journey is getting more exciting by the day. Fresh, brilliant ideas keep coming.

Friendships have gone stronger. Men and women of substance are taking part.

Direk Ray Gibraltar and wife Queenie officially become F.A.R.M.ers

Bigger projects falling into place.

F.A.R.M.ers are in consensus on one thing - helping others isn't necessarily hard and painful. It just takes food, friends, fun and good intentions.

As of November 25, 2009, Buttons to Hope has raised 231,947.75 ($4,935.00), enough to support 4-5 full scholars. And we are not stopping there.

Those interested to support our cause, email us at farmbaao@gmail.com

Help us achieve more so we can help more. From the button of our hearts.

La Huerta: A Success Story in Agri-Entrepreneurship

Bernadette de los Santos was one among 111 Filipino farmers featured in a book titled "The Art of Agribusiness: 111 and More Success Stories in Agri-Entrepreneurship" compiled by Department of Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap.

The book recognizes farmers whose stories would inspire Filipinos to get into agri-entrepreneurship. It also commemorates DA's 111th anniversary.

Secretary Yap has always been supportive of trailblazers in agriculture. He makes the stories known so people will be aware that there are farmers who make good and do their part in giving life to agriculture in the Philippines.

The book features La Huerta and its owner, Bernadette in a colorful 2-page spread. It highlights the lady farmer's achievements, particularly her single-handed conversion of a once-idle agricultural land into a place of learning and relaxation. The write-up also stresses on La Huerta's novelty idea of "pick and pay," which makes tourists and enthusiasts savor the joys of harvest. Soon, tourists will experience "living the farm life" with the additional accommodation structure soon to be built at La Huerta.

Bernadette, who was DA's Most Outstanding Rural Woman of 2008 says, "For me, such recognition is just but bonus for the joys that I already reap so bountifully in living the farm and rural life. Farming does not only give me joy, it also makes me a responsible steward of my environment, which we all should be."

The book was launched on November 23, 2009 at the Podium, Mandaluyong City. It sells for P2,000 ($43) and available in all National Bookstore outlets.

F.A.R.M.ers came to support their Inay, who exuded her usual promdi confidence in the red carpet.

Congratulations! We are always so proud of you!

Our Hero

"Our planet is filled with heroes, young and old, rich and poor, man, woman of different colors, shapes and sizes. We are one great tapestry. Each person has a hidden hero within; you just have to look inside you and search it in your heart, and be the hero to the next one in need.

"So to each and every person inside in this theater and for those who are watching at home, the hero in you is waiting to be unleashed. Serve, serve well, serve others above yourself and be happy to serve. As I always tell to my co-volunteers ... you are the change that you dream as I am the change that I dream and collectively we are the change that this world needs to be."

From us F.A.R.M.ers to Efren Peñaflorida, the CNN Hero of the Year, we campaigned, we voted and we won! You are our inspiration! We salute you, we hail you, and we love you from the button of our hearts!

F.A.R.M. on Red Carpet

It's so cool to see F.A.R.M. on red carpet!

Grazielle Ann Bisuña attending Cinema One Awards Night

And yes, most F.A.R.M.ers do look like celebrities! (wink:) We lovett!

Dress Up Easy with F.A.R.M.

Dressing up is usually ranked #1 in any woman's fashion priority list.

For Mafe Revilla-Memije of Vancouver, F.A.R.M. is the perfect accessory as it is easy to match with any outfit.

You don't have to go for designer heaven. F.A.R.M. does the fashion trick. So start yearning for it.

Email us your chic F.A.R.M. photos as they are nice to go with our occasional fashion tips!

The Kindest Christmas Gift

Thinking of a unique and delightful gift you can give your loved ones this Christmas?

Consider getting them our Buttons-to-Hope line of F.A.R.M. bracelets!

They are really fantastic vintage finds...

By buying some, you don't just impress a friend. You spare some benevolence as portions of the sale will help send Baao's youth to school. And we bet nothing can be cooler than that!

We'll wrap up your goodwill with our 'green pouch', made from discarded fabric and embellished with a gold vintage button...

And if you are overflowing with kindness, gift them several pieces and pack them neatly together in a 'nito box', that's proudly Bikol-made.

Give to your friends and family this Christmas. And touch the button of their hearts.

For orders, email us at farmbaao@gmail.com

Come by the F.A.R.M. Shop!

Six months ago, we led you to where F.A.R.M. is from....

From its humble and hidden nook at the Villa Esperanza,

F.A.R.M. now flaunts itself for the fashionista tourists to see!

Come by the Villa Esperanza in San Nicolas, Baao, Camarines Sur....

And get hit by the F.A.R.M. beauty truck! See you there!

Big Win for Wanted: Border

Wanted: Border emerged victorious during the 15th Cinema One Originals Awards, bagging seven trophies for:

Best Production Design (Al Alacapa, Winston Lazaro and Allan Hilado), Best Music (Malik Lopez and Eric Romulo),Best Cinematography (Ogie Sugatan), Best Screenplay (Ray Gibraltar), Best Actress (Rosanna Roces), Best Director (Ray Gibraltar) and Best Film: Wanted: Border.

The awards night was held on November 15 at the Dolphy Theater, ABS-CBN, Quezon City.

"The big winner of this year’s festival is Ray Gibratar’s Wanted: Border. And what a film it is. Gibraltar had previously directed the sublime comedy When Timawa Meets Delgado, and so expectations were already pretty high. But with this film, Gibraltar goes in the complete opposite direction, showcasing an understanding of the craft that his previous film had only hinted at. The movie is probably one of the darkest movies I’ve seen all year, delving deep into the lives of people who have completely given in to their most primal urges. Here is a movie about people driven completely by the Ids, living in a stylized world where violence is commonplace, and some level of abuse is always expected. There’s some magnificent storytelling at play here, Gibraltar weighing the bleakness of his subject with some of the sharpest gallows humor to have come out of Philippine cinema. A great lead performance from Rosanna Roces only adds to the mastery. As the winner of this year’s festival, the movie will get an Indiesine run later this year, and I truly hope that people will go see it. It is a harrowing film experience that I would recommend to anyone." Click the City.

Rosanna Roces is the first celebrity to wear F.A.R.M. in a movie.

Award-winning director Ray Gibraltar, who's got affection for Baao, its people, and their advocacies is doing a project with Buttons to Hope soon. We pray for the good Lord to allow it to happen.

Congratulations Direk Ray and the beautiful cast of Wanted: Border, from the button of our hearts!