The Button Hole from a F.A.R.M.er's point of view

“You don’t take a photograph, you make it." - Ansel Adams

Baao's artist and F.A.R.M.er Bembot Briones captures the Button Hole and the whole of La Huerta....and proves there is heaven hidden somewhere...

And it's in Baao!

La Huerta is a 4-hectare farm that grows ornamental plants and vegetables. It promotes organic farming and features a “pick-and-buy” vegetable store, certainly one of its kind in Baao.

This little paradise is "F.A.R.M.'s farm." It's a peaceful refuge for farmers, artists, women, environmentalists, and F.A.R.M.ers!

The lush of greens and the gorgeous landscapes are both products of nature and a woman's passion for art and life.

The Button Hole is a huge structure in La Huerta that was built through F.A.R.M. It now serves as an agricultural hub for tourists in Bicol and other regions.

They are lovely in photos but absolutely more alluring in reality. Come visit La Huerta, see the Button Hole, and experience hospitality in Baao.

Thanks Bembot for your fresh eye and exceptional talent. We love it!

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!

La Huerta Meeting a Huge Success!

The third monthly meeting for Buttons to Hope was held on August 22, 2009 at the La Huerta, Sta. Teresita Baao, Camarines Sur. It coincided with the blessing and inauguration of the Button Hole, the new training facility at La Huerta.

The meeting was a big success for several reasons:

1) For the first time, F.A.R.M.ers from Baao and other parts of Bicol were able to participate and share their ideas on Buttons to Hope.

2) The meeting was an opportunity for old and new F.A.R.M.ers to meet and interact. The F.A.R.M.ers who attended the meeting were Bernadette de los Santos, Jane Barcenas-Bisuna, Mia Barandon-Bulalacao, Rommel Bulalacao, Tootsie Belmonte-Villaranda, Ritzie Robosa, Tom Ballesteros, Louella Barrameda-Ballesteros, Jessamyn Badong-Sotaso, Yayet Bricia-Requintina, Apple Doroin, Audie Agtarap, Sarah Barrameda-Balares, Vince and William Dato, April Lanuzo-Serrano, Nora Almen and Gigi Federis. Bernadette hosted and Jane chaired the meeting.

3) The F.A.R.M.ers' level of enthusiasm and commitment to support the project was overwhelming. The amount of pledges for Buttons to Hope amounted to P80,000 from a few F.A.R.M.ers present in the meeting. With the estimated cost of P10,000 per semester, the amount raised at the meeting alone could cover the whole 2-year technical-vocational courses for two scholars from Baao.

4) Bidibidi had some good news, too. Her contribution to Buttons to Hope for the month of July amounted to over P10,000. That also translates to another semester for one Baao scholar. She also announced exciting activities and engagements for F.A.R.M. that we need to watch out for.

5) F.A.R.M. and Buttons to Hope will soon be registered as a formal organization through the help of Atty. Tom and Louella Ballesteros. Given a legal personality, the Buttons to Hope project will hopefully be expanded and extended to support more scholars from Baao in the future.

6) More exciting activities to promote F.A.R.M.ers' interaction and camaraderie are being worked out. A Buttons to Hope meet and F.A.R.M.ers tour is planned for October 2009 in the province of Bohol. Details of this activity will be announced later.

7) Upcoming activites were also announced. F.A.R.M.ers will participate in a garage sale on August 30 at the Quezon Memorial Circle, Quezon City. F.A.R.M.ers monthly meetings will continue in Manila and could also be held in Bicol, whenever necessary. Other fund-raising activities are forthcoming but details still need to be threshed out.

The La Huerta meeting opened a lot of opportunities, raised hopes and strengthened F.A.R.M.ers' commitment for Buttons to Hope. But more than that, it proved that people can make a big difference both by working and having wholesome fun. It was indeed a productive and laughter-filled day and it was a huge, huge success!

To learn more about the history of the project and past fund-raising activities, you may type "Buttons to Hope" in the search bar of the F.A.R.M. blog, or click "Buttons to Hope" under labels.

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.