The Past Year - An Answered Prayer

Like last year's, the August Buttons to Hope meet happened on the 21st at the Button Hole in La Huerta. The brief drizzle made the farm look fresher, more verdant and more lush.

It's been exactly a year since the Button Hole was inaugurated. We thanked God for the richness of nature, the seeds that we plant and fruits that we harvest. And because of that He gave us more.

Sisters in the hood: Bidibidi, Ritzie, Tootsie, Ann and Lilette

We praised God for our wise minds and good hearts. For friends who appreciate and support. So He allowed us and now we are many.

from fresh harvest: greens with thousand island dressing, fresh tomatoes and string beans salad with lemon zest, chops in gravy, La Huerta meatballs with coleslaw, and chilled fruit cocktail in young coco, ginataang santol, too

Pec, Sarah, Wheng, Bidibidi and Yayet

The whole group including Monette

We prayed for possibilities that happen and dreams that come true. A year hence, we are all sharing the dream. And we have scholars starting to build their own.

Four of the six BTH scholars: Christian, Christian, Christine and Jam

Like the Button Hole, God did not make us wear out, break nor burn. We took the right path and we continue to be one.

As promised, we will never end our passion for the good. God please allow us for the years to come.

Read: God Bless the Button Hole

Our scholars are now in college!

It was a two-week holiday for the F.A.R.M. blog. And we are coming back with a very important news: F.A.R.M. and Buttons to Hope scholars are now in school!

F.A.R.M. scholars Grace, Nicco, Ronald and Manilyn are personally supported by Bernadette de los Santos, with funds coming from the sales of our famous F.A.R.M. bracelets. Your patronage, as we promised, is going a long way.

BTH scholars Christian, Christine, Babing, Christian, Enrique and Jam are the ones we collectively support through Buttons to Hope - an innovative, well-admired scholarship project in Baao that's now in full swing!

All 10 scholars go to the Central Bicol State University of Agriculture, one of the finest state universities in the Bicol region.

Each BTH scholar gets P10,000 full scholarship grant per semester. BTH will arrange individual accounts for each scholar with the Baao Cooperative to encourage them to start saving and managing their resources wisely and efficiently.

Thank you for your support. Let us watch these young minds grow and succeed. In no time, they will become mighty graduates in their own fields and will take their turn in helping educate and empower Baao. Please, stay with us through this journey. Mabalos po!

Buttons to Hope - a tough act to follow

"You've gone too far." - The most heartwarming comment we got that says it all.

Buttons to Hope was a spur-of-the-moment idea. But we were right all along. We could make it soar.

Buttons to Hope aimed to raise a million pesos in one year to support the college education of a number of deserving students from Baao. A year hence, we achieved one-third of the target.

We realized the figure is not the real measure of our success. Because there are a lot more to talk about.

Buttons to Hope has incredibly won the hearts of many. The number of people continuing to give support is just overwhelming.

Buttons to Hope proved that service to others does not require power, plenty of money and massive following. It only takes a few determined individuals and a common cause to make it happen.

During the past year, Buttons to Hope has had a few milestones: we made our intentions public, encouraged friends to support, formed a core group of willing members, organized activities, mobilized funds and looked for scholars.

How did we fare? Very good. We have the funds, we are sending six students to school in June, and we are enjoying a good reputation.

Dine. Wine. Celebrate HOPE - our event last night would be a tough act to follow.

Buttons to Hope is a tough act to follow.

Thank you to all for celebrating with us. From the HOPEful button of our hearts!!!

Watch out for a series of blogs about the HOPE event.

You are invited to the HOPE event!

Three reasons why you should go:

1) It's cool to be of help. You will in a way be part of the 'beautiful hearts club' that will send these deserving five scholars to college.

Christian, Enrique, Christian, Christine, Babing are all going to the Central Bicol State University of Agriculture

2) You'll get up close and personal with the Buttons to Hope project, F.A.R.M., the F.A.R.M.ers and their advocacies. You'll be amazed to see how a group of Baaonenos were able to pull off this wonderful little project.

F.A.R.M. scholar Grace carefully weaving a double-decker button to the ticket to the HOPE event

A note on the back says: "Keep this button pass as proof that you have bought hope for Baao's youth."

3) It's going to be a night of wholesome fun! It's for you to find out but we promise wine, music and glam!

We invite you to wine, dine and celebrate HOPE. May 22, Saturday, 6 p.m. #9 A. Bonifacio Street, Fortunata Village, Paranaque City. Call or text 0916-5512852 for tickets!

See you there!

BTH scholars take first step to their dreams

Our journey to change goes on, unhindered!

Today, the first batch of Buttons to Hope scholars takes the college entrance examinations at the Camarines Sur State Agricultural College - the first step to realizing their dreams!

Meet the scholars: Christian, Enrique, Christian, Christine, Babing

Let's not make our hopes and commitment falter as we support these five students who will, someday, definitely make the world a better place!

Buttons to Hope adopts scholars

Application for Buttons to Hope scholarship ends today. Thank you to those who have recognized, appreciated and embraced our offer to help. We will announce the first set of BTH scholars soon!

Photo by Bembot Briones

"There are almost 22 million families in the Philippines. If we can convince 2 million families to adopt 1 scholar each, 2 million of our out-of-school youth will go back to school so they could be better prepared for the future. If we are able to convince 5 million Filipinos out of our 88 million Filipinos today, each one willing to adopt one scholar, 5 million of our out-of-school youth could go back to school tomorrow.

Poverty makes the poor children around us vulnerable to the diseases and malice of this world. Ignorance makes the poor children around us prey for the vultures in our society. Poverty and ignorance – these lead our poor children to prostitution, to drugs, to crime.

We are at war today. We are at war against poverty, against greed, against corruption. During wars, where there is actual combat with mortars and missiles, we help people along the way. We give them food, we give them water. We should do the same now. We should not leave behind our people to suffer in poverty. We should not leave our poor children in the streets. We should find a way to feed them. We should find a way to send them to school.

To adopt a child as a scholar is one simple but tangible way to help our poor children. Every family in our country who has the means, who can afford, must be encouraged to adopt one scholar. Adoption of poor children as scholars should become part of our culture as a people." - Excerpt from a speech of Atty. Alex Lacson


Buttons to Hope heeded the call to contribute to reducing poverty by helping a few scholars from Baao, Camarines Sur get college education. To all our supporters, thank you for making this possible.

Disclaimer: F.A.R.M. as a group is non-partisan and not a supporter of any political figure. But in principle, we do support political agendas that aim to promote education for all Filipinos.

Buttons to Hope in full swing!

What does it take to make a cool change?

Shared vision. Eye for results.

A few determined individuals.

Some money, time and a little effort.

Food.

We are close to June, and we are close to helping a few students get a chance at tertiary education.

As of today, Buttons to Hope has raised P364,377.75 ($8,099.00) worth of cash and pledges. Five students coming from both public and private high schools in Baao have indicated interest and are being considered for scholarship. Application ends on April 15.

BTH meet on 9 April at Via Mare, Shangri-La: Jet, Jane, Bidibidi, Tom, Louella and Cherry

F.A.R.M.ers are up and about, working out the details. Let's help them sustain the momentum. Support Buttons to Hope in any way you can.

Type "Buttons to Hope" in the search bar for more details about the project.

Search for Buttons to Hope scholars still on!

We are extending the deadline for application to APRIL 15, 2010!

You may get application forms from school principals or from Bernadette de los Santos at Villa Esperanza, San Nicolas Baao, Camarines Sur.

Read the BTH scholarship guidelines.

Buttons to Hope now in search of scholars!

What is Buttons to Hope?

• Buttons to Hope (BTH) is a project that aims to provide free two-year college education to worthy and aspiring youth of Baao through the F.A.R.M. advocacy.
• It generates funds to support a number of scholars throughout their two-year courses/programs in Camarines Sur universities and colleges.
• It is undertaken and managed informally by a core group of Baaoenos; and supported by a wide network of friends in the Philippines and many parts of the world.

Why do "F.A.R.M.ers" support Buttons to Hope?

• Our network is sharing the same interests and obviously aiming toward the same goal, which is to help Baao in any way we possibly can.
• We believe that each and every F.A.R.M.er in the network has the willingness and capacity to participate, cooperate and share his and her precious time, resources and ideas for a great cause.
• We are certain that through BTH, we can all work together to make a difference.

Who is eligible to apply for a BTH scholarship?

• Any resident of Baao, who is a candidate for high school graduation in March 2010, is welcome to apply for a two-year college scholarship.

What are the requirements for application?

The applicant should submit the following:

• Completed application form with 2X2 ID picture
• Photocopy of report card (third grading)
• Recommendation by school principal or adviser

All requirements must be submitted on or before 30 March 2010 at the F.A.R.M. shop, Villa Esperanza, San Nicolas Baao, Camarines Sur.

What will be the basis of and process for selecting scholars?

• The candidates will be selected based primarily on academic standing and family income. The requirements submitted will be the basis for screening.
• The short-listed candidates will be called for an interview during first week of April (to be announced).
• The BTH panel will choose deserving scholars based on the submitted essays and interviews.
• The number of scholars will depend on availability of BTH funds.
  
  
  

What will the BTH scholarship cover?

• BTH will cover the two-year education of selected scholars including tuition fees, miscellaneous fees, books and allowances as long as these expenses do not exceed P10,000 per semester.
• Parents are expected to contribute their share, particularly on expenses not anymore covered by the scholarship (e.g., food and transportation allowance).
• Continuation of scholarship will be based on the scholar's academic performance.

For inquiries, email farmbaao@gmail.com or text 0916-5512852

Photos by Bembot Briones and Bernadette de los Santos