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.

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.

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!

Flight to Freedom

I was invited to teach women inmates at the BJMP Naga City sometime back. In fact, it was way way back that I thought it would not push through. At first I was a bit apprehensive as I have never been inside an institution like this and have not even considered in my wildest dreams to make even a visit. But I said yes. After that, I was so touched and reproached myself for even being hesitant.

Meanwhile that I have not gotten the confirmation call, life went on and as fate would have it, I visited a close friend and classmate during his short stay at the local cell in Iriga City. That was my first experience of what a prison looked like, what it feels to be inside and serve time. Not because of the visit, but because my friend described to me what it was they have to undergo serving time.

So I got the call two days before the scheduled event. It was part of the celebration of the Correctional Consciousness Week. I was kinda excited at the thought and was moved to do something about it. I prepared kits for the four inmates that would undergo the skills training and supplied them with the necessary tools and materials.

I arrived just in time when some male inmates were putting up the streamer and saw the poignant theme for the celebration: "Be an instrument of healing and reconciliation." That is me! I was shouting to myself. Of course nobody would hear that, but surely, my soul did, and my heart was moved to tears. I was choking back my emotions and showed a sunny persona instead. That is me, too! I am sunny personified.

The officers were also there, together with the inmates, they were mingling like what one would find outside the walls. Only, they are inside the walls. I started by telling them about F.A.R.M. I was somewhat disheartened that they seemed indifferent to my story.

It was much later on that I realized, they could not appreciate it, because they cannot see themselves being me. So I started teaching them, and as if robots, they would quietly comply.

During this time, I started asking them of how life was, inside, and sometimes, would drift to what life was outside. I felt they were starting to open up and started to crack jokes with me. And soon we were laughing together and I could see in their faces, that they were not only enjoying the activity as it was way out of their daily routine, also, I noticed that they were trusting me, with a feeble hope. As emo as I can ever be, I held back my tears and just laughed off words that they were needing to hear. I could not make them empty promises, but I did leave them some hope, and a simple promise that I would be back, for them.

Some words from them:

"Maam, sige na, padalhan mo naman kami ng magagawa namin, para may magagawa kami sa oras namin."

"Maam, kahit kaunti lang, sana may kikitain din kami, kahit dito na kami habang buhay."

Blog written by Bernadette de los Santos. The inmates and BJMP approved of posting their photos with this story.

F.A.R.M. Supports Efren and Education for the Filipino!

F.A.R.M. and Buttons to Hope encourage fellow Filipinos to support and vote for Efren Penaflorida in this year's CNN Top Heroes: Ordinary People Extraordinary Impact.

More than anyone of us, Efren dreams to educate the Filipino youth through his pushcart classes, an extraordinary and gigantic effort that is touching the hearts of people around the globe. F.A.R.M.'s litte project, Buttons to Hope looks up to Efren's unique inspiration. Read about Efren's story. Let's make him win! Vote now.

God Spare our Nation

Dear Lord, we fervently pray for Your intervention so that our nation will be spared from another threatening typhoon. Our suffering people have not recovered from Ondoy's wrath. Please prevent Pepeng from hitting any of our islands.

Save us from further calamities by embracing our country with Your protective grace and merciful blessings. Mama Mary, intercede for us. Amen.

Give up a Meal for the Needy

We extend our love and prayers for our fellow Filipinos who continue to struggle and who try to rise up from the recent calamity that claimed lives and properties of many. We trust that with God's mercy, we will all be able to see the sun again and embrace life at its brightest.

We thank F.A.R.M.ers who, in their own humble ways, try to reach out to those needing help. This is a season for unity and compassion. Give up a hearty meal to help the needy. Give to the nearest relief center. We can do it.