IN OUR previous post, we mentioned that, despite the wonderful objectives and methodology of the Family Farm Schools, the concept has not been able to attract the really big bucks in terms of financial support. This must not denigrate, however, the kindness of so many people and corporations who have, to this day, given much to sustain the concept. Without their help, the Family Farm Schools would never have taken off at all.
One of the more salutary side-benefits of the farm schools is the inevitable involvement of the parents and families of the students in the whole effort. As the astounded parents observe their budding farmer sons become accomplished in their trade, they naturally begin to foster an active curiosity about the school. Many of the parents have responded to activities –- both spiritual and otherwise -– that the farm school managers manage to drum up. The concept of family is honed in the minds of the students and their relatives. They are taught to find dignity in ordinary work, and best of all, guided on how to do their work to the best of their respective abilities. Finally, in keeping with the schools’ tradition, the students and their families find out how work well done and offered up to God becomes the best work of all.
This kind of a positive and spiritual mindset is so radically different from those who believe that they are owed work, and when they get some, do such work in a lackadaisical manner. There is no pride in self or in the work being done. This can probably be attributed to the lack of a strong spiritual formation in the worker.
Man, after all, does not live on bread alone.
April 22nd, 2008 at 8:53 pm
Dear Mr Zialcita,
Why dont you send me an email at and let us work out a suitable arrangement for when and where we can meet while in metro manila?
Best regards!
April 20th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Please give me your address and contact numbers in Metro Manila.
April 10th, 2008 at 11:23 pm
I am very happy with the many positive responses that this little series of blogs on the Family Farm Schools has managed to generate. Ms Legiralde gives us a very succint and fuller appreciation of the assistance given by MFI to the Bais FFS, and the directions being taken by the school towards self-sufficiency. Mr Rodriguez volunteered at Tuy, and came out better for this. (I will mention both responses to people close to my heart — the Ramos family who donated the land in Tuy and Rene Gayo for the Bais FFS)
April 8th, 2008 at 8:01 am
There is a family farm school exclusively for women in the town of Balete in Batangas. I know there there is a separate school for men but I do not know where it is. I am not sure if the Balete campus is still operating. When I visited the school, out of plain curiosity, about three years back, they were in dire financial straits.
I believe this school was set up by a Spanish NGO a number of years back, and might even predate the one built on the Ayala-donated land.
I could find out more for anyone interested. It is a just few kilometers from our farm lot.
April 3rd, 2008 at 4:15 pm
I work for MFI Foundation, Inc (formerly Meralco Foundation Inc.) which helped establish the Bais Family Farm School located in Sitio Cantugot, Brgy. Sab-ahan Bais City in Negros Oriental.
Sir, we are grateful for this opportunity to be able to discuss the family farm schools here in our country and the need for development in our agricultural sector.
Our organization believes in the role that education plays in that much-needed progress and we envision the creation of future farmers that 1) truly know their resources and have the skills to maximize what they have, and 2) are knowledgeable and utilize progressive farming technologies, and 3) are equipped and experienced in agri-business to become successful farmer-entrepreneurs. We want our nation’s subsistent farmers to have the opportunity to become farmer-entrepreneurs that will serve as catalysts for rural development in their communities.
As of 2006, Bais Family Farm School has had a total of 134 graduates, with an average of 19 graduates per year since 1998.
It is currently fully subsidized by MFI but it is our goal to make our farm school self-sufficient. We are in the process of developing feasible agri-business projects that will serve as training venues for BFFS students and farmers in the community. But we need the support of concerned government agencies, the private sector and industry groups, financing groups and private individuals who can come in as benefactors or sponsors of scholarships for BFFS students.
We are also developing the concept of an MFI Farm Business Institute (MFI-FBI) which may be built in Jala-Jala, Rizal and with perhaps, a corresponding satellite farm in Palo Alto, Laguna.
The concept of the MFI-FBI is that of a self-sufficient school in the field of agri- entrepreneurship. It should include agri-business ventures, that is, in itself, the institute’s core competency. These agri-business ventures will serve as a laboratory for the development of entrepreneurship within our students. The institute will also focus on the interrelations between theoretical knowledge and practical work that translate to financial returns, which in turn will be a motivating factor in the students’ learning process.
If anyone wishes to find out more about Bais Family Farm School and to support the development of MFI-FBI, please contact me at mt.legiralde@mfi.org.ph.
Ma. Theresa Legiralde
Head of Agri-Projects/MFI Farm Business Institute
April 2nd, 2008 at 9:28 pm
Dear Lory, Mary, and Danny,
First, Danny…I am not too conversant with jatropha. But I know many friends have decided to try out planting this cash crop. But before you do, make sure you do some research (the former unit which star NBN witness Jun Lozada used to head) and also work on a possible take-out arrangement with a potential buyer of your crop.
Second, Mary…yes, the FFS concept is very good. But like many quixotic ideas, we will need heavier lances when we choose to tilt against windmills. If I were still involved in the grants side of govt, this is one area I would certainly support.
Lory, there is still no project in Pangasinan. I will contact someone who might be able to get in touch with you re materials. Meanshile, if you are close to the Batangas area, look up the Dagatan, Tuy, and Balete projects that are there. There is a good one in Bais in Negros also.
An interesting sister project is the Amihan school which is found in an area right beside the Makiling Conference Center, just after the St James school in Calamba (heading toward Sto Tomas). In that school, young girls are taught basic cooking and baking skills and their products — which are very tasty indeed — are sold to various groups. This project is geared toward helping young girls from the area who have little or no prospect for work or learning.
April 2nd, 2008 at 4:38 pm
I was a volunteer for the Family Farm School in Tuy, Batangas a few years ago. We went there during summer breaks and stayed there for a whole week helping out the students learn and have fun with them as well. I’m not sure if the concept is still the same (3 high school levels, 1 level stay in the school 1 week at a time) but I think that this an undertaking worth continuing and enriching even more. More than being able to impart some knowledge to the students, I think this school will empower the children of the farmers to be more productive citizens in the future and escape the grips of poverty (we also do house visits after and some of the students belong to subsistence-income families [no/low income; they eat what they grow]). What I suggest is that the management of the schools gear towards being a social business enterprise for it to be more sustainable. Right now, if institutions such as the Family Farm Schools rely solely on the support of the private or public sectors, then there will come a day that it might need to shut down due to dwindling resources. This way, the administrators won’t be dissuaded that the school is for-profit - because that profit will be plowed back to the school for its sustainability and development. Now, there will be different ways on how to go about this - one is forming a cooperative, starting with the parents of the students and then pooling some money for capital. They can buy or rent equipment then for farming. Eventually, this will result to higher productivity and efficiency, resulting to higher income. As with being an entrepreneur, looking for the right contacts is a very important in growing the business. Partnering with big corporations, for example SMC, might also be a good option. The school can design its curriculum with the long-term requirements of companies like SMC (i.e. hog-raising, vegetable oil production, etc). Today, in the age of globalization, collaboration is the way to go. Being profit-driven doesn’t mean one has lost one’s values - profit could well be used for the advancement of human dignity, thus, national development.
April 1st, 2008 at 6:02 pm
Family farm - are there family farm schools in Zamboanga del Norte or in the nearby provinces? If you can provide contact info that would be great.
April 1st, 2008 at 2:26 am
Sir Diggs,
I got your message at least now I know where to head to. Any idea if this jathropa plant is a profitable venture? Heard that this plant requires minimal equity and direct supervision as (frankly) the family members are of the working class.
Thanks for the valuable info.
March 31st, 2008 at 3:33 pm
This is good. Our country really needs to strengthen our gift,Agriculture. But it’s also better to aspire for these farming kids to be engineers, scientists, environmentalists and visionaries for our farms in the near future. Let’s dream that we’ll soon see them visiting our farms applying their skills and acquired global knowledge to our farms, not as farmers only anymore. Filipinos are gifted. And in the midst of the blindness of many of our fellowmen who just want to go abroad for their personal dreams, and some of those people of influence who don’t think of the betterment of the many, we are to give hope and be an instrument to enlighten our race. If we would try to study how other powerful countries like Korea, UAE, and a lot more, they are into studies. It’s good also if we all observe their progress. They push their people into studies for Farming, Fisheries, Construction, Medicine, Engineering, Business, etc. That’s why their global competence and awareness expand what their hands can do. Aside from our stewardship, let’s also ask and proclaim the Heavenly wisdom available for us.
March 31st, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Very noble idea actually. Not “sexy” to the media and politicians, but it’s real community work.
Where can I find more information on the Family Farm Schools? Is there a project in Pangasinan.
Who are the contacts in Luzon?