Nestled in the serene landscape of Barangay Bangad, Milagros, Masbate, Fazenda de Esperança offers not just a place to retreat and unwind, but also a tranquil sanctuary for individuals seeking to overcome addiction, with a particular focus on alcohol and drugs.
Forty-five minutes away from Masbate City, it is a perfect place for long road trips, embracing the provincial vibe complete with its humid air, shanty houses beside the road, and endless rice fields and hills.
Upon reaching the farm beside the national road, you are welcomed by a huge rustic gate. Inside are rows of towering coconut trees and a well-landscaped area that will instantly give you a sense of tranquility.
Underneath the shades is where you will find the Fazenda café. It offers snacks and coffee, and it is where the famous fresh milk is sold, crafted by the farm’s volunteers.
Expansion and Rehabilitation
Fazenda da Esperança in Brazil expanded to over 166 Fazendas around the world. In the Philippines they have three Fazendas— in Masbate, Naga, and Dumaguete— which is not yet open because of certain documents needs to comply. At the Masbate boys, they have currently houses 14 boys within its sprawling 337-hectare farm.
Donated land owned by an Italian priest named Father Perrino, who dreamt of having a haven for drug rehabilitation in Masbate.
The vast expanse of land is utilized for cultivating crops, tending to cows, and maintaining vegetable gardens.
Despite the agricultural activities, the farm’s primary purpose is the rehabilitation of the boys in their care, rather than commercial production.
They raise two breeds of cows, Holstein for milk and Brahman for meat, with their fresh milk being a key supplier for the renowned Carmelado candy makers in Masbate.
Romark Cadag, the executive secretary of the Masbate and Naga branches, revealed that Masbate boys employs a total of 23 individuals, excluding the three missionaries and three nuns from Brazil who assist in farm operations.
These missionaries, having undergone rehabilitation themselves, now play a vital role in caring for the farm and its inhabitants, embodying the transformative power of the community’s mission.
Faith, Community, Work
Fazenda da Esperança, translated from Portuguese as “The Farm of Hope,” is a therapeutic community that has been operating since 1983 in the process of recovering people who are looking to release their addictions, especially alcohol and drugs.
Its method of reception includes three determining aspects: the work as a pedagogical process; coexistence in a family; and spirituality to find the meaning of life.
The farm’s mission is to be an Ambassador of Hope anywhere in the world, bringing joy and peace to all those around you through community life, work, and living the gospel.
It is to transmit the certainty that God is love and that it is possible to build a civilization of love against all negativity and uncertainty.
Moreover, their vision is for the farm to be disseminated throughout the world and recognized as a transforming influence on society.
The farm has three pillars that serve as their foundation, mainly focusing on spiritual life. They try to live according to God’s words, letting Him be the power that changes lives.
Second is community life, experiencing life in a loving community in true brotherhood and sisterhood. They teach the way to live in peace and love.
Third, working together as a community to provide for daily needs is a way to learn how to be responsible and discover the joy and dignity of work.
Fazenda da Esperança welcomes young people who want to break free from drugs and alcohol and welcomes people between the ages of 18 and 59 who freely wish to recover from drugs, alcohol, and many other types of addictions.
It is necessary to enter into a 12-month educational process. Whoever intends to face this challenge takes the first step through a letter written in his hand, showing the reasons for his desire to seek a new life.
Fazenda For Boys
Mr. Junior and Mr. Felipe Rampazzo are both Brazilian missionary volunteers who decided to give back to Fazenda da Esperanca after their recovery from addiction.
As they share their personal stories of how they were addicted and found the farm in the hope of freedom, the transformation they experienced drives them to help others.
Felipe, a former drug addict who spent seven years consumed by substance abuse, found his path to recovery through the transformative community of Fazenda de Esperança.
Prior to his time at Fazenda, Felipe was immersed in a materialistic mindset, working at a large company in Brazil where money was his primary focus. However, his life took a drastic turn when he joined the Catholic community of Fazenda de Esperança, where profit takes a back seat to the mission of helping others.
At Fazenda, Felipe discovered the value of humility and selflessness. Despite holding a college degree, he lived among individuals who struggled with illiteracy. This experience taught him the importance of compassion and understanding towards others.
“We are not using any form of drug medication, just purely natural and changing habits. Every morning (we) the boys attend mass, eat together, and work together. Planting crops that we need to eat and raising cows for our fresh milk is our way to focus on spirituality, health, and community living,” Felipe said.
“I feel in my heart that I need to help these people listen to them and make them feel that hope is possible,” Junior added.
Their warm and welcoming personality suits their volunteer role on the farm, even though there are language barriers. They keep on working hard and maintaining a compassionate heart to help the people staying there recover.
Fazenda For Girls
Fazenda for Girls, also located in Brgy. Bangad, just a drive away inside the Población, is also a gorgeous place, overlooking the Asid Gulf.
Manilyn Mesa, a volunteer responsible for the Fazenda girls, shared her story.
“At first, I thought Fazenda was for those who have been addicted alone, but I discovered that they also cater to women who are in despair like me before (she was pregnant at age 17). I was lost and didn’t have the will to live, but my teachers and parents found a place for me,” she stated.
Being at Fazenda gives her a purpose that life is worth living. She accepted her son (who is now 15 years old—the same age as Fazenda for girls) and decided to volunteer there full time, helping other women to find hope again.
Fazenda for Girls also offers baked goods such as cassava cake, bread, and rosaries that they sell in their Fazenda store located at St. Anthony Padua Cathedral in Masbate City. As part of the program, everyone is involved in this income-generating project.
They encourage people not to hesitate to seek assistance, particularly if they are aware of a family in need.
Fazenda Farm is described as a beautiful place of hope, seen as a gift from God, especially within the community of Masbate.
The volunteers emphasize their willingness to support others without charge, driven by their belief in the inherent hope present in every life. | Jeric Lopez, Kimberly Palenzuela