If there’s one thing I love about communities, it’s this: give people a chance to look at themselves—not through problems, but through possibilities—and something magical happens. That’s exactly what unfolded in Barangay Bagumbayan, thanks to the two-day Appreciative Inquiry (AI) workshop led by the ever-patient, ever-energetic community facilitators of SEA Inc.

But first, a quick witty but grounded refresher—
What is Appreciative Inquiry?
It’s basically the opposite of the usual “ano na naman ang problema?” meeting. Instead, AI asks:
“Ano ang nagalakat maayo? Ano ang strengths naton? And how can we do MORE of that?”
In short, AI is a structured way of discovering what works, dreaming of what could be, and designing a future that the community truly wants. It’s solution-focused, hope-centered, and proudly Pinoy-friendly—because it builds on bayanihan, shared stories, and collective strength.

And Bagumbayan did not disappoint.

DAY 1 & DAY 2: WHEN LEARNING LEADS TO ‘AHA’ MOMENTS

The two-day AI journey was filled with laughter, honest conversations, debates (of course!), and surprisingly heartfelt realizations.

Even Kagawad Ma. Luisa Sorongon admitted, after a lively diskusyon during the visioning:
“Jan ma man-an nga gusto namon ang insakto gid nga kinatuyo namon.”
(That’s when we knew we really wanted to be clear about our true purpose.)

That’s the beauty of AI—people don’t just follow a plan. They claim it.

Barangay Health Worker (BHW) Cherryl Sarate shared,
“May na-learn naman ako nga bag-o tungod sa activity nga ni.”
(I learned something new because of this activity.)
Proof that even those who serve daily still find new wisdom when a space for reflection is given.

COMMUNITY VOICES: THE HEART OF THE PROCESS

From Bagumbayan to nearby barangays also experiencing AI—like Cadagmayan Sur—the testimonials echoed the same theme: empowerment.

Kagawad Rose Anne reflected:
“Nakita ko ang improvements sang aton brgy—mga strength, weakness, goals kag opportunities nga pwede pa naton maubra.”
This is AI in action: people rediscover what they already have.

Mary Grace, Women’s Association President, added:
“Nadugangan duman ang aton ihibalo parti sa aton brgy kag sa strengths, goals, kag strategic plan kon paano ma-improve ang brgy.”
Planning becomes meaningful when everyone contributes, not just a chosen few.

And perhaps the most heartfelt came from BHW Donna Pearl, who reminded everyone that community identity matters:
“Pwede kita maging maayo nga ehemplo sa aton kasimaryo kag indi gd pag-dulaan ang mga ginpasubli pa sang aton mga kamaman-an—pareho sang pagmano, pag-‘po’ kag ‘opo,’ kag ang bayanihan.”
A beautiful reminder that Barangay development is never just infrastructure—it’s character, culture, and connection.

And from Andrea Camaira, a simple but sincere gratitude:
“Thank you nga ang Cadagmayan Sur ang napilian ninyo nga tagaan sini nga program.”

THE REAL MAGIC OF AI? IT MAKES COMMUNITIES SEE THEMSELVES AGAIN.

Appreciative Inquiry is not about pretending everything is perfect.
It’s about realizing that the solutions we seek are often already alive in our stories, in our neighbors, in our strengths, and in our shared dreams.

In Bagumbayan, people rediscovered:
their purpose
their unity
their pride
and their power to shape their future together

And sometimes, that’s all a barangay needs—to pause, appreciate, and imagine better.

So yes, progress starts with a meeting.
But transformation starts when people say:
“Kami ya. Gusto namon ini. Amu gid ni ang kinatuyo namon.”

And that happened in Bagumbayan.

What a beautiful beginning.