Reflections from Badiang’s Inner Conditioning Workshop

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9

In Barangay Badiang, “Kamustahan” is no longer just a casual “how are you?” exchange. For graduates of the Inner Conditioning Workshop (ICW), it has evolved into a sacred circle of laughter, tears, Bible-sharing, and raw life stories. Each session becomes a weekly recharge station where hope is rekindled, burdens feel lighter, and faith is put into motion.

Much like the spirit of SEA’s IPAT-SIAD program—which teaches that true transformation begins within—these gatherings prove that when individuals rise stronger inside, whole families, barangays, and communities rise with them.

Cornelio “Jojo” Figueroa Jr.

Jojo knows what it’s like when time seems frozen in pain. He faced depression and anxiety head-on, until a quiet whisper reminded him of God’s promise: “Cast your burden upon me and I will give you rest.” From that moment, Jojo didn’t just survive—he strategized, prayed, and rose with renewed courage. His story reminds us that faith is the best reset button for the weary soul.

Victoria Jucaban

Victoria has walked through seasons of pain, but never without hope. Her secret weapon? Unshakable trust in God’s healing. “God is good all the time,” she says, testifying how prayer turned her pain into comfort. Her reflection is proof that resilience is not about gritting your teeth through hardship, but about letting go—and letting God.

Ma. Paz Taberos

Paz compares life to the sea she once nearly drowned in, surviving a pumpboat accident against the odds. Add to that her husband’s illness, financial struggles, and countless challenges—it was darkness upon darkness. Yet she held on to faith: “May kasanag nga magaabot—there will always be light.” True enough, she emerged not only as a survivor, but as a storyteller of hope, turning storms into stepping stones.

Evelyn Agoniza

For Evelyn, life’s struggles are crosses we all carry. The only difference is how we carry them. “I never lose hope,” she says with conviction, because she feels God walking with her every step. Her story is a living testimony that courage is not the absence of hardship, but the presence of faith in the middle of it.

From depression to survival, illness to faith—each Kamustahan reflection tells a unique story. Yet, the lesson is universal: courage is not found in the absence of fear, but in the presence of God in the journey.

This truth lies at the heart of IPAT-SIAD the Inner Conditioning Workshop before communities can grow outward, people must first grow inward—healed, strengthened, and awakened to their God-given courage.

And so the people of Badiang continue to testify:
“God will never abandon us.”
“There will always be light.”
“God is good all the time.”

Together, they prove that courage is contagious—and when one person rises in faith, an entire community can rise with them.