This week’s ICW Kamustahan in Janipa-an Oeste brought to light the everyday battles our community leaders face — the kind that don’t always make it into reports or statistics, but shape the heart of sustainable change. Through their stories, we’re reminded that in the SEA Inc. IPAT-SIAD journey, personal resilience and community spirit go hand-in-hand.

Kagawad Ma. Paz Sucayan: Finding Grace in the Grind

Ma’am Paz opened up about the kind of stress that many don’t talk about — the constant grind of housework, caretaking, and family life. She shared how exhausting it can be to feel like you no longer have time for yourself, especially when your days blur into endless chores.

But she found a smart, empowering solution: she assigned household tasks to her kids — dishwashing, cooking rice — even her husband pitched in with laundry and rinsing clothes.

“When we divide the work, the load feels lighter. It’s not just housework — it’s teamwork.”

Her story hits home for many: in the heart of IPAT-SIAD lies the value of shared responsibility. Whether in governance or daily life, development thrives where there’s mutual help — and when even our own homes become places of co-creation, not just obligation.

Kagawad Jhaniel Solano: Pressure, Pain, and the Power of Pause

Jhaniel shared a familiar struggle: financial pressure. As a breadwinner supporting several family members, the weight is constant — and heavy. It reached a point where stress and anxiety began to cloud his focus, leaving him lost in the very goals he once felt driven by.

But instead of spiraling, he chose to take a pause — to breathe, to talk with close friends, and to carve out time for himself.

“Even when you carry others, don’t forget to carry yourself with care.”

His story is a powerful echo of what IPAT-SIAD teaches us: that sustainable growth must include personal sustainability. Leadership is not about self-sacrifice to the point of burnout — it’s about finding rhythm, rest, and renewal amid responsibility.

Reflections from the Ground

What unites these two stories isn’t just hardship — it’s the strength to face it with creativity, honesty, and connection.

From Ma. Paz’s kitchen to Jhaniel’s quiet moments of reflection, these leaders show us what it truly means to serve: not by being invincible, but by staying human.

“The real work of nation-building often starts where no one is looking — inside our homes, inside ourselves.”

So here’s to the people of Janipa-an Oeste, who show us that development isn’t always about grand gestures. Sometimes, it’s about assigning the dishes, asking for help, and daring to rest — so we can rise again, together.