In the quiet but determined corridors of local governance, patience often walks hand-in-hand with purpose. This was the case for Warren Lumabao, SEA-IPAT-SIAD’s assigned Municipal Coordinator in Doña Remedios Trinidad (DRT), Bulacan, who spent the week of July 14 to 18 not just knocking on government doors—but planting seeds of transformation.

Anchoring his week in the passage from 1 Corinthians 12:26—“If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it”—Lumabao reflected deeply on how this biblical truth could be embodied in his daily interactions. He shared how the verse served as a compass in his conversations, guiding him to offer gentleness, wisdom, and kindness to every person he encountered—be it colleagues, local leaders, or community members.

But his mission that week extended beyond building relationships. For several weeks, Lumabao had been persistently requesting an official schedule for the IPAT-SIAD orientation and the long-awaited signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between SEA Inc. and the local government. With each return to the Sangguniang Bayan Office, his hope was tested.

Finally, on Monday, July 14, the opportunity came. Lumabao was invited to stand before the Vice Mayor and the SB Council—not for a full-blown presentation, but to share, from the heart, why he believed the IPAT-SIAD program was essential for their municipality.

There were no slides. No handouts. Just a story of conviction and compassion.

Moved by his sincerity, the Vice Mayor recommended a special session, rather than squeezing the presentation into a regular council meeting. She advised that a draft MOA be submitted to the Mayor’s Office for endorsement, a critical next step before it could move forward for council discussion. Lumabao team promptly submitted the draft on Thursday, July 17, and were told to follow up the following week.

In the silence of waiting, hope quietly bloomed.

“This week reminded me,” Lumabao later shared, “that even the uncelebrated days—spent in queues, returning calls, chasing follow-ups—are sacred. They build trust. They deepen roots.”

His message to fellow SEA community workers and local partners is clear: Don’t lose heart. Progress may not always be fast, but it is faithful. “God’s timing is never delayed,” he said. “Just divinely arranged.”

As Warren continues to walk the long road of community engagement and inter-agency coordination, he carries with him not just paperwork, but prayers. Not just plans, but purpose.

“Faith is not just believing God can, it’s trusting He will—in His time, His way.”
“Planting seeds of change means trusting you might not always see the fruit—but the roots are already growing.”

In the hills of DRT, those roots are starting to take hold.