They say the body has many parts but is one. At SEA Inc., we’re starting to believe that verse wasn’t just written for church sermons—it was meant for us. And last week’s reflection circle proved it.

In a room filled with weary but willing hearts, the weekly SEA staff meeting kicked off not with spreadsheets or deadlines, but with three minutes of heart breathing. Yes, you read that right. Three minutes to breathe—not just inhale oxygen, but exhale expectations. Followed by a prayer led by Miss Angelic (whose name alone already feels like divine timing), the team sank into a shared space of vulnerability and truth.

We reflected on 1 Corinthians 12:26: “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.”

And suddenly, it wasn’t just a verse—it was our mirror.

“I shouldn’t get everything all at once. I could just do it little by little,” shared Miss Cheryl, SEA’s Communication lead, who recently juggled academic awards and law school units while still rooting for freelance writers and storytellers to grow with the team. “When you take things seriously, it becomes easier.” Her voice, steady yet honest, reminded us that progress doesn’t always need to sprint—it can stroll, too.

Angela followed with a heart-swelling reminder: “We’re working with different communities, but we’re serving one God. We shouldn’t just have sympathy—we need empathy.” That soft, brave kind of love that shows up, even when it’s not convenient.

And Jean echoed it best: “We’re not a biological family, but we are a family.” At SEA, family doesn’t require matching DNA—just matching purpose. “Someone’s success is everyone’s success,” she said, and heads nodded in silent agreement.

Jackie added a truth wrapped in poetry: “When we share happiness, it multiplies. When we share grief, it’s halved.” And isn’t that what every workplace should strive for? Joy that echoes. Pain that’s carried, never alone.

From Carlo’s story of an SK chairman who had to pause his education due to financial hardship but now shares the fruits of his struggle—“What they have now is the fruit of what they’ve suffered”—to Angelic’s confession of organizing while feverish, we were reminded that being a community organizer isn’t about titles. It’s about being tethered to something greater than your own timeline.

“When I pull myself up,” she said, “others pull up with me. And when I’m bogged down, so are they.”

Sir Albert’s advice was simple but sharp: “Always be balanced. Don’t be greedy.” He didn’t need a slideshow—just a few words that hung in the air like a compass.

Ma’am Anne read the verse in Hiligaynon, taking us back to SEA’s early days in New Lucena. “No one has everything. That’s why we need each other.” In a world that glorifies independence, it was refreshing to celebrate our sacred dependence.

Even the team’s youngest voices rang with clarity.

Trixie likened the team energy to a marriage vow: “Every step you take, everything you do—it impacts us.” And Jannah chimed in: “We can’t function if one malfunctions.”

Atchmen got raw: “When I don’t function well, the whole org has a hard time.” No blame. Just bold honesty.

Leslie captured the heart of it: “If one fails, everyone fails. But when we help each other out, we rise.”

And Warren, in a moment that felt like both caution and blessing, said: “A fire starts from a small spark. Let’s not destroy relationships.

Let’s be mindful.”

Then Avha shared something that hit home:
“Whatever we experience here, others also experience. For example, I can see that Ma’am Anne is going through something and I felt the weight. Sometimes, I just think of myself, not realizing that everyone picks up on that. Sometimes, we’re selfish and forget that others are also going through something. We need to be more sensitive and care for each one.”

Her words lingered—because don’t we all forget, sometimes, that our moods echo louder than we realize?

Mayang grounded it in team spirit: “As a team, we share pain and joy. To be productive, we need to work together and cooperate.” Her reflection wasn’t just a statement—it was a vow. A reminder that excellence isn’t born from individual brilliance, but from shared burdens and united hearts.

This wasn’t just a meeting. It was a mirror. A reminder that behind every report, every community visit, and every profile written, there’s a pulse. There’s pain, too. But more than that—there’s promise.

At SEA Inc., we’re not perfect. We get tired. We miss deadlines. Sometimes our vibes are off. But we show up—with empathy, with accountability, with the quiet power of knowing we are parts of the same body. And when one part moves, we all move.

So here’s to the movers. The feelers. The faithful. To the ones who carry invisible weights and still pass around laughter like pan de sal at merienda. To the ones who pause to breathe—and then return to serve.

Because at SEA, we don’t just work together.
We heal, we grow, and we believe—together.