Dr. Rogelio P. Bayod, Quality Assurance and Research Director of North Valley College Foundation, Inc. (NVCFI), brought the voice of Mindanao to the international academic community as plenary speaker at the 2nd SES-PUP-Waseda International Ethics Conference held at Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan on last September 9-11, 2026.
Dr. Bayod delivered his plenary talk, โDecolonizing Peace Education in the Philippines: Learning from Joรฃo M. Paraskeva’s Critique of Hegemonic Curriculum toward a Mindanawon Peace Education Framework.โ
His presentation challenged educators to rethink peace education by asking a fundamental question: Whose knowledge defines peace? Drawing from Paraskevaโs critique of hegemonic curriculum, Dr. Bayod emphasized the need to recognize Indigenous, local, and community-based knowledge as legitimate sources of peace education.
At the center of his message was a powerful proposition: Mindanao should not be viewed merely as a region experiencing conflict, but as an epistemic resource from which the Philippines and the world can learn about peace. The lived experiences of Indigenous peoples, Bangsamoro communities, and grassroots communities offer valuable wisdom on coexistence, reconciliation, ecological responsibility, and social justice.
As NVCFIโs Quality Assurance and Research Director, Dr. Bayod continues to advance an institutional culture where research, academic excellence, and community engagement are connected to the realities of people, especially those at the margins of society. His work reflects NVCFIโs commitment to education that goes beyond the classroom. Itโs an education that listens to communities, values diverse knowledge systems, and contributes to meaningful social transformation.
His participation at Waseda University highlights NVCFIโs growing engagement in international scholarship, decolonial education, peace studies, research, and community extension, bringing the experiences and knowledge of Mindanao to a wider global academic conversation. From Mindanao to Tokyo, NVCFI continues to affirm that quality education is not only about achieving academic excellence. It is about using knowledge to uphold human dignity, promote peace, and transform communities.
