BukS.U. Center for Peace Studies - Kalandang Taw

30/09/2025

BukSU joins National Peace month Celebration

The Bukidnon State University through the Kalandang Taw Center for Peace Studies initiated and participated in different events in time with the National Peace Month Celebration in September 2025.

KTCPS has engaged in multi-stakeholder, peace-oriented activities that integrated policy dialogues, institutional partnerships, community empowerment, and knowledge production.

These actions help enable the center to pursue research and community engagement through collaboration and capacity buiding.

Policy Research Engagement and Institutional Partnerships

The KTCPS head along with three other BukSU Faculty members participated in the Council of Peace Educators (CPEd) Region X activities as officers (Sept. 5 and 24) in preparation for a capacity-building project for peace educators

The KTCPS also led the organizational consultative meeting with the leadership of the BukSU CPEd or Council of Peace Educators (Sept. 11), which shows institutional networking and alignment of local initiatives with regional and national peace education efforts.

KTCPS in collaboration with the Center for Local Governance held exploratory talks with Department of Interior and Local Government Bukidnon Provincial Office on the impact assessment of E-CLIP (Sept. 12) highlight the Center’s role in policy-relevant research.

Representation in the National Peace Summit and launch of the Philippine Peace Institute (Sept. 17–19) demonstrates the Center’s national-level participation in shaping peace discourse.

Mainstreaming Gender and Inclusive Peace Frameworks

Involvement in the Stakeholders’ Consultation for the National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security (NAP-WPS) (Sept. 16–18) reflects commitment to gender-responsive and inclusive peacebuilding.

Community Empowerment and Peace Communication

The Tagtigusan Youth for Peace Communication Project (Sept. 24) underscores grassroots capacity-building by equipping young people from tri-people communities with documentation and reporting skills.

Knowledge Sharing and Cultural Preservation

The Kalandang Taw Peace Podcast soft launch (Sept. 30), focusing on the Sala traditional conflict resolution mechanism, highlights the Center’s initiative in documenting, disseminating, and sustaining indigenous peace practices through communication media platforms.

The activities were made possible due to the full support of the Bukidnon State University administration led by Dr. Joy M. Mirasol and through the guidance of Dr. Carina Joan V. Barroso, the VP for Research, Extension, and Innovations.

16/04/2025

The Kalandang Taw Center for Peace Studies welcomes officials, faculty, and students from Malaybalay's Luyungan High School of IP Students to the BukSU Main Campus for their campus tour in coordination with the Bukidnon Studies Center.

Ms. Leonila Plazos, Luyungan High School principal, led members of the faculty and about 80 of the school's 216 students from Grade 7 to 12 in the visit on April 16, 2025.

Thanks Ms. Plazos and Ms. Loreta Sol Dinlayan of the Bukidnon Studies Center for the opportunity to share to the students about the university's four research centers, especially the Kalandang Taw Center for Peace Studies.

We shared to the students that the center is promoting traditional peace mechanisms from the IPs through research and engagement. We also introduced to the visitors about one of the core engagement initiatives of the center, the Tagtigusan Documentation and Reporting Training for Bukidnon's tri-people youth, which is a partnership of KTCPS, BSC, and BukidnonNews.Net.

Maayad ha paguma dini ta BukSU!

Photos courtesy of Bukidnon Studies Center

31/03/2025

Sharing this update from the Peace Educators' Council of Northern Mindanao.

30/03/2025

Fact checking is an important element in peace communication. Both producers and consumers of information are duty-bound to ensure the information they release is accurate, helpful, and liberating.

This should be done in a transparent and calm manner ensuring that information serves its purpose to enable citizens to make sound decisions that will shape the peace and development of societies.

Collaboration between universities and media organisations can significantly strengthen the fight against health misinformation by leveraging the expertise

28/03/2025

TAGTIGUSAN PEACE COMMUNICATION PROJECT:

EDITOR'S NOTE: In this series, the Kalandang Taw Center for Peace Studies features the works of the participants of its Peace Communication Project from the youth of Tri-People Communities in Bukidnon. KTCPS has pursued this simple community engagement project with its partners in the belief that the youth from IP, Moro, and Settler communities have the power to influence their communities in navigating difficult times and situations through conflict-sensitive and peace communication.

In this piece, the young writer shares about the SINABAANG and the importance of rituals, even in the proper wearing of traditional attires. Elders explain that submitting to a ritual is a basic step to reconciliation and peace-building.

SINABAANG: A PROFILE OF THE HIGAONON ETHNIC ATTIRE
By Ray John C. Molion

KALABUGAO, Impasug-ong, Bukidnon (March 22, 2025) – The Sinabaang, which is the traditional attire of the Higaonon people in Impasug-ong, Bukidnon, holds deep cultural and spiritual significance. More than just clothing, it embodies the tribe’s identity, heritage, and social hierarchy.

A Sinabaang set features four dominant colors, each symbolizing key values: red (maliga) for victory, black (maitom) for trials, yellow (makalawag) for equality, and white (maputi) for peace.

The Higaonon is one of the seven tribes of Bukidnon. Their culture and tradition is among those being celebrated in the Kaamulan, an annual festival in the province. This year the celebration opened on March 21 and runs up to April 23, 2025.

While the Sinabaang is an important cultural symbol, it is not worn casually, an elder said.

The Sinabaang can be worn only by designated personalities, said Datu Manlintawan Junie P. Pantaon (in file photo wearing his Sinabaang), a retired soldier and one of the most honored elders here.

In an interview on February 23, 2025, Datu Manlintawan said the Sinabaang is designated for a datu and a bae. He said they wear it as they do customary functions like lead rituals, resolve conflicts, and officiate weddings.

There are two types of Sinabaang based on color. The red Sinabaang is for the Datu Bagani (warrior chief), worn when resolving major community disputes. The black Sinabaang is for the Pangabagan, the assistant to the chief datu.

In the tribe, the Bae or the wife of the Datu is the only one designated to wear the Sinabaang. The Bae assists the Datu in many ways like welcoming guests, preparing food, and accommodating visitors before they can go to the Datu for their agenda. The Bae wears the Sinabaang in functions like rituals, meetings, wedding and tribal conflict resolution.

Datu Manlintawan said the Tangkulu or head scarf worn by the Datu shows his rank and responsibilities in the community.

The head scarf adorned with many beads shows high rank and high responsibilities in the community. Only a datu who has resolved big problems, performed rituals, and officiated weddings can wear the scarf.

Datu Manlintawan added that the scarf tied to the head of a great warrior’s head is called ‘Taglangbusan’.

Traditionally, Datu Manlintawan said, it is prohibited for a non-Datu or non-Bae to wear the Sinabaang. The ‘Talawagon’ also known as the ‘Mulin-ulin’ spirit, he said, will deal with those who are not fit to wear the attire. He said they will face the “Tungayaw or Uplotan’ a curse, which he described as like a drunk suffering headache. He used the term Panwalaan ko buot, if you wear the Sinabaang without proper designation.

The proper use of Sinabaang is important to the tribe. Datu Manlintawan said that there are even rules in washing the Sinabaang. Only the one who wore the Sinabaang should wash it. He said his wife will not wash his Sinabaang because she is afraid of ‘Uplotan’. He recalled that in the family they have kept this pre-caution. The wife of their Apu, or grandfather, Amba Palasambag will not wash the Sinabaang to avoid the curse.

Due to diversity of cultures, many people wear the Sinabaang even if they are not a Datu or a Bae. The Sinabaang is now worn for work, dance presentations, and other events.

Datu Manlintawan clarified that there is still the need to ask permission through a ritual, from the Talawagon as pananghid. He said this is for the protection of those who will wear it. The ritual includes a shedding of animal’s blood like chicken, lighting of candles, and a prayer from a ritualist. He said by doing this, the Talawagon will understand and will not harm those who wear the Sinabaang.

The author, a Higaonon youth from Brgy. Kalabugao, Impasug-ong, Bukidnon, is a second year BA Sociology student of Bukidnon State University. He is one of the participants of the Tagtigusan Community Documentation and Reporting Training for Youth from the Tri-people Communities of Bukidnon. Tagtigusan is a peace communication initiative of Kalandang Taw Center for Peace Studies in coordination with the Bukidnon Studies Center of Bukidnon State University and in partnership with BukidnonNews.Net.

12/03/2025

BukSU Completes Peace Corps-Facilitated Training on Climate and Peace Studies

MALAYBALAY CITY (12 March 2025) – Bukidnon State University has achieved another milestone with the successful completion of its Training for University Faculty on Climate Change and Peace Studies, a collaboration with the U.S. Peace Corps Philippines and Dr. Alan Robock from Rutgers University, USA.

The program produced 14 research concept proposals addressing the intersection of climate change and peacebuilding in Bukidnon, with a focus on indigenous communities and agriculture. In her closing message, Dr. Joy M. Mirasol, University President, highlighted the proposals as a significant step in BukSU's commitment to research-driven solutions for sustainable development in Northern Mindanao.

"These proposals, once refined and submitted to research grant agencies, will hopefully address critical issues in Bukidnon—particularly in rural and indigenous communities—where the impact of climate change is closely tied to peace and development, especially in agriculture and other key sectors," Dr. Mirasol said.

Dr. Mirasol emphasized that the training reflects Smart BukSU’s strategic direction toward Smart Research—rigorous research that addresses local community needs, especially in indigenous and rural areas. The engagement ran from September to March 2025.

Building on a Strong Foundation
In 2021, BukSU established the Kalandang Taw Center for Peace Studies (KTCPS) to address context-specific research needs. Kalandang Taw in the local dialect means "our collective peace." The center serves as a research hub for peace and conflict studies, focusing on issues affecting indigenous peoples and the tri-people realities of Mindanao.

The university aims to address peace and conflict issues by: mapping out existing conflicts in Bukidnon, evaluating how climate change may trigger these conflicts, and developing strategies to address them.

The training aimed to fill gaps in expertise among university researchers related to peace and climate change, particularly in multidisciplinary research methods and strategic response. The completion of 14 research proposals reflects BukSU's growing capacity to tackle these challenges.

The U.S. Peace Corps was instrumental in the training's success, facilitating Dr. Robock’s engagement and providing strategic support. Their commitment to strengthening BukSU's research capacity reflects the Peace Corps' mission to foster global collaboration. Their involvement improved research quality and established partnerships for future initiatives in Bukidnon and beyond.

In her closing remarks, Dr. Carina Joane V. Barroso, VP for Research, Extension, and Innovations, expressed gratitude to the U.S. Peace Corps and Rutgers University, particularly Dr. Robock, for guiding the research teams.

"(Dr. Robock) showed deep passion for teaching and an exceptional depth of research knowledge. His ability to challenge and inspire us is something we truly appreciate," Dr. Barroso said.

Dr. Alan Robock expressed his appreciation for the participants' commitment and enthusiasm. "I am glad to have been part of this engagement and look forward to future interactions with BukSU researchers," he said.

Mr. Milosil E. Cruz, Program Coordinator of US Peace Corps Philippines, highlighted the success of the training, which follows a successful Analytics Training on Disaster Risk Reduction held from July to December 2023.

Cruz noted that the partners persevered despite some adjustments and were able to work on deliverables. He noted that their doors are open for another possible engagement.

The following 14 research proposals were completed through the training:

Integration of Traditional Conflict Resolution Mechanisms with Modern Environmental Policies – College of Arts and Sciences – Sociology/Social Sciences and Economics

Pre-Service Teachers’ Perceptions and Readiness for Climate Change Education – College of Education

Integrating Climate Change Adaptation and Peacebuilding Initiatives in Lanao del Sur – College of Public Administration and Governance

Community-Based Climate Change and Peacebuilding in Nursing Education – College of Nursing

Home Security via Audio Event Detection for Crime Prevention – College of Technologies

Fostering Positive Peace Through Culture, Arts, Sports, and Student Services – College of Education

Understanding the Alimaong’s Role in Climate Change and Peacebuilding – College of Arts and Sciences – General Education

Climate Change and Agricultural Conflict in Bukidnon – College of Arts and Sciences – Natural Sciences

Use of Electronic Technologies in Climate Adaptation Among Farmers in Malaybalay – College of Technologies

Evaluating Local Institutions' Practices in Climate Change Adaptation – College of Nursing/Community Development

Assessing LGU Capacities for Climate Change Adaptation in Bukidnon – CAS - Development Communication, Mathematics, Education, and CPAG

Role of Nature-Based Eco-Tourism in Climate Resilience and Social Harmony – College of Business – Hospitality Management

Climate Change and Coffee Production in Malaybalay City –CAS-Development Communication, Mathematics, and CPAG)

Link Between Government Efficiency and Climate Change Adaptation – College of Public Administration and Governance

Smart BukSU’s Strategic Thrust
The Provincial Government of Bukidnon and City Government of Malaybalay also sent participants to the training from the environment, agriculture, indigenous peoples, and disaster risk reduction and management offices.

Walter Balane, Head of the Kalandang Taw Center for Peace Studies, said the proposals reflect BukSU’s focus on Smart Research—addressing the needs of indigenous and rural communities in Bukidnon. Integrating peace and climate studies strengthens BukSU’s role in promoting resilience and sustainable development in Mindanao.

Mr. Balane said they are planning to hold a research writeshop to convert the capsule proposals into full-blown proposals aligned with relevant research calls within the year. (Kalandang Taw Center for Peace Studies)

25/02/2025

BukSU, DSWD-10 Explore Research Collaboration for Social Protection

Bukidnon State University (BukSU) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development - Region 10 (DSWD-10) have initiated discussions on a potential research collaboration to enhance social protection programs in Northern Mindanao.

On February 25, 2025, Dr. Carina Joane V. Barroso, BukSU’s Vice President for Research, Extension, and Innovations, led a delegation of research officials in a meeting with DSWD-10 Assistant Regional Director for Administration Salmah Basher and Kaysher B. Dantalmura, Planning Officer III/Head of the Policy Development and Planning Section.

The dialogue focused on laying the groundwork for a joint research initiative that will involve DSWD personnel, particularly those in monitoring and evaluation roles. The collaboration aims to strengthen the effectiveness of the department’s programs, activities, and projects through data-driven insights and research.

With Dr. Barroso in the meeting were Dr. Derren N. Gaylo, Head, Center for Educational Analytics; Dr. Zeny L. Maureal, Head, Center for Mathematical Innovations; and Mr. Walter I. Balane, Head, Kalandang Taw Center for Peace Studies.

The proposed partnership aligns with DSWD’s mandate to develop, implement, and coordinate social protection and poverty reduction strategies for poor, vulnerable, and disadvantaged communities. Through this collaboration, BukSU and DSWD-10 seek to leverage research in improving policies and interventions for the region. (KTCPS)

Photos courtesy of Ms. Beulah Joy K. Damasco

24/02/2025

University of Marburg Peace Researcher Visits BukSU

A researcher from Germany’s University of Marburg visited Bukidnon State University on January 17, 2025 to explore about the research and extension work of the university in terms of peace and conflict.

Ms. Eva Froneberg, a PhD researcher of the UM’s Center for Conflict Studies, is engaged in a project investigating the role of universities in conflict-affected settings. According to her university’s official post, Ms. Froneberg’s research investigates the role of higher education in peacebuilding and reconciliation processes with a regional focus on Southeast Asia.

The meeting, officially requested by Dr. Mark Anthony J. Torres, Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives and Director of the Institute for Peace and Development of MSU-IIT, explored to understand how local conflict lines influence the university’s teaching and extension initiatives in peace and development.

Mr. Walter Balane, Head of the Kalandang Taw Center for Peace Studies met with Ms. Froneberg, who was accompanied by a team of researchers from Mindanao State University - Iligan Institute of Technology. Mr. Balane was joined by faculty representatives, Samuel John Suaner, from the Department of Sociology and Social Sciences Jude Joseph Rulloda, a senior faculty from the CAS - General Education Courses Department. Mr. Suaner heads BukSU Peace Educators Council while Mr. Rulloda is a faculty who has taught Peace Studies for years in BukSU.

The BukSU team has shared about valuable experiences and practices of peace education and research in the university. Mr. Balane shared about the pioneering work of the university’s peace research center. The KTCPS seeks to respond to the research agenda of the national and regional stakeholders as well as aligning to the local communities needs. The center seeks to pursue researches that respond to the conflict issues affecting indigenous peoples in the tri-people context of Mindanao. The discussion also covered the integration of indigenous knowledge and peace studies in the university’s curricula and current engagement with the Peace Educators’ Council of Region 10 in the revision of peace education curricula contextualized to the situation in Northern Mindanao and local communities.

Mr. Balane has also opened the idea of possible future collaboration with the University of Marburg’s Center for Conflict Studies and continuing its engagement with MSU-IIT. (Kalandang Taw Center for Peace Studies)

14/02/2025

BukSU in Numbers: 2nd Year of President Dr. Joy M. Mirasol

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝟐𝐍𝐃 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐈𝐓𝐘 𝐀𝐃𝐃𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐃𝐑. 𝐉𝐎𝐘 𝐌. 𝐌𝐈𝐑𝐀𝐒𝐎𝐋: 𝐈𝐧 𝐍𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬

Bukidnon State University celebrates two years of transformative leadership under university President Dr. Joy Mirasol on February 14, 2025.

From advancing sustainability and academic excellence to achieving significant milestones in governance and innovation, BukSU continues to shape the future of education and public service.

Read the full transcript of Dr. Mirasol's State of the University Address here: https://tinyurl.com/muyju8x6

03/02/2025

03/02/2025

New name!

The University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication is now the

University of the Philippines Diliman
COLLEGE OF MEDIA AND COMMUNICATION

1396th BOR Meeting – 30 January 2025