The Global Peace Foundation Philippines, in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd) Region 1 and with support from Bless Microfinance Corporation, successfully conducted the Phase 2 Training of Trainers on Creating a Model of Transforming Education with Character and Holistic Development from September 3 to 5, 2025, at J&V Hotel and Resort in the City of San Fernando, La Union.
The three-day workshop gathered 83 education leaders representing 14 Schools Division Offices (SDOs), along with two international educators from Kurdistan, Iraq. Notably, 75% of participants were returning attendees from Phase 1, demonstrating the program’s commitment to sustaining character-based transformation and leadership development through continued engagement. Dr. Rhoda Razon, Assistant Regional Director; Dr. Dinah Bonao, Chief of HRDD; and Dr. Maria Teresa Bautista, Chief of FTAD, led the regional delegation.
Group photo from Phase 2 Training on Transforming Education
This second phase aimed to deepen the concepts introduced in Phase 1, focusing on character education and personal transformation to enhance sustainability and strengthen moral leadership across regions, divisions, and schools. Phase 2 empowers participants to train fellow educators, spearhead the implementation of the framework in their divisions, and model holistic education transformation grounded in core values.
Dr. Tony Devine
Dr. Tony Devine, Vice President of Education at the Global Peace Foundation, led the presentations. He delivered comprehensive lectures on the Blueprint for Transforming Education: A Pathway to National Transformation. The discussions highlighted the true purpose and future of education, the central role of character formation, the holistic development of educators and students, moral and innovative leadership, and strategies for cultivating transformative cultures in schools and communities.
Beyond the lectures, the training encouraged active participation and collaboration. The SDOs presented their updated action plans, which had been developed and implemented over the eight months since Phase 1. Each division’s representative also showcased their skills and learnings during the TransformEd Trainers’ Demo.
Dir. Ann Marlita M. Arevalo, Education Director of the Global Peace Foundation Philippines, guided participants in creating detailed, actionable plans using the Rapid Planning Method (RPM) template to support their SDO rollout efforts. Overall, the training served as a platform to reignite the vision of holistic and transformative education in Region 1.
By equipping education leaders with deeper insights, practical strategies, and meaningful opportunities for collaboration, the workshop fostered a transformative culture of character, innovation, and leadership within schools and communities—advancing the shared goal of national transformation through education.
