Dr. RONALD LAPAT ADAMAT
Chairman & National Peace Ambassador
COMMISSIONER, COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION
My mantras in Peace and Education:
“Investing in Peace is investing for the future.”
"Peace is as sacred as life because Peace provides the right condition and environment where life could grow, blossom, and prosper."
"Education must be grounded on values; education without values will not amount to the upright transformation of a person."
Dr. Ronald L. Adamat is a member of Partido Federal in charge of Education, Peace, and Indigenous Peoples' concerns.
On December 9, 2016, Dr. Adamat was reappointed as Commissioner of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and has been reappointed for another term expiring on July 21, 2024.
Dr. Adamat obtained his Doctorate degree in Peace and Development (Ph.D. P.D.), Master in Public Administration (MPA), and Bachelor of Science in Education (BSE) at the Notre Dame University, and his Master of Arts (MA) at the Philippine Harvardian College. He has also completed a Professional Course on Conflict Resolution conducted by the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) and the Asian Institute of Management (AIM), an Appreciation Course on an Appreciation Course on Entrepreneurship from the University of the Philippines (UP), and the Taiwan-Philippine Higher Education Career System Presidential Leadership Program for Higher Education Executives provided by the Ministry of Education of the Republic of China (Taiwan).
In college, Dr. Adamat was a full scholar of the Coconut Federation – Teachers Education Assistance for Mindanao (COCOFED-TEAM).
A Téduray from Upi, Maguindanao, Dr. Adamat rose from being a lowly young boy that never even experienced wearing slippers and had to walk for several kilometers of rugged mountain trails just to attend school. But with burning desire to finish formal studies because he believed that education is the “greatest equalizer”, the boy’s persistence, dedication, determination, and discipline made him overcome poverty and marginalization and catapulted him to greater heights.
He has served as Congressman of the 10th Congress where he was one of the principal authors of Republic Act (RA) 8371 or the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997 (IPRA) and RA 6734 or the Organic Act for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
Dr. Adamat has been with the government in various capacities:
- Congressman of the 10th Congress; registered with perfect attendance in the 10th Congress, as cited by Congress and Malaya national newspaper (08 March 1998)
- Commissioner of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), Regional Consultative Commission, National Centennial Commission, and Charter Change Advocacy Commission
- Regional Cabinet Secretary (Undersecretary) of the Department of Tourism—ARMM
- Assistant Secretary of Indigenous People Special Concerns Office in Malacañang
- Member of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) Peace Panel for Talks with Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), and
- Consultant of the House Committee on Indigenous Cultural Communities and Indigenous Peoples (15th and 16th Congress)
Dr. Adamat is also an educator, a renowned “Timuay/Kéféduwan”of the Téduray and conferred “Datu Mahumanay” by the Manobo-Bagobo tribe. At present, he is special lecturer at the Graduate School of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) on-leave. He was a Professor in Public Administration-Graduate School in Cotabato City State Polytechnic College (now Cotabato State University) and was a Commandant at Notre Dame of Greater Manila. He also taught at Saint Francis High School. As recipient of various awards like the Presidential Medal of Merit Award given by Her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2005, Most Outstanding Téduray Leader/Professional in the field of Public Administration, and Tanglaw ng Bayan Award, the highest award PUP could ever give/award to an individual achiever, Dr. Adamat is untiringly and selflessly promoting the culture of Peace and Federalism among state universities and colleges (SUCs). Today, he is one of the core leaders and Vice President of MRRD-NECC and a recognized expert of Federalism, apart from championing the cause and aspirations of the marginalized sectors.
On November 26, 2020, Dr. Adamat was installed/appointed as Commodore (One Star General) of the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary Executive Squadron.
Commissioner Adamat became a recipient of the “Mahatma MK Gandhi Prize for Non- Violent Peace 2020”. He topped among the 258 nominations of distinguished persons all over the world. The awarding ceremony was held last March 27, 2022 via online platform, attended by Peace advocates and renowned personalities across the globe.
In his pursuit to promote Peace education, Dr. Adamat has established a Peace organization called Volunteer Individuals for Peace, Inc. (VIP) and composed its theme song entitled “We Are One”, which was later adopted by the Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) from the Philippines as theme song that inspired people across the globe for unity and world Peace as espoused by HWPL. The song is available on YouTube and Spotify. He also authored the book, “In the Eyes of the Sun: The Indigenous Peoples Last Frontier”, and its second edition entitled: “The Blood Brothers: In the Eyes of the Sun” which is part biography, ethnography, and advocacy that shows the Indigenous Peoples (IP) journey towards recognition of IP rights and identity. He has also composed a traditional song entitled “Tungkatan” (Love of a child) with Téduray and English versions, “Greedy Love”, among others.
Another book authored by Dr. Adamat entitled “100 and More Inspiring Quotes to Live By” has also been published. This book is a collection of his favorite motivational and inspirational quotes that encourages a happy, prosperous, and fulfilling life which also emphasizes the importance of education, cultural roots, Peace, and dreams toward achieving a meaningful life. He also has a new song composition on education entitled “Education Builds the Future”, which is also available on YouTube and Spotify.
As CHED Commissioner, his advocacies include Federalism, Indigenous Peoples (IPs) Studies, Peace and Development, Agriculture, and Good Governance, among others. He is known to CHED as a “Man of Peace”, being recognized and lauded for his contribution as the main proponent for the integration of Peace Education into the Higher Education curricula (as per CHED Memorandum Order No. 1, Series of 2019) and the integration of Indigenous Peoples’ (IP) Education/Studies into the Higher Education curricula (CMO No. 2, Series of 2019).
Recently, Commissioner Adamat presented CHED’s 10-point agenda to President- elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and explained the program for Higher Education
– the BBM-SD which means Build. Bind. Minds for Sustainable Development. The agenda is focused on addressing the country’s human resources needs, developing globally competent professionals and lifelong learning with a niche in both local and global markets.
