Diocese of Baguio and EdSpeaks Empower Academic Leaders at ‘The Big IDEAS’ Seminar-Workshop

In a proactive move to cultivate adaptive and learner-centered schooling ecosystems, the Diocese of Baguio City partnered with Diwa Learning Systems Inc., Bato Balani Foundation Inc. (BBFI), and EdSpeaks to host "The Big IDEAS: A Seminar-Workshop on Learner Agency." The intensive training session took place on 25 May 2026 from 8:00 am to 12:00 nn inside the Saint Louis University - Gonzaga Gym, drawing a diverse delegation of private school administrators, owners, principals, academic coordinators, and classroom teachers from across the region.

The seminar-workshop focused on developing forward-thinking basic education leaders capable of driving necessary structural and instructional shifts in the contemporary educational landscape. Leading the session and lending immense credence to the program was featured speaker Edizon Angeles Fermin, PhD, a highly distinguished educational strategist who serves as the Chairperson of CHED’s Technical Panel in Teacher Education and an expert curriculum adviser to the Department of Education.

Fostering Autonomy Through the IDEAS Framework

Under Dr. Fermin's expert guidance, the four-hour training program was structured to achieve specific, high-impact learning outcomes for the region's educational leaders. The session centered heavily on exploring the foundational principles of learner agency through the lens of the proprietary IDEAS framework. Participants engaged in rigorous discussions to define the evolving, critical roles that both classroom teachers and institutional leaders must play in actively promoting student autonomy.

Furthermore, the workshop allowed educators to analyze and determine the specific characteristics of academic programs and administrative practices that successfully support agentic learning. Rather than focusing purely on theory, the seminar-workshop maintained a strong practical focus, culminating in a hands-on planning session. By the conclusion of the event, the attending educators successfully developed meaningful, school-based IDEAS Plans designed for immediate integration and institutional rollout within their respective campuses.

Comprehensive Instructional Support and Resources

As the program facilitator, EdSpeaks managed the seamless execution, design, and facilitation of all workshop activities. To ensure an immersive learning environment, EdSpeaks provided high-quality multimedia integrations, including specialized audio and video inputs along with the speaker’s video introduction.

To sustain long-term academic transformation beyond the physical event, EdSpeaks, alongside Diwa and BBFI, extended crucial post-seminar digital support to the diocese. The program partners were granted direct access to shareable lecture slides for institutional echo-seminars, as well as open access to a dedicated cloud learning drive packed with curated academic resources and reference materials. This joint initiative reinforces the shared commitment of the Diocese of Baguio, Diwa, BBFI, and EdSpeaks to continuously uplift the quality of basic education and empower Filipino educators nationwide.