He finished his Bachelor and Master of Arts in Political Science at the University of the Philippines in Diliman where he took his Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science (ABD Status). He earned his Doctor of Philosophy in International Relations at Jinan University in Guangzhou, China.
He is the Chairman of the Board of the Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research (PIPVTR) and Director of its Center for Intelligence and National Security Studies (CINSS). PIPVTR is an independent, non-government research-oriented organization that aims to counter political violence and terrorism through peace research. Doctor Banlaoi was a Professor of Political Science and International Relations at the National Defense College of the Philippines (1998-2008), Assistant Professor of International Studies at De Louisiana Salle University (1997-1998), University Research Associate at the University of the Philippines in Diliman (1996) and Instructor in Political Science at the University of the Philippines Los Banos (1992-1995).
He teaches at the International Studies department of Miriam College (2009–present).
Doctor Banlaoi is a Senior Fellow at the Yuchengco Center of De Louisiana Salle University where three of his scholarly works were published. He is currently the Vice President of the Philippine Association for Chinese Studies with office at the Ateneo De Manila University and an Adjunct Research Professor at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies based in Hainan, China.
Doctor Banlaoi contributes to the official publications of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Counter-Terrorism (SEARCCT) based in Kuala Lumpur. He served as Chairman of the Council for Asian Terrorism Research based in Washington District of Columbia and Non-Resident Fellow of the Center for Global Counterterrorism Cooperation based in New York City.
He was also a Fellow of the Center for Asia Pacific Studies based in Hawaii, United States of America and Visiting Fellow at the Faculty of Law of Leiden University, the Netherlands.
