UP Diliman (UPD) recognized the service of over 100 of its employees during the 2026 Parangal at Pagkilala para sa mga Kawani at Retirado ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas (Parangal sa mga Kawani at Retirado).
The program went all out to honor the 62 administrative staff, eight REPS (research, extension, and professional staff), and 45 faculty members who retired from service in the past year.
Three audio visual presentations for the faculty, REPS, and administrative staff were presented in the program, featuring select retirees.
The first presentation featured current and former faculty administrators. They were former Quality Assurance Office director Aura C. Matias, UP president Danilo L. Concepcion, UPD chancellor Caesar A. Saloma, and vice chancellor for academic affairs Lorna I. Paredes.
The second presentation featured two REPS: Evelyn Laxamana, a college librarian from the University Library and Ma. Dulcelina Sebastian, a science education specialist from the National Institute for Science and Mathematics Education Development (NISMED).
The third presentation was dedicated to the administrative staff retirees. Featured were Edgardo Rico, a household attendant from the College of Home Economics; Aurelia Tolentino, a supervising administrative officer from the College of Law; and Myrissa Melinda Alip, MD, former director of the UP Health Service.
Each retiree received a framed certificate with their photo, a trophy, and a medallion bearing the UP seal. The tokens were presented by UPD Chancellor Edgardo Carlo L. Vistan II, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Maria Vanessa Lusung-Oyzon, Vice Chancellor for Administration Adeline A. Pacia, and Human Resource Development Office (HRDO) Director Arthur A. Gonzales III.
For their over 40 years of cumulative service to the University, 21 retirees received the Gawad Retirado. Those with no leaves without pay received PHP60,000 while those who logged in five days (or less) of leaves without pay received PHP10,000.
The program featured performances from Ginoong Jason and the UP Dancesport Society. Popular singer Noel Cabangon did the event’s final performance. As sunflowers were presented to the retirees in the audience, Cabangon sang his hit song Kanlungan and Handog by Florante.
This year, four personnel received the Gawad Paglilingkod. Three are from the Campus Maintenance Office (Edgardo Ebreo, Manuel Tarnate Jr., and Francisca Vera Cruz) and one is from the College of Engineering (Maximino Santos). The Gawad Paglilingkod recognizes active employees with at least 40 years of continuous service with fewer than five days of leave without pay. It carries a one-time cash gift of PHP40,000.
Also honored at the Parangal sa mga Kawani at Retirado were the recipients of the GALING ng UPD Award (GALING Award), UTAK ng UPD Award (UTAK Award), PUSO ng UPD Award (PUSO Award), and DANGAL ng UPD Award (DANGAL Award), at the sub-program Parangal para sa GALING, UTAK, PUSO, at DANGAL ng UP Diliman, the former GALING UPD Honor and Awards Program.
The GALING Award (Pagkilala sa Pinakamahuhusay na Yunit/Pangkat) was given to four groups: the UPD Collection Section of the Diliman Cash Office (DCO), the College of Social Work and Community Development Library, the College of Science Libraries, and the Marine Science Institute Library.
According to the HRDO, the award recognizes “a team in a section/division of a unit for their outstanding contribution resulting in a significant impact on the efficient delivery of services, evidenced [by] increased client satisfaction of the services provided by their unit.”
The UTAK Award (Pagkilala sa Natatanging Inobasyon at Tuklas Tipid) was given to Ronaldo Fajardo, an administrative officer at the DCO and Emmanuel P. Rullog, an administrative assistant at the College of Music (CMu).
They were each recognized for their “significant contribution to the unit by introducing a new system/process/procedure in the workplace that results in the efficient and effective delivery of service.”
Rullog was recognized for applying his carpentry skills to create new equipment from waste and recyclable materials, such as his guitar stands. Fajardo created systems that improved both efficiency and accuracy in the DCO such as the Bank Account Number Query Online.
The PUSO Award was given to Leo Angelo Vargas Jr. from the Office of Scholarships and Grants.
This award recognizes individuals’ inspiring real stories “that made a positive impact on other employees and contributed to the culture of positivity at work” of the recipient’s unit. Vargas was cited for going above and beyond his work as a junior scholarship affairs officer to help students and sometimes their families with government paperwork.
The DANGAL Award was given Melanie Sangalang, an administrative officer at the Institute for Small-Scale Industries; Cecile Sales, a printing quality control officer at NISMED; and Eva Cadiz, an administrative officer at the CMu.
The DANGAL Award is conferred to individuals who have performed extraordinary acts of public service and consistently shown exemplary ethical behavior in line with the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
Recipients of the DANGAL ng UPD are automatic nominees for the Gawad Tsanselor para sa Natatanging Kawani, the highest recognition UPD has for its administrative personnel. Organized by the HRDO, Parangal sa mga Kawani at Retirado was held on May 6 at the University Theater.