UP Diliman (UPD) paid tribute to more than 100 of its personnel at the 2025 Parangal at Pagkilala para sa mga Retirado ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas.
Fifty administrative staff, 10 REPS (research, extension, and professional staff), and 43 faculty members who retired from service were honored at the event on May 8 at the GT-Toyota Asian Center Auditorium.
Organized by the Human Resource Development Office (HRDO), the program was divided into two segments, each preceded by a special video presentation centered around a specific retiree.
The first video presentation featured interviews with colleagues, family, and friends of Amalia R. Javier, librarian from the University Library, and the late Victor Benjamin J. Paz, PhD, former director of the School of Archaeology.
The second video presentation, which contained direct interviews with the retirees, featured Elma Gabriel, administrative assistant at the UPD Police; Teresa E. Tadem, PhD, professor emeritus at the Department of Political Science; former College of Human Kinetics dean Hercules P. Callanta; Edwin N. Quiros, PhD, professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering; and Felipe P. Nario Jr., administrative assistant at the Asian Center.
Among the retirees were two former vice chancellors and five college deans. The two former vice chancellors are Raquel B. Florendo (Office of the Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development) and Nestor T. Castro (Office of the Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs). Aside from Callanta, the four other former deans are Maria Bernadette L. Abrera, PhD (College of Social Sciences and Philosophy); LaVern David C. De la Peña, PhD (College of Music); Hussein S. Lidasan, PhD (School of Urban and Regional Planning); and Orville Jose C. Solon, PhD, professor emeritus at the School of Economics (SE).
Each retiree received a framed certificate with their photo, a small trophy, and a medallion bearing the UP seal. These 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 HRDO Director Arthur A. Gonzales III.
For rendering over 40 years of cumulative service to the University, 26 retirees received special cash gifts. Those with no leaves without pay received PHP60,000 while those who clocked in five days (or less) of leaves without pay received PHP10,000.
Among these retirees, the ones who rendered the most service to the University at 46 years each were Elvis C. Claudio, administrative assistant at the College of Law; Ernesto O. Razon Jr., administrative aide at the SE; Hilario P. Valencia, administrative assistant at the College of Engineering, Leonides S. Figueroa, houseparent at the Office of Student Housing; and Merilyne M. Madriaga, administrative assistant at the HRDO.
Between segments, the Padayon Rondalla serenaded the retirees. At the end of the program, they performed George Canseco’s Paano kita Mapasasalamatan. Towards the end of the song, members of the HRDO organizing team surprised each of the attending retirees with a single red rose.
Throughout the ceremony, Kara Patria David-Cancio, assistant professor at the Department of Journalism, regaled the crowd with her colorful commentary, providing depth and context to whatever was happening on stage.
Speaking at the event, Lusung-Oyzon thanked the retirees and their families for their dedication and service to the University, promising to build well upon the foundations that the retirees laid down.
“Kayo ang UP. Kayo ang puwersa, ang utak, puso, at buhay dahil iyan ang inyong ibinigay.…Kasama natin ngayon ang mga kapamilya ng mga retirado nating gumagabay na sa atin ngayon at kaisa ng unibersidad. Maraming salamat sa inyo. Maraming salamat po dahil naging bahagi ng inyong pamilya ang UP.… Asahan po ninyong hindi namin sasayangin ito at buong lakas ding maglilingkod sa patuloy na pagbabago ng UP. Salamat dahil naging bahagi ang UP ng pagtupad ng inyong mga pangarap at kaganapan ng inyong pagkatao,” she said.