It is said that excellence is found not in moments of brilliance but in the accumulation of everyday effort, and this was on full display at the two-part 2024 Parangal at Pagkilala para sa mga Kawani at Retirado ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas (Parangal at Pagkilala para sa mga Kawani at Retirado).

The first part of Parangal at Pagkilala para sa mga Kawani at Retirado was the 2024 Parangal at Pagkilala para sa mga Retirado ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas (Parangal at Pagkilala sa mga Retirado), held on the morning of June 20 at the Ignacio B. Gimenez-Kolehiyo ng Arte at Literatura Theater.

Parangal at Pagkilala sa mga Retirado paid tribute to retired University faculty, administrative staff, and research, extension, and professional staff (REPS), of whom 99 are from UP Diliman (UPD) and five are from the UP System (UPS).

Among those honored from UPD were former UP vice president for administration and former dean of the School of Labor and Industrial Relations, Maragtas S. V. Amante; former university registrar Marilyn R. Canta; and former deans Erniel B. Barrios (School of Statistics); Miguela M. Mena (Asian Institute of Tourism); Maria Fe V. Mendoza (National College of Public Administration and Governance / NCPAG); and Mario R. Delos Reyes (School of Urban and Regional Planning).

The retirees each received a framed certificate with their photo, a small trophy with their name, and a medallion in the shape of the UP seal. Presenting these tokens were 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 rendering over 40 years of cumulative service to the University, 30 special retirees received cash gifts. Those without any leaves without pay received PHP60,000. Meanwhile, those who clocked in five days or less of leaves without pay received PHP10,000.

For the first time, a special segment was dedicated to five UPS retirees. Presenting their tokens were UP President Angelo A. Jimenez, Vice President for Administration Augustus C. Resurreccion, and Assistant Vice President for Administration (Human Resource Development) Richard S. Javier.

The Padayon Rondalla serenaded the retirees with Yeng Constantino’s Salamat at the Parangal at Pagkilala sa mga Retirado. Towards the end of the song, members of the HRDO organizing team surprised each of the attending retirees with a single red rose.

The second part of Parangal at Pagkilala para sa mga Kawani at Retirado was the 2024 Parangal at Pagkilala para sa mga Kawani ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas (Parangal at Pagkilala).

Held on the afternoon of the same day, it awarded the Gawad Paglilingkod as well as the GALING UPD Awards: GALING, UTAK, PUSO, and DANGAL.

This year, seven personnel in active service were recipients of Gawad Paglilingkod. The award is given to employees in active service who have rendered at least 40 years of continuous service and have less than five days of leaves without pay. It carries a one-time cash gift of PHP40,000.

Meanwhile, three organizations and 14 individuals were recipients of the GALING UPD Awards.

The GALING Award (Pagkilala sa Pinakamahusay na Yunit / Pangkat) was given to the College of Mass Communication Library, the University Library Information Technology Division, and the Microbiological Research and Services Laboratory of the Natural Sciences Research Institute (NSRI).

According to the guidelines for the honor and awards program, the three teams made “outstanding contributions resulting in a significant impact on the efficient delivery of services, evidenced by increased client’s satisfaction of the services provided by their unit.”

Pelagio M. Bengco, an administrative officer at the HRDO and Edeza M. Rivera, a publication circulation officer at the NSRI, were given the UTAK Award (Pagkilala sa Natatanging Inobasyon at Tuklas Tipid) 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.”

Eight individuals received the PUSO Award (Inspirasyon at Husay Kagalingan):

Marites G. Anteg, an administrative assistant at the Office of the University Registrar (OUR); Jose Angelito M. Aurelio, a supervising administrative officer at the NCPAG; Deciniv M. Dela Cruz, a university research associate at the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy; Hubert B. Fucio, a junior office assistant at the College of Music; Concepcion T. Marquina, and administrative assistant at the Diliman Gender Office; Ma. Narea S. Molina, an administrative officer at the HRDO; Carlo M. Montillana, an administrative assistant at the National Institute for Science and Mathematics Education Development (NISMED); and Imelda N. Ocampo, a senior administrative assistant at the College of Engineering.

They were honored for their inspiring real stories “that made a positive impact on other employees and contributed to the culture of positivity at work in the unit.”

Lastly, four individuals received the DANGAL ng UPD Award (Pagkilala para sa Pinakamahusay na Kawani): Hazzelyn Joy C. De Ocampo, an administrative officer at the HRDO; Jacob S. Obinguar, an information systems analyst at the OUR; Jefferson Villacruz, an administrative assistant at the UPD Information Office; and the late Rojerich A. Buen, a former laboratory technician at the NISMED.

A part of the Linggo ng Parangal, the Parangal at Pagkilala para sa mga Kawani at Retirado was organized by the HRDO.