July 30, 2021 — Retirement is a vital milestone in a person’s professional life and it is, as often stated, a reflection of one’s journey, legacy, and mortality. Cognizant of the meaning and significance of retirement, UP Manila held a memorable and poignant virtual recognition program for its 102 retirees from 2017 to 2020 on June 25 as part of UP Manila’s commemoration of the 113th Founding Anniversary of the University of the Philippines. 

Through inspiring messages, touching songs and videos, and other expressions of gratitude, support, and hope for their life ahead, the ceremony paid tribute to the devoted service and contributions of its faculty, research, and administrative retirees to the university, country, and society; and wished them well as they turn a new chapter in their lives.

Chancellor Padilla lauded the retirees’ dedicated, long, and faithful  service in their respective capacities and spheres of work. “The university’s lofty standing is because each of you contributed to its smooth running and because you did your own task diligently. Your work and service brought a huge, new meaning and capacity to our work in management that has helped us live out our professional and even our  personal mission,” Chancellor Padilla told the honorees. 

Cris Go, a theater artist/singer, sang and dedicated the song “Sama-sama Nating Abutin”— that speaks of unity, shared aspirations, and collective efforts—to the retirees.

Providing the response on behalf of the faculty were Professor and former Faculty Regent Roland Simbulan, and researcher-doctor Dr. Concepcion Ang for the research personnel and administrative staff. 
Dr. Ang, who spent her most productive years at the PGH Infectious Disease Section until her retirement in December 2018, expressed gratitude and appreciation to the REPS and administrative staff for their loyal service, many of whom worked with UPM and PGH from 20 to 40 years. She reminded them that retirement is not an end but a new beginning of a new horizon in life.

Prof. Simbulan, former UP Manila Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development with 38 years of work experience at the College of Arts and Sciences, author of books on the PH Foreign Policy and PH US Bases, researcher, and unionist; said he and fellow faculty retirees will forever be grateful for the opportunity to be part of UP Manila’s accomplishments and contributions to the nation and society and the challenges it overcame. He was also grateful for seeing their career goals accomplished; and seeing their students become this country’s national treasures, the best and brightest, performing well and becoming successful in serving our nation.

He noted that contrary to common perception, the retirement period is within the age range when the retirees’ intellectual capacity peaks. This is proven, he added, by the average age when Nobel Prize awardees won theirs, as in age 55 for physics, 68 for medicine, and 67 for economics.

“The challenge of creating new pathways for meaning in our lives is within us. I have continued doing scholarly work through nongovernmental organizations and civil society groups. I continue to serve with greater vigor as a public intellectual to share knowledge, experiences, and insights with younger colleagues, graduate students, scholars, and the larger community,” Prof. Simbulan affirmed. “As we tread a new chapter, we will face new challenges as we had in the past.  Mangarap tayo hindi lamang para sa sarili kundi para sa lipunan at sa bayan.”

Each retiree was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation and a UP oblation statuette that symbolizes the university’s offering of service and its willingness to sacrifice to be able to achieve higher goals and aspirations for the country and people.  

The program was capped by a virtual duet of “Paano Kita Mapasasalamatan” by Dr. Melfred Hernandez, who also served as emcee of the program, and popstar royalty Sarah Geronimo.

Cynthia M. Villamor | Published in UP Manila Healthscape Special COVID-19 Issue No. 29