Preparing for the Next Chapter: UP Diliman Launches Pre-Retirement Orientation for Employees

Retirement marks the end of an employee’s formal service to the University, but it also opens the door to a new chapter—one that calls for preparation not only in terms of finances and benefits, but also in health, relationships, personal well-being, and life beyond work.

Recognizing the importance of preparing employees for this transition, the Human Resources Development Office (HRDO) of UP Diliman, through its Training Section and Separation Services, conducted the Pre-Retirement Orientation for UP Diliman (PROUD) on September 16, 17, and 21, 2026.

Designed to provide employees with practical knowledge and guidance as they approach retirement, the three-day program brought together resource persons and representatives from various University offices and government agencies. The program covered three interconnected areas of retirement preparation:

• Internal Transition, Health, and Readiness;

• Financial Security, Benefits, and Protection; and

• Retirement Timeline, Processes, and Requirements.

Preparing for Life Beyond Work

The first day focused on the personal dimensions of retirement. During the opening, UP Diliman Chancellor Atty. Edgardo Carlo L. Vistan II reminded participants that retirement should not be viewed as the end of one’s journey, but as the beginning of a new chapter with family and loved ones.

The session also surfaced participants’ expectations and concerns, including understanding the retirement process, computing benefits, and anticipating possible challenges in processing retirement.

A panel discussion explored retirement from a holistic perspective. Topics included mental health and psychosocial transition, nutrition and lifestyle medicine, metabolic and sleeping patterns, disaster preparedness, and the rights, opportunities, and services available to senior citizens. Resource persons included experts from the Department of Psychology, University Health Service, UP Resilience Institute, and the National Commission of Senior Citizens.

Participants were encouraged to begin preparing for retirement even before leaving the workforce. Among the practical recommendations discussed were developing “little retirement rehearsals,” maintaining physical activity, adopting healthy eating and sleeping habits, strengthening social connections, preparing for emergencies, and finding meaningful activities that can provide purpose after work.

Understanding Benefits and Protecting Retirement Funds

Day 2 shifted the focus to financial security, benefits, and protection. Participants learned about retirement programs and benefits from key government institutions, including the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG.

The GSIS session discussed retirement programs, contribution rates, life and retirement insurance, and applicable retirement options under relevant laws.

PhilHealth representatives provided an overview of membership categories and health benefits, including inpatient and outpatient services, Z Benefits, and other health programs. The session also gave participants an opportunity to raise specific questions during an open forum.

The Pag-IBIG session, meanwhile, covered provident savings, MP2, home financing, and various loan programs.

Recognizing that financial preparation also requires awareness of potential risks, the day concluded with a panel discussion tackling the programs and benefits from key government institutions, financial literacy with Landbank of the Philippines, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, PruLife UK, and scam awareness with the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group. Participants were reminded that fraudulent schemes can appear highly legitimate, including through websites designed to resemble those of legitimate financial institutions.

From Information to a Retirement Roadmap

The third day brought the different aspects of retirement preparation together by focusing on the actual processes and requirements employees need to navigate as they transition out of University service.

Participants learned about the UP Provident Fund, including retirement benefits and documentary requirements such as the Benefit Claim Application, University Clearance, Service Record, valid identification, and bank deposit authorization when applicable. The program also featured discussions on the UP Credit Cooperative, property accountability, and UP Housing policies affecting retiring employees. These sessions highlighted the importance of completing clearances and addressing accountabilities as part of the retirement process.

A particularly practical component of the day was the discussion on the retirement journey in the University, where a UP retiree shared insights from personal experience. The session emphasized the importance of completing clearances, promptly accomplishing required forms, and attending to both health and mental wellness after retirement.

The final sessions provided an overview of retirement-related processes and benefits, including eSRP, Faculty Cumulative Leave Benefit, Terminal Leave, and other documentary and clearance requirements. Participants were also given opportunities to ask questions and clarify concerns about their individual retirement journey.

A New Chapter, Guided by Honor, Excellence, and Service

Closing the three-day program, HRDO Director Arthur A. Gonzales III reminded participants that while their formal service to the University will eventually come to an end, the values they have carried throughout their careers will remain.

“Darating ang panahon na magtatapos ang inyong panunungkulan bilang mga empleyado ng UP, ngunit ang diwa ng Honor, Excellence, and Service ay hindi kailanman magreretiro.”

He expressed the University's appreciation for the employees’ years of dedication, integrity, and excellence, while encouraging them to view retirement as an opportunity to devote more time to themselves and their families and to continue contributing to their communities in new ways.

Through PROUD, UP Diliman seeks to make retirement preparation more than a matter of completing forms and securing benefits. By bringing together information on personal readiness, health and well-being, financial security, government benefits, University procedures, and practical retirement experiences, the program encourages employees to approach this transition with greater awareness and preparedness.

After years of serving the University and the nation, retirement is not simply a destination. It is another chapter—one that employees can begin preparing for long before their final day of service.