After two decades in uniform, Philippine Navy Commander Juphett Navida knew he was ready for a different pace of life. Years of deployment to far-flung stations and conflict areas had taken him away from his family for too long. At 48, as he considered optional retirement, he found himself standing at a crossroads—unsure of what awaited him beyond active service.
That uncertainty shifted when a colleague invited him to join a weeklong training under the Career Transition and Assistance Program of Saludo sa Serbisyo, the flagship initiative of Ayala Corporation that supports the country’s uniformed personnel. Navida joined almost by chance, but the experience quickly opened his eyes to possibilities he had not imagined.
“Aksidente nga ang pagsali ko sa Saludo… Buti na lang nag-yes ako. Kasi nung nag-attend ako, sabi ko OK pala dito, marami kang matututunan. Doon mo makikita na may career after the service sa corporate world,” Navida recalled.
The training gave him practical tools he had never encountered in the military—how to build a competitive CV, strengthen a LinkedIn profile, and understand the hiring process in the private sector. “Malaking tulong siya, especially ‘yung tools… Na-explain sa amin ang proseso sa private sector,” he said.
Just months after completing the program, Navida made a successful leap into civilian life. He joined Ayala Corporation itself, working at its headquarters just 20 minutes from home. For the first time in years, he could plan his days around family time as much as professional duty.
He also became a milestone for the program—the first graduate of the Career Transition and Assistance Program to be hired directly by Ayala. Two of his batchmates likewise found placements within the Ayala Group, including at renewable energy firm ACEN.
“I’m taking it one day at a time. Go with the flow. Kung ano tasks ko for the day, dapat magawa ko ‘yon,” Navida said, adding that he hopes to continue serving for many years, this time in a different capacity.
His advice to fellow uniformed personnel is straightforward: prepare early and protect your name. He urged those still in active service to take advantage of training opportunities and to build a solid reputation that could one day open doors beyond the barracks. “They shouldn’t be stagnant. Most of all, take care of their reputation while in the service,” he said.
Navida’s journey reflects the broader impact of Saludo sa Serbisyo, now marking its 10th year of honoring and supporting men and women in uniform. In 2025 alone, the program reached at least 10,000 additional personnel across the military, police, fire and jail bureaus, and the coast guard, extending assistance designed to support both life in service and life after it.
Support ranged from free medical checkups and medicines through Healthway and Generika, to financial literacy training conducted by the BPI Foundation. The program also provided career assistance, exclusive discounts across Ayala companies, and donations such as 40 computers from Makati Development Corporation and P4.3 million worth of cinema advertising placements for the military through Ayala Malls.
“In Saludo sa Serbisyo, we honor the service and sacrifice of our uniformed personnel through opportunities and possibilities that might otherwise be difficult for them to access,” said Ayala Corporation Managing Director and Head for Security Management Ret. Gen. Manny Bautista.
“As we enter our 10th year, we are committed to reaching more of our men and women in uniform to help them thrive during and after the service,” Bautista added.
With continued backing from companies across the Ayala Group, Saludo sa Serbisyo is set to roll out more caravans nationwide this year to register new beneficiaries. Another round of career transition training is also planned, aimed at helping more service members navigate the shift from public duty to private-sector careers.
“At Ayala, we recognize the rich experience, strong work ethic, and sense of duty of our uniformed personnel,” said Ayala Corporation Corporate Resources Group Head and Chief Human Resources Officer Francisco Romero Milán.
Milan added, “They have skills and values that are highly valuable in any field. Through Saludo sa Serbisyo’s career training, we help sharpen their skills and get them ready to transition to a new career and navigate life after the service.”
For Navida and thousands like him, the program is more than a benefit—it is a bridge, proving that service to the nation does not end with the uniform, but can continue in new and meaningful ways beyond it.