AFTER 20 years in service, Navy Cdr. Juphett Navida wanted to spend more time with his family. They had spent too long apart, as the Philippine Navy officer was always deployed in faraway stations and conflict zones.
Taking optional retirement from the service, Navida, 48, was considering his next move when a colleague invited him to join a weeklong training under the Career Transition and Assistance Program of Saludo sa Serbisyo—Ayala Corporation’s flagship program to support the country’s uniformed personnel.
A few months later, he was in the private sector. Work was just 20 minutes away, at the Ayala Corporation headquarters, no less. And finally, he could spend more time with his family.
“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,” said Navida.
“Malaking tulong ‘siya, especially ‘yung tools, tulad ng paano ma-improve ang CV, ang LinkedIn profile, saan ka hahanap ng trabaho. Na-explain sa amin ang proseso sa private sector,” he shared.
Navida was one of 50 transitioning military personnel who joined the pioneer batch under Saludo sa Serbisyo’s Career Transition and Assistance Program in 2025. He stands as the program’s first graduate to be hired at Ayala Corporation. Two of his peers, meanwhile, got placements at Ayala’s renewable energy company 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. Looking forward na kahit papaano, makapag-serve ng matagal dito,” said Navida.
He encouraged other uniformed personnel to “equip themselves as much as possible” by taking part in training programs while still in the service. He also reminded his fellow soldiers to build a solid reputation while in active service, as this may lead to a future opportunity in the private sector.
“They shouldn’t be stagnant. Most of all, take care of their reputation while in the service,” he said.
Navida’s successful career shift illustrates the transformative power of the Saludo sa Serbisyo program, now in its 10th year of honoring the country’s uniformed personnel for their service with exclusive benefits, training, and easier access to Ayala Group products and services.
In 2025, Saludo sa Serbisyo extended support to at least 10,000 more personnel across the uniformed services, including the military, police force, fire and jail bureaus, and the coast guard.
Help came in the form of health benefits, including free medical checkups and medicine via Healthway and Generika, financial literacy training through the BPI Foundation, career assistance, and special discounts in Ayala companies. The program also donated 40 computers through the Makati Development Corporation, and P4.3 million worth of cinema advertising placements for the military via 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. 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,” said Ayala Corporation managing director and head of security management Ret. Gen. Manny Bautista.
With support from companies under the Ayala Group, Saludo sa Serbisyo is set to hold more caravans this year to register new batches of uniformed personnel across the country. It will also hold a new round of career training to help other transitioning service personnel like Navida find their place in the corporate world.
“At Ayala, we recognize the rich experience, strong work ethic, and sense of duty of our uniformed personnel. 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,” said Ayala Corporation corporate resources group head and chief human resources officer Francisco Romero Milán.
