Engaging the Next Breed of “Seniorpreneur” Soldiers
For Immediate Release
Cebu City, May 10, 2021
ENGAGING THE NEXT BREED OF “SENIORPRENEUR” SOLDIERS
Philippine Army’s 53rd Engineer Brigade Undergo Intensive 6-Day RTAT Entrepreneurship Boot Camp
by Evan Oliver Eleazar
Twenty (20) retirement-bound personnel from the 53rd Engineer Brigade of the Philippine Army in Camp Lapu-Lapu recently completed a virtual entrepreneurship training via Zoom on April 15, 16, 23, 24, 30 and May 1, 2021.
Dubbed “Entrepreneurship Boot Camp”, the intensive six-day course was conducted in fulfillment of the Brigade’s annual Retirement Transition Assistance Training (RTAT) pursuant to the Philippine Army’s Transition Assistance Program (TAP), a technical assistance package of services for retiring or separating AFP personnel to facilitate their smooth transition into civilian life.
This year’s RTAT was made possible under the leadership of BGEN GERARDO P. CATINDOY PA - Commander, 53EBde, PA; with the able support of the following focal persons who constitute the RTAT management team, namely COL MAXIMINO G. ALMUETE, JR. CE (GSC) PA - Deputy Commander, 53EBde, PA; COL JOSE EDUARDO F. LIBOON GSC (CE) PA – Chief of Staff, 53EBde, PA; and CPT ROBERT R. DIOSAY (CHS) PA – TAP Officer.
COL MAXIMINO G. ALMUETE, JR., who participated in the Entrepreneurship Boot Camp noted that, “Ang retirement transition assistance ay importante sa mga magreretiro dahil dito nalalaman namin kung ano ang dapat gagawin o nararapat gawin base sa kakayahan ng isang indibidwal. Dito natututunan rin namin kung paano iingatan ang perang pinagretiruhan at kung paano maging busy at hindi mabagot sa araw-araw na pamumuhay.”
TAP endeavors to address the many concerns of personnel on retirement and separation including health, income from career or job, their social connection from work, finances, and changing relationship with family as it seeks to ease the transition of concerned military personnel to civilian life (upon retirement or separation).
Conducting the entrepreneurship boot camp was Ascenior Research, Training and Consulting (Ascenior), a Cebu City-based technical assistance outfit that pioneers in delivering seniorfocused holistic entrepreneurship programs and capacity building interventions in the country.
From the very start of its engagement with the 53rd Engineer Brigade, which was marked by the conduct of a training needs assessment (TNA), the Ascenior Team already understands that retirement is not merely an endpoint. That it is a process of transition from full-time employment as a busy practitioner to not working, with different stopping points in between. The approach varies among practitioners; what works well for one practitioner may not work well for another.
Whatever the approach, many psychologists agree that careful preparation is essential to ensure a successful transition into retirement. Ascenior recognizes that making the necessary practice-related and financial preparations is not nearly enough in that one must attend to important psychological needs and considerations as well. This enlightenment forms the building blocks of the Team’s training philosophy.
Ascenior views itself as an “engaged development partner” – willing, able and ready to commit its resources to help in empowering society’s retirees and older adults that they may enjoy the benefits of healthy ageing and productive retirement. Technically, our law refers to this sector as the “senior citizens” or those belonging to the sixty (60) years old or above age bracket.
According to MS. MARIA YLLEN GALABO-AGPASA, Registered Psychologist and Ascenior's co-founder and operations head, “Ascenior advocates healthy ageing, productive retirement and the continual improvement of knowledge, skills, attitudes and well-being of older persons; and recognizes and helps in strengthening the role of older adults as active agents of societal development.”
This advocacy cum development framework is in accord with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and is likewise aligned with the Philippine Development Plan’s “Enhancing the Social Fabric” component (“Malasakit”) which is being promoted by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) across the bureaucracy’s development planning processes.
Ms. Agpasa proceeds to explain Ascenior’s thrust which is “anchored on transition to retirement and ageing of older persons; driven to help build communities that are inclusive and responsive to older adults. And the key is working with multi-sectoral organizations in strengthening the significant economic and social roles that older adults play in our society.”
When it became fully operational last year, Ascenior immediately rolled-out the implementation of its flagship programs, namely: (1) Retirement Transition Assistance Training (RTAT); (2) Older Adults Community Capacity Building (CBC); and (3) Ascenior Learning Academy (ALA).
The Retirement Transition Assistance Training (RTAT) program caters to uniformed men and women and civilian sectors in offering holistic transition to retirement training that captures specific retirement needs and goals of retirees. This will be tailor-fit to consider the physical, cognitive and psychosocial needs of participants. The Older Adults Community Capacity Building (CBC) program helps older persons achieve their full potential by anchoring the capacity building program on the essential pillars of human development such as equality, sustainability, productivity and empowerment. Lastly, the Ascenior Learning Academy (ALA) provides non-credit self-paced online courses, value-packed webinars and online workshops to fuel lifelong learning.
Ms. Agpasa was pleased of the positive feedback coming from the first batch of trainees of the entrepreneurship boot camp through the testimonial of Col. Maximino G. Almuete, Jr. who shared “Ang RTAT entrepreneurship boot camp ay malaking tulong sa aming malapit nang mag retiro sa serbisyo, dahil ito ay magsisilbing gabay kung kami ay handa nang magtatag ng negosyo o makikipagnegosyo.”
By and large, the entrepreneurship boot camp sessions have been acknowledged by the trainees as relevant, practical and very useful as they are about to make their life-changing decisions in the not too distant future.
“Sa boot camp na ito nalaman rin namin kung ano ang dapat gawin para sa mga nag-uumpisa at sa pagpapalago ng naumpisahang negosyo… ang aking natutunan ay maari ko nang i-apply sa aking venture business. Dahil sa mga lectures nalaman ko kung paano sinupin ang kita at gastusin sa pang araw-araw na pamamalakad ng negosyo. Kasama na rito ang pag-identify ng assets and liabilities na mailagay sa libro ng kumpanya”, concluded Col. Almuete.
Through it all, Ascenior maintains a lean organizational structure and most of its activities are conducted online. While most of the organization’s Team members are based locally, one of them – MS. LEVICEL ELEAZAR CALANG is currently pursuing her Master in Management Innovation and Entrepreneurship with Queen’s University Smith School of Business in Canada.
Ms. Calang co-founded Ascenior and serves as its strategy and innovation director. Her corporate insights encompass the Ascenior brand of service and corporate commitment as she also professes the organization’s self-confessed determination to champion the creation of alternative futures for the Filipino senior communities, to wit:
“Reimagining retirement and ageing. Building healthy and productive communities that fight ageism -- this is what makes Ascenior distinct and a first of its kind in the Philippine training and consulting industry. We are a pioneer in delivering senior-focused holistic entrepreneurship programs and capacity building interventions in the country.”
Cebu City, May 10, 2021
ENGAGING THE NEXT BREED OF “SENIORPRENEUR” SOLDIERS
Philippine Army’s 53rd Engineer Brigade Undergo Intensive 6-Day RTAT Entrepreneurship Boot Camp
by Evan Oliver Eleazar
Twenty (20) retirement-bound personnel from the 53rd Engineer Brigade of the Philippine Army in Camp Lapu-Lapu recently completed a virtual entrepreneurship training via Zoom on April 15, 16, 23, 24, 30 and May 1, 2021.
Dubbed “Entrepreneurship Boot Camp”, the intensive six-day course was conducted in fulfillment of the Brigade’s annual Retirement Transition Assistance Training (RTAT) pursuant to the Philippine Army’s Transition Assistance Program (TAP), a technical assistance package of services for retiring or separating AFP personnel to facilitate their smooth transition into civilian life.
This year’s RTAT was made possible under the leadership of BGEN GERARDO P. CATINDOY PA - Commander, 53EBde, PA; with the able support of the following focal persons who constitute the RTAT management team, namely COL MAXIMINO G. ALMUETE, JR. CE (GSC) PA - Deputy Commander, 53EBde, PA; COL JOSE EDUARDO F. LIBOON GSC (CE) PA – Chief of Staff, 53EBde, PA; and CPT ROBERT R. DIOSAY (CHS) PA – TAP Officer.
COL MAXIMINO G. ALMUETE, JR., who participated in the Entrepreneurship Boot Camp noted that, “Ang retirement transition assistance ay importante sa mga magreretiro dahil dito nalalaman namin kung ano ang dapat gagawin o nararapat gawin base sa kakayahan ng isang indibidwal. Dito natututunan rin namin kung paano iingatan ang perang pinagretiruhan at kung paano maging busy at hindi mabagot sa araw-araw na pamumuhay.”
TAP endeavors to address the many concerns of personnel on retirement and separation including health, income from career or job, their social connection from work, finances, and changing relationship with family as it seeks to ease the transition of concerned military personnel to civilian life (upon retirement or separation).
Conducting the entrepreneurship boot camp was Ascenior Research, Training and Consulting (Ascenior), a Cebu City-based technical assistance outfit that pioneers in delivering seniorfocused holistic entrepreneurship programs and capacity building interventions in the country.
From the very start of its engagement with the 53rd Engineer Brigade, which was marked by the conduct of a training needs assessment (TNA), the Ascenior Team already understands that retirement is not merely an endpoint. That it is a process of transition from full-time employment as a busy practitioner to not working, with different stopping points in between. The approach varies among practitioners; what works well for one practitioner may not work well for another.
Whatever the approach, many psychologists agree that careful preparation is essential to ensure a successful transition into retirement. Ascenior recognizes that making the necessary practice-related and financial preparations is not nearly enough in that one must attend to important psychological needs and considerations as well. This enlightenment forms the building blocks of the Team’s training philosophy.
Ascenior views itself as an “engaged development partner” – willing, able and ready to commit its resources to help in empowering society’s retirees and older adults that they may enjoy the benefits of healthy ageing and productive retirement. Technically, our law refers to this sector as the “senior citizens” or those belonging to the sixty (60) years old or above age bracket.
According to MS. MARIA YLLEN GALABO-AGPASA, Registered Psychologist and Ascenior's co-founder and operations head, “Ascenior advocates healthy ageing, productive retirement and the continual improvement of knowledge, skills, attitudes and well-being of older persons; and recognizes and helps in strengthening the role of older adults as active agents of societal development.”
This advocacy cum development framework is in accord with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and is likewise aligned with the Philippine Development Plan’s “Enhancing the Social Fabric” component (“Malasakit”) which is being promoted by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) across the bureaucracy’s development planning processes.
Ms. Agpasa proceeds to explain Ascenior’s thrust which is “anchored on transition to retirement and ageing of older persons; driven to help build communities that are inclusive and responsive to older adults. And the key is working with multi-sectoral organizations in strengthening the significant economic and social roles that older adults play in our society.”
When it became fully operational last year, Ascenior immediately rolled-out the implementation of its flagship programs, namely: (1) Retirement Transition Assistance Training (RTAT); (2) Older Adults Community Capacity Building (CBC); and (3) Ascenior Learning Academy (ALA).
The Retirement Transition Assistance Training (RTAT) program caters to uniformed men and women and civilian sectors in offering holistic transition to retirement training that captures specific retirement needs and goals of retirees. This will be tailor-fit to consider the physical, cognitive and psychosocial needs of participants. The Older Adults Community Capacity Building (CBC) program helps older persons achieve their full potential by anchoring the capacity building program on the essential pillars of human development such as equality, sustainability, productivity and empowerment. Lastly, the Ascenior Learning Academy (ALA) provides non-credit self-paced online courses, value-packed webinars and online workshops to fuel lifelong learning.
Ms. Agpasa was pleased of the positive feedback coming from the first batch of trainees of the entrepreneurship boot camp through the testimonial of Col. Maximino G. Almuete, Jr. who shared “Ang RTAT entrepreneurship boot camp ay malaking tulong sa aming malapit nang mag retiro sa serbisyo, dahil ito ay magsisilbing gabay kung kami ay handa nang magtatag ng negosyo o makikipagnegosyo.”
By and large, the entrepreneurship boot camp sessions have been acknowledged by the trainees as relevant, practical and very useful as they are about to make their life-changing decisions in the not too distant future.
“Sa boot camp na ito nalaman rin namin kung ano ang dapat gawin para sa mga nag-uumpisa at sa pagpapalago ng naumpisahang negosyo… ang aking natutunan ay maari ko nang i-apply sa aking venture business. Dahil sa mga lectures nalaman ko kung paano sinupin ang kita at gastusin sa pang araw-araw na pamamalakad ng negosyo. Kasama na rito ang pag-identify ng assets and liabilities na mailagay sa libro ng kumpanya”, concluded Col. Almuete.
Through it all, Ascenior maintains a lean organizational structure and most of its activities are conducted online. While most of the organization’s Team members are based locally, one of them – MS. LEVICEL ELEAZAR CALANG is currently pursuing her Master in Management Innovation and Entrepreneurship with Queen’s University Smith School of Business in Canada.
Ms. Calang co-founded Ascenior and serves as its strategy and innovation director. Her corporate insights encompass the Ascenior brand of service and corporate commitment as she also professes the organization’s self-confessed determination to champion the creation of alternative futures for the Filipino senior communities, to wit:
“Reimagining retirement and ageing. Building healthy and productive communities that fight ageism -- this is what makes Ascenior distinct and a first of its kind in the Philippine training and consulting industry. We are a pioneer in delivering senior-focused holistic entrepreneurship programs and capacity building interventions in the country.”