13/10/2026
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FEATURE | It was never just about the job. Beyond the uniform he wears is a person who chooses to do what is right, even when it is not required of him.
For almost 17 years, Luciano T. Recallo has served the University of Cebu (UC). As a security guard, he has witnessed the lives of students, faculty members, and guests who enter and leave the university grounds.
On Thursday, October 1, Erika Zandra Muñoz lost her mini bag containing personal belongings, including a mini fan, a wallet, and essential cards. Security Guard1 (SG1) Recallo turned over the bag to the Civil Security Unit (CSU) for safekeeping until its owner could claim it. The following day, when Muñoz returned to look for her belongings, Recallo was able to return the bag to her.
Now 48, SG1 Recallo resides in Quiot, Pardo, Cebu City. He began working at UC in 2009, when he was in his early 30s. Like anyone starting in a new workplace, he had to adjust to the environment, become familiar with the campus, and learn the policies he was expected to uphold.
As the years passed, UC became more than just a workplace. The benefits, privileges, and opportunities he received gave him more reasons to stay and continue serving the university community.
“Maayo kaayo ang UC sa akoa, daghan benefits,” Guard Recallo shared.
His years of service have brought both good and difficult experiences. One that he will not easily forget happened during Typhoon Odette. While on duty and checking the building for possible damage, he was caught in a dangerous situation when the canopy of the CBE building fell. The incident became a near-death experience, one that could have made him question whether his work was worth the risk. Still, he continued serving at UC.
But his service cannot be measured by the difficult situations he has faced alone. For SG1 Recallo, discipline means doing what is right and following the university’s rules. He believes students, as members of the UC community, should learn to be disciplined, honest, and responsible.
“Dili man kinahanglan na atong buhaton ang maayo tungod lang kay atoa nang trabaho. Ato dapat nang buhaton kay mao na'y sakto ug mao nay angay buhaton sa isigka-tawo," he said.
The lost bag was not the first valuable item he had encountered on campus. Over the years, students have accidentally left their belongings behind, and his response has remained simple: if something does not belong to him, he returns it to its rightful owner.
His actions may seem ordinary, but they reflect the values he chooses to uphold. Wearing a security uniform requires discipline and commitment, but returning someone’s lost belongings is also a matter of honesty and consideration for others.
For Kuya Guard Recallo, doing what is right goes beyond fulfilling the duties of a security guard. It is also about the kind of person he chooses to be and the responsibility he carries as part of the UC community.
Written by Denise Alegrado
Layout by Sheen Dulce
