For aspiring engineers, building a career in energy takes more than mastering formulas. It also calls for adaptability, discipline, and the character to solve problems beyond the classroom.
These lessons took center stage as around 900 engineering students from Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology (NEUST) joined PowerConvos, Meralco Power Academy’s (MPA) lecture series connecting future energy professionals with the people helping shape the industry.
Held in September, the activity brought together One Meralco leaders from electricity distribution, retail electricity supply, and power generation. Speakers shared perspectives on the sector’s challenges and opportunities, alongside practical advice on making the transition from student life to professional practice.
Organized by the Manuel V. Pangilinan-led energy education institution, PowerConvos goes beyond technical knowledge and career guidance. Through the experiences of industry practitioners, it highlights the resilience, adaptability, and passion needed to build meaningful careers in energy.
MPower Senior Vice President and Head Redel Domingo urged students to look beyond academic results and develop the character to navigate unfamiliar challenges.
“Your grade measures how you took a test on a day. Your character measures how you solve the problems when no one gives you the formula,” he said.
MGreen President and Chief Executive Officer Dennis Jordan offered a perspective on engineering’s lasting impact, sharing his experience leading MTerra Solar, described as the country’s largest integrated solar photovoltaic and battery facility.
For Jordan, the project represents both an engineering achievement and an investment in the communities it will serve for years to come. He highlighted its major infrastructure, including a 230 kV substation and a 230-to-500 kV substation.
“I will not be around to see all the years that this plant will be designed to run. This facility will continue to provide power to the communities,” he said.
His message gave students a glimpse of the responsibility that comes with the profession: the systems engineers build today can support communities well beyond their own careers.
Meralco Vice President and Deputy Head of Integrated Asset Management Ma. Cecilia Domingo, meanwhile, emphasized education’s role in preparing students for the demands of professional life.
“Real-life situations can be challenging, but our discipline should have equipped us to face those challenges,” she said.
By bringing students into direct conversation with industry leaders and technical experts, PowerConvos makes the changing energy landscape more tangible. Participants gain firsthand perspectives on emerging trends, workplace expectations, and the competencies needed to contribute to the sector.
Through PowerConvos and its continuing partnerships with academic institutions, MPA is strengthening the connection between education and industry—helping aspiring engineers turn classroom knowledge into the skills, judgment, and sense of purpose needed to power the country’s future.
