Power generation rarely happens in the spotlight.

Most of the work occurs inside control rooms, across wide solar fields, or within the legal frameworks that guide complex energy projects. At Meralco PowerGen Corporation (MGEN), women are taking on key roles across these areas—helping operate plants, manage renewable energy assets, and shape the strategies behind one of the country’s largest generation portfolios.

Their work reflects a broader shift within the power sector as more women move into technical, operational, and leadership roles traditionally dominated by men.

Three professionals from different parts of MGEN’s organization show how this change is unfolding inside the company.

In the Control Room

At MGEN Thermal’s Cebu facility, Engr. Cristine Albarando works at the heart of plant operations.

The control room is where system parameters, alarms, and operational decisions converge. From here, engineers monitor plant performance and coordinate with operators and maintenance teams to ensure stable generation.

Albarando approaches the role with discipline. She routinely arrives at the plant 20 to 30 minutes before her shift begins.

Those early minutes allow her to prepare for the day before stepping into the control room environment.

Operations begin with a toolbox meeting where the team discusses ongoing maintenance work, plant conditions, and operational priorities. Once the shift starts, monitoring systems and coordinating with field operators become the focus.

For Albarando, the significance of the job only became clear once she entered the power industry.

Originally encouraged by her father to pursue mechanical engineering, she later realized the scale of responsibility tied to running a power plant.

“This experience has changed my perspective. Initially I had doubts because I deeply respected the weight of the responsibility,” she reflects. “But because of the management’s trust and support, the encouragement from my colleagues; I have learned to accept my role. This has shaped me to become a leader. A woman who used to have fear and doubts is now a woman with pride and confidence.”

Every operational decision inside the control room ultimately supports electricity supply for households, businesses, and critical facilities that depend on reliable power.

Managing Solar Generation

While thermal plants require constant monitoring of mechanical systems, solar facilities demand a different kind of operational vigilance.

At MGEN Renewables’ Bulacan Solar Plant, Site Manager Engr. Jennylene Baluyot oversees both the performance of the facility and the coordination of the team responsible for its daily operations.

The work starts with performance data.

Baluyot reviews generation levels against targets and checks the status of alarms, inverters, and other system components. Once the numbers are reviewed, attention shifts to field inspections.

A walk across the solar facility provides a ground-level assessment of module conditions, equipment performance, and environmental factors affecting generation.

Solar plants may appear simple from a distance, but maintaining stable output requires constant oversight.

During one operational challenge, a major inverter issue forced a portion of the plant offline during peak solar hours. The situation demanded immediate action.

Sections of the facility had to be isolated, affected systems restored where possible, and tasks distributed quickly across the operations team.

“Leadership under pressure isn’t about having all the answers instantly. It’s about staying calm, making informed decisions with the data you have, and trusting your team,” she reflects.

The experience reinforced her approach to leadership inside the plant.

“Being a woman leading an entire plant means breaking expectations—both my own and those set by the industry—and proving that leadership is defined by capability, not gender. It’s about showing up every day with confidence, making tough decisions, and leading with both strength and empathy.”

Structuring the Business Behind the Plants

Beyond the operational side of power generation, large energy companies also depend on legal strategy and governance to move projects forward.

At MGEN, this responsibility falls in part to Atty. Maan Ballesteros.

As Chief Legal Counsel and Corporate Governance and Compliance Officer, she helps guide the regulatory, contractual, and governance structures that support MGEN’s energy portfolio.

The role intersects with nearly every part of the company’s operations.

Thermal plants, natural gas facilities, and renewable energy projects all operate within regulatory frameworks that shape how they are built, financed, and operated.

Ballesteros works within this intersection of law, business strategy, and risk management.

Her career path did not initially follow expectations. Growing up, medicine was considered the more likely profession.

She chose law instead.

Today, that decision places her at the center of many of the company’s strategic decisions.

“Legal strategy doesn’t exist in a vacuum, and is rarely purely legal in nature. It means knowing when to ask for help, who to ask, being open to different perspectives, and aware of others’ strengths,” she explains.

Legal decisions in the energy sector often require collaboration across engineering teams, management, regulators, and business partners.

Understanding those relationships—and how different perspectives shape decision-making—has become central to her work.

A Changing Industry

The stories of these three professionals reflect a broader evolution in the Philippine power sector.

Technical expertise, leadership ability, and strategic thinking are increasingly defining career opportunities across the industry, opening doors that once seemed limited.

For Baluyot, visibility matters for younger women considering careers in engineering or energy.

“They can lead, they can excel, and they can belong in this field. And more importantly, they can do it in their own way, bringing their unique strengths with them.”

Ballesteros sees leadership in similar terms—grounded in confidence and self-worth.

“Creativity has no gender; humility has no gender; persistence has no gender; exuberance has no gender. I don’t sing very well, but when I do, I do it with unbridled enthusiasm. I guess it’s the same for most things. Protect your self-worth and from that, you can achieve anything.”

For Albarando, the message is directed to the next generation entering the workforce.

“To any girl who thinks this world wasn’t made for her, I would say, ‘This world wasn’t made for you. It was waiting for you to redesign it. I am living proof that our perspective, resilience, and skills are exactly what the future of energy requires. Step in, take up space, and remember that by building your career here, you are lighting the path for every girl who will come after you.”

Across MGEN’s operations—from plant control rooms to solar facilities and corporate strategy—women are increasingly shaping how the company delivers power and prepares for the country’s evolving energy landscape.

Follow Power Philippines on Facebook and LinkedIn or join our Viber community for more updates.