What’s your job about?
I work for Aboitiz Power, a company that runs baseload thermal power generation plants to produce renewable energy.
As the Reliability and Performance Management Engineer, my main job is to keep the plant running at 100% capacity. I observe its performance over 6-12 periods and look for trends. I monitor its performance over 6-12 periods, spot trends, and decide on changes in operation and maintenance to ensure the plant's continuous operation. My role is crucial because if the plant goes down, there's no electricity for anyone.
What does a day in your job look like?
Communication is key in my line of work, especially when individuals from other countries drop by to share innovative plant improvement techniques. Since my job is technical, I need to grasp the foreign experts' discussions and relay them clearly to the field technicians. I'm sometimes on call for equipment tests, and when there's an issue, I'm responding to calls on Saturdays or at night. I also spend a good chunk of my time in meetings with management and executives, presenting data for long-term action plans and conducting cost-benefit analyses to improve the plant's health. It can be a bit nerve-wracking to present to management, but having all the facts and data on hand builds confidence in my analyses.
What’s your background?
I'm from Pagadian City, Mindanao, and got a boost in my engineering journey through a scholarship at the Philippine Science High School. My interest in electronics since I was a kid guided my career path. When I grew up, I already knew I was interested in electronics. Whenever my parents bought me toys, I enjoyed disassembling them and looking at the inside parts, then attempting to reassemble them again. Understanding my interests and capabilities from an early age helped my career move forward.
After some twists and turns between universities, I finished my BS Electrical Engineering as a Dean’s Lister at Cebu Institute of Technology. Two years of training in a power plant in Cagayan de Oro sealed the deal, giving me a taste of real work inside the plant. My curiosity, fueled by questions, led me to understand plant processes through various means.
Could someone with a different background do your job?
You don't have to be an electrical engineer specifically; any engineering background works! Just be ready for the challenge, have solid communication skills, and carry yourself with confidence.
What’s the coolest thing about your job?
The mentally stimulating tasks keep me excited. I love tackling challenges, and finishing tough jobs feels incredibly rewarding.
What are the limitations of your job?
Impatience can be tempting, especially with higher salary offers, but it's crucial to weigh the impact on personal life. I've resisted tempting offers to avoid relocating away from my family. Dealing with occasional demotivation due to additional workload is a challenge, but sharing knowledge with the team helps us all grow.
3 pieces of advice for yourself for when you were a student?
The keyword is patience!