Current v.1.2 by Current Magazine (First Philippine Holdings Corporation)

Volume 1.2

LESSONS ON CREATIVITY FROM A DISNEY IMAGINEER

Behind the scenes with a former theme park designer—a Current exclusive!

WOMEN IN POWER Agnes de Jesus (FPH/EDC) Valerie Dy Sun (First Gen) Trixie Roque (First Gen)

CARLO AND CHIP VEGA First Gen’s “baker and brewer” brothers on work and values

Inspired by values

GOOD

FEATURES 16 29

THE GRID

Events that powered us from June to September 2014

PULSE

FPH citizens on how they want to be “powered by good”

Women in Power

POWER BANK

On audacity, branding, and creativity

UNPLUG

We’ve got you covered this rainy season

ALSO INCLUDED

32 First Gen’s Carlo and Chip Vega talk about work and values

29 Prepare your own home emergency kit!

CURRENT

The TEAM

PUBLISHER Federico R. Lopez EDITORIAL BOARD Maria Milagros Agustines Ramon Carandang Anna Karina Gerochi Danilo Gozo Shirley Hombrebueno EDITORIAL TEAM Lorenne Alejandrino Joel Gaborni Joan Santiago Rhea Tacata Niña Terol-Zialcita Hazel Velasco Suzette Zapanta CONTRIBUTORS Writing Milo Alejo (EDC) Frances Ariola (EDC) Gerbs de Castro (EDC) Sidney Cordero (First Gen) Photography Lorenne Alejandrino (FPH) Gerbs de Castro (EDC) Ivy Henson (EDC) Ria Silvino (FPH) Jules Terrado-Acosta (First Gen) Illustrations Lorenne Alejandrino (FPH) Amiel Lapuebla Jen Mandia Elena Sapnit Current is an internal publication of First Philippine Holdings Corporation (FPH)

with office address at 4th Floor Benpres Building, Exchange Road corner Meralco Avenue, Ortigas, Pasig City. It is intended for limited circulation and not for general public consumption. Unless otherwise stated, the contents of this publication—including all original photos, art, and text—are the intellectual property of FPH. Reproduction of photographs, articles, or any portion of this publication, whether in whole or in part, is prohibited unless written permission is secured from the Publisher. While care has been taken to ensure that the information contained is accurate as of the time of printing, some details may have changed as of the time of publication. As applicable, responsibility for any information and views set out lies entirely with the relevant author. Any such views do not necessarily reflect the official position of FPH nor of its management. FPH, the Publisher, and the editors may not be held responsible for the use which may be made of the information contained herein. For feedback, contact the following: Tel: (+63 2) 449 6121 Fax: (+63 2) 631 4089 Email: current.fph@gmail.com

THE LOPEZ CREDO We, as employees of the Lopez Group of Companies, believe that our primary reason for being is to serve God and the Filipino people. Thus, we shall always conduct ourselves in a manner that is mindful of the long-term mutual benefit of the Lopez Group, and the various publics we serve. We will be responsible stewards of all our resources, and conscious of our obligation to present and future generations. Since 1928, and in the years and generations to follow, our commitment to the distinctive Lopez values will not change as we remain committed to serve our stakeholders.

THE LOPEZ VALUES In our service to the Filipino people, we will be guided by the following distinct Lopez values: • A pioneering entrepreneurial spirit • Business excellence • Unity • Nationalism • Social justice • Integrity • Employee welfare and wellness We know from generations of experience that it is by living according to these values that a company can be built to last.

Beckett Expression Radiance 118 gsm

Editor’s Note CURRENT

HEN YOU WAKE UP IN the morning and look in the mirror what’s the first thing you say to yourself? Is it “Hellooo, Gorgeous?” Or more like “Helloooo, Godzilla?” I really hope it’s the former, but I’ll take a wild guess and say it’s the latter. While it may seem funny, the inner conversations we have with ourselves are reflective of our own internal perceptions and often indicate the value we place on ourselves. Conversely, how we present ourselves to the world, our personal branding so to speak, may also communicate the value we peg on ourselves—from our clothes, to our hair, to the shoes we wear, and the car we drive—these all give others a clue as to who we may be. Now, it’s all too easy to buy the latest car and wear the most fashionable shoes, but what about alignment with our interior lives? In Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) this is known as “congruency,” or being “congruent.” Being out of alignment with our “true north,” or being dis-congruent, can manifest itself in many ways: from mere dissatisfaction with our lives, to

extreme neurosis and even lifethreatening health conditions. The center knows when the wheel isn’t balanced, so it makes sense to take the time to align the two by setting our inner compass in the right direction. In Jungian psychology this is also known as the search for Authenticity, which often manifests itself at crucial points in our lives: at mid-life, otherwise known as a mid-life crisis, or if you’re younger, a quarter-life crisis. Often the butt of a million jokes, these challenging points are actually crucial to a person’s development, and, if navigated successfully, can bring immeasurable satisfaction to a person’s overall wellbeing. The search for Authenticity is one that involves reuniting the two selves within us: the self we have developed for society’s benefit, and the original Self, which we usually discard around the age of five. So the journey to Authenticity includes the right timing , which usually occurs at certain points in our lives; the right mindset —you need to want to look into that mirror and examine your core; and, with that, a dose of courage —reuniting the two selves is often a challenging and

disruptive task that isn’t for the faint of heart. And many give up finding their “True North” just because it’s easier to keep heading south through sheer momentum. It’s a process we went through when unearthing the True North or Authentic Brand that is FPH. We looked backward and throughout history to determine where the light and dark spaces were—the happy stories and the challenging times. And then we looked forward to where we wanted to head into the future. Then we looked inside, at the core of what this organization is truly about, and have set out to align all three, together with the authentic entity and vision of the new leadership. What did we find? That we are all about the seven values we espouse. That we are each and every one committed to those values, not just at work, but also in our own lives. Like attracts like, and the people working here have found their way through a magical resonance, recognizing a culture that reflects their own. We’re a “Challenger Brand” (as discussed in the cover story for this issue), so we are never going to stop challenging the status quo both outside and within. And when it comes down to the wire, we’ve drawn a line and marked our way, adhering to what we believe in, keeping the faith, facing True North, and Powered by Good. So take that, Godzilla.

Deedee G. Agustines

INTEGRATED CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS: STEWARDING THE FPH BRAND. (Front row, L-R) Deedee Agustines, Danny Gozo, and Estela dela Paz; (back row, L-R) Lorenne Alejandrino, Joan Santiago, Niña Terol-Zialcita, Rhea Tacata, Joel Gaborni, Gizelle Abcede, Hazel Velasco, Beverly Navarra, and Evie Concepcion. NOT IN PHOTO: Ricky Carandang and Suzette Zapanta.

www.fphc.com

The

Grid GET TO KNOW THE 22 LAA 2013 CYCLE SEMI-FINALISTS After receiving a record-breaking 50 entries for the 2013 Cycle of the Lopez Achievement Awards (LAA), the LAA Screening Committee has released the list of the 22 semi-finalists who will vie for the Awards on September 24, 2014. They are the following:

OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT

1. ENERGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (EDC): Adapting the Cloud to Revolutionize EDC Computing and Collaboration 2. FIRST GEN HYDRO: Relentless Pursuit to Restore Pantabangan Unit 1 Averts Php690 Million Revenue Loss 3. ABS-CBN: ABS-CBN News Integration “One News Service, 360 Delivery” 4. EDC: Immediate Return to Service of LGBU Power Plants

CUSTOMER FOCUS CATEGORY

1. ABS-CBN: 60 Years of Philippine Television: Kwento Natin Ito Celebrating the Shared Story of ABS-CBN and the Filipinos 2. SKYCABLE: Kapamilya Kita Sky’s Personal Concierge Service Spreads the Gospel of “WOW at Saya” to Subscribers 3. ABS-CBN: It Takes a Man and A Woman – Beyond PH 4. ABS-CBN: Halalan 2013 Selling the MidTerm Election Coverage to a Diverse Audience 5. ABS-CBN: Got to Believe Bridging the Gap Between Television and Social Media 6. ABS-CBN: Growing the Business Outof-the-Box and Beyond the Realm of Visual Storytelling Expertise

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT CATEGORY

1. ASIAN EYE Quick Turnaround From An Imminent Loss 2. ABS-CBN Star Events Integrated Music Experience: Revolutionizing MultiRevenue Streams 3. FIRST BALFOUR Strategic Contracting for Sustainable Growth

HUMAN RESOURCE FOCUS

1. SKYCABLE: Sky Star Awards: Recognizing Sky’s Winner Who WOW!

CORPORATE IMAGE-BUILDING

1. SKYCABLE: Animo Sky Zambo – The Spirit of SKY-Zamboanga 2. ABS-CBN: The ABS-CBN Film Restoration Project: Bridging Generations Through the Revival of Philippine Cinematic Gems

PUBLIC RESPONSIBILITY

1. ABS-CBN: Tulong Na, Tabang Na, Tayo Na: A Paradigm Shift in Disaster Response Management 2. KNOWLEDGE CHANNEL: LEEP (Learning Effectively Through Enhanced Pedagogies) A Program for Teachers and Principals in Response to the Reforms in the Philippine Education System Particularly as it Transition to K+12 3. SKYCABLE: Ang Tugon ng Sky sa Yolanda: Saya at Pag-Asa Para Sa Kapamilyang Nasalanta

GET TO KNOW THE LAA 2013 CYCLE’S PANEL OF JUDGES (in alphabetical order)

LOPEZ FAMILY • Mercedes L. Vargas, President and Executive Director, Lopez Group Foundation INTERNAL JUDGES • Edwin S. CoSeteng, Senior Vice President, First Philippine Holdings Corporation (FPH) • Agnes C. De Jesus, Chief Sustainability Officer, FPH • Raymund T. Miranda, Chief Strategy Officer, Chief Risk Officer, ABS-CBN • Jonathan C. Russell, Executive Vice President, First Gen • Rodrigo M. Montinola, Chief Operating Officer, SkyCable • Carlos Pedro C. Salonga, Vice President, First Balfour • Victor Emmanuel B. Santos, Jr. Senior Vice President, First Gen EXTERNAL JUDGES • Arthur Luis P. Florentin, Managing Director, Center for Innovation, Change, and Productivity (CICP) • Nestor O. Rañeses, Director, University of the PhilippinesInstitute for Small-Scale Industries (UP-ISSI)

THE GRID

• ACTS OF SELFLESSNESS In which employees or teams of employees volunteered a significant amount of their time and resources without regard to their personal interests, and performed other outstanding acts of volunteerism without seeking public recognition or reward The Yolanda Heroes will be honored alongside the LAA awardees on September 24, 2014. Due to venue constraints, the number of awardees will be limited to three representatives per team, depending on the results of the deliberation.

4. EDC: Humanity, Humility, and Hope: Our Story of Kapamilya Spirit Shining Through Despite the Yolanda Crisis 5. ABS-CBN FOUNDATION, INC: Championing Puerto Princesa Ecotourism Sites: Paving the Way Towards Greener Philippines 6. ABS-CBN: Failon Ngayon: Moving People to Action – Internationally Recognized People’s Partner in Bringing About Positive Change in the Philippines

The next stage is the final evaluation and selection of finalists by the panel of judges, which will be composed of Lopez Group senior executives and external judges. This will be followed by the approval and confirmation of winners by the Lopez Group Executive Committee.

LOPEZ GROUP TO HONOR ‘YOLANDA HEROES’

To recognize the many everyday heroes that emerged from the Lopez Group in the wake of Typhoon Yolanda in November 2013, the Yolanda Heroes Awards was launched in June 2014. Forty-one (41) nominations were received, comprised of 16 individual nominees and 25 team nominees. Similar to the LAA process, nominations for the Yolanda Heroes Awards were screened and deliberated on by a distinguished panel of judges. Nominations shall be evaluated according to the following criteria: • ACTS OF BRAVERY/COURAGE In which employees or teams of employees either courageously acted to ensure the safety and well-being of people in the workplace; or made a huge personal sacrifice—and even exposed one’s self to potential danger—in an effort to help in search and rescue efforts, or to secure the safety of fellow employees and other persons alike • ACTS OF LEADERSHIP In which employees or teams of employees mobilized, led, guided, and inspired people; provided a strategy or planned courses of action to overcome extreme difficulties or lifethreatening situations

GET TO KNOW THE YOLANDA HEROES AWARDS PANEL OF JUDGES (in alphabetical order)

INTERNAL JUDGES • Arthur De Guia, Managing Director, First Philec • Elpidio Ibañez, President and COO, FPH • Miguel L. Lopez, Vice President, Lopez Holdings; Senior Vice President, Rockwell Land • Oscar R. Lopez, Jr., Vice President, FPH EXTERNAL JUDGES • Lourdes Almendras, Member, Center for Family Ministries (CEFAM) • Perla Catahan, former SVP and Comptroller, FPH • Jay Jaboneta, Head, Corporate Affairs, Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP); Gawad Eugenio Lopez Awardee • Luz Laguitao, Vice President, Personnel Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP)

FIRST GEN RECOGNIZED BY FINANCE ASIA AS ONE OF THE PHILIPPINES’ BEST COMPANIES

First Gen was recently recognized as one of the Philippines’ best companies, in awarding ceremonies organized by Finance Asia, the region’s authoritative publication on finance, investment banking, economic and capital markets, and news. Results of the 2014 Best Company Poll showed that, among Philippine companies, First Gen ranked third in the Mid-Cap Category; seventh in the Best Corporate Social Responsibility Category; and eighth in the Best Investor Relations Category.

(From left to right): Lorenzo T. Roxas, Chairman and President, Maybank ATR Kim Eng Securities, Inc.; Ramon Araneta, Chairman, Maybank ATR Kim Eng Securities, Inc.; Emmanuel P. Singson, First Gen Senior Vice President, Chief Finance Officer, and Treasurer; and Manuel N. Tordesillas, President and CEO, Maybank ATR Kim Eng Capital Partners, Inc.

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EDC NAMED ONE OF TOP PH FIRMS IN CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

For the second year in a row, EDC made it to the ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard’s (ACGS) list of 50 top performing publicly listed companies (PLCs) in the Philippines. EDC’s performance, along with those of PLCs from the six participating ASEAN countries, was evaluated based on international standards of corporate governance, including the five principles of corporate governance of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The ACGS is a joint initiative of the ASEAN Capital Markets Forum and the Asian Development Bank. The ASEAN member countries that participate in the ACGS are Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

FPH GROUP GEARS UP FOR GOOGLE

Companies in the FPH Group are gearing up for greater connectivity and access to collaboration tools by signing up for Google Apps, one of the world’s largest and most popular productivity platforms online. Google Apps will enable users to access the following Google services for business use: Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Drive, and Google Hangouts (chat functions only). As of press time, 1,216 users from FPH, First Gen, First Philippine Industrial Corporation (FPIC), First Philippine Industrial Park (FPIP), and Rockwell Land are slated to migrate from Microsoft Outlook and Lotus Notes onto Google Apps by September 15, 2014. Companies that are already using Google Apps include Asian Eye Institute (AEI), EDC, First Balfour, and Thermaprime. According to Jamie Lopez, FPH Change Manager, “The decision to go Google was based on one of the FPH strategic initiatives, which is to harness synergy among the FPH group of companies. This is a transformational project that will improve the way we communicate with each other. We are changing the way we do business, by bringing FPH together.”

FPH Chairman and CEO Federico R. Lopez delivering the Chairman’s message at FPH’s Annual Stockholders Meeting

FIRST GEN, ABS-CBN LINGKOD KAPAMILYA TO DEVELOP 8 IN ECO-TOURISM SITES

Thanks to a Php5 million donation from First Gen, ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation Inc. is set to develop eight eco-tourism sites in Balud, Masbate; Pilar, Matnog, Bulusan, and Donsol, Sorsogon; Oriental Mindoro; Sibuyan Island, Romblon; and Koronadal, South Cotabato. This is in line with Bantay Kalikasan’s Grassroots Economic Environmental (GREEN) Initiative, which aims to conserve the environment while alleviating poverty through livelihood programs and community participation. Some of the proposed activities include: establishing bike trails in Jintotolo Island in Masbate, developing a firefly watching activity in Donsol, establishing ecotrails for forest trekking in Koronadal, and mangrove generation and white water kayaking in Silonay, Oriental Mindoro.

EDC BRINGS SMILES TO BAYANIJUAN

On July 11, 2014, volunteers from EDC’s “Life Hour” Volunteer Group, in collaboration with ABS-CBN Foundation’s “Programa Genio,” distributed various school supplies to Kinder and Grade 1 students of the Dayap Elementary SchoolAnnex located inside the BayaniJuan (BnJ) compound in Calauan, Laguna. A total of 100 Kinder and 265 Grade 1 pupils were given a fully loaded backpack each, containing pencils, pad papers, notebooks, an eraser, a pencil sharpener, a box of crayons, scissors, and a ruler. Life Hour also donated various reference books and extra school supplies to the school itself. The EDC “Life Hour” Volunteer Group is composed of EDC employees who are committed to providing assistance to drive social change, while Programa Genio is the education arm of the ABS-CBN Foundation. EDC wishes to thank ABS CBN Foundation’s Sales & Marketing Specialist, Ms. Wilma De Lara, for her invaluable assistance, and most especially EDC employee-volunteers and donors.

THE GRID

FPIP HOSTS JOB FAIR IN BATANGAS

On July 30, 2014, First Philippine Industrial Park (FPIP) hosted a job fair in Tanauan City, Batangas, in partnership with the Office of the Mayor of Tanauan City and the local Public Employment and Services Office (PESO). Tanauan City Mayor Thony Halili and Council Sammy Platon (Chair of the Committee on Employment) graced the event and shared job-hunting tips to the 421 applicants who attended the job fair. Sixty-nine positions were open in the following FPIP locators: Canon Business Machines (Philippines), Inc.; Citizen Machinery Philippines, Inc.; First Electro Dynamics Corp.; Honda Philippines, Inc.; IM Digital Philippines, Inc.; NEC-Tokin Electronics (Phils.) Inc.; Nestle Philippines, Inc.; Nippon Micrometal Corporation Philippines; Philip Morris-Fortune Tobacco Corp., Inc.; Shing Hung Plastics Co., Inc.; and Sonion Philippines, Inc. Also present were the following manpower agencies: Avance Pilipinas, Inc.; Helping Hand Development Cooperative; Powerlane Resources, Inc.; and Southern Global Services Multi-Purpose Cooperative.

FPH CEO Federico R. Lopez at the 2014 Annual Stockholders Meeting

These were: EDC (May 6), First Gen (May 12), FPH (May 26), and Rockwell Land (May 28). In his message to FPH stockholders, FPH Chairman and CEO Federico R. Lopez said, “The past year did not lack of challenges for us to beat, and beat them we did! I believe that the coming years will validate much of the careful and deliberate thought and planning we’ve undertaken to prime our platform of businesses for success. I have no doubt of the upward trajectory of our bottom line in the years to come, but what is even more certain is that our growth will always be underpinned by the vision we share for a better country and a better world. One that’s ‘Powered by Good.’”

FPH NET INCOME UP TO PHP 2.53B

BUSINESS CIRCUIT FPH COMPANIES HOLD ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS MEETINGS

Four publicly listed companies in the FPH Group held their respective Annual Stockholders Meetings (ASMs) in May 2014.

For the period ended June 30, 2014, FPH’s net income attributable to Parent shareholders increased to Php2.53 billion from last year’s Php1.90 billion. The growth in net income was driven by the increase in revenues, foreign exchange gains, and other income arising from the proceeds of insurance claim of Energy Development Corporation and FGP Corp.

FIRST GEN INKS ENERGY SUPPLY CONTRACT FOR 97-MW AVION POWER PLANT

First Gen, through subsidiary Prime Meridian Powergen Corp. (PMPC), has signed supply contracts with Slovakian firm Istronergo Group (IEG) for the 97-megawatt (MW) Avion open cycle natural gas-fired power plant in Sta. Rita, Batangas. Avion, set to commence commercial operations in April 2015, will be located adjacent to First Gen’s Sta. Rita and San Lorenzo natural gas power plants. It is part of the FPH Group’s target to generate an additional 1,342 MW of power to boost the Philippines’ energy supply.

EDC BACMAN UNIT 2 NOW BACK ONLINE

EDC has recommissioned Unit 2 of the Bacon-Manito (Bacman) geothermal plant in Albay and Sorsogon, after the 55-megawatt (MW) facility completed reliability runs in June. Bacman Unit 2 was shut down in March 2013 after a turbine blade sheared off and damaged the facility. In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, EDC stated that, “The unit, however, remains subject to close monitoring and/or to additional tests.”

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R E P U S ! d o o G y b d Powere

ino ne V. Alejandr n e r o L y b n io strat Words and illu Elena Sapnit y b d n u o r g k c Ba

In a humorous take on FPH’s recently launched “Powered by Good” branding campaign, we asked some of our colleagues in the FPH Group for the superpowers they wish to have for themselves. After all, haven’t we all—at some point in our lives—dreamt of having superpowers? Whatever generation you belong to—and whether or not you were obsessed with Superman, Sailormoon, or the Power Rangers—it’s always fun to wish for superhuman abilities.

N O I T A T R O P E L

SUPER PERKS Free travel

and more time to spend with my family and friends. Long-distance relationships will also not be an issue anymore. More importantly, I will never EVER be late for work again — Karyll Trinidad (First Balfour)

DO WE STILL GET TRANSPORTATION ALLOWANCE FROM WORK? ;D

PULSE

Pulse A P E TEL

THY

SUPER PERKS So I can know what women

are really thinking of! — Ryan Garcia Jr. (FPRC)

I’M FINE!!

Of course I’m not fine! Why were you looking at that other girl? Is she prettier? Is she sexier? Am I fat? Do you actually love me? Or would you rather be with her?

o t r e Pow

L A E H

CAN YOU MEND A BROKEN HEART, TOO?

SUPER PERKS So I can heal sick

people to make the world a better place! — Frances Ariola (EDC)

thE R E T N

S M A D R Eanother

to E r e Pow

SUPER PERKS So I can know

how to make their waking times better! — Aria Buscato (FPH)

Still waiting for PAYDAY on the 15th? ;P

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3 LESSONS FROM THE WORLD’S GREATEST

BRANDS BY HAZEL VELASCO (FPH)

“We are CEOs of our own companies: Me Inc. To be in business today, our most important job is to be head marketer for the brand called You.” - Tom Peters, best-selling author and management guru

HOW GOOD DO YOU WANT TO BE? Very good.

The best in the field.

The best in the world.

*Questions and answers inspired by Paul Arden. Brand logos represent the top three most valuable brands in the world (Forbes, 2013).

We used to think that branding was only for products. But today, everything is about branding. The time you show up for a meeting, the apps you choose to download, and the tools on your desk—that’s all part of branding. Welcome to the world of “personal branding”—defined by speaker and media expert Peter Montoya as the “congruency of a clear, powerful, compelling public image designed to convey who you are and what you specialize doing.” How do you build your personal brand? Here are some tips:

Porras says: “Have a portfolio of passions. You don’t have to make a career of everything that is meaningful to you, but you do need to find a place for everything that is meaningful to you. Are you great at accounting AND committed to an idealistic cause? Are you known for communication AND skilled at finding business opportunities? Honor those different parts of yourself. “Carve out a little time each week, on the job or after your work, to experiment in some way with one or your other passions,” Porras says.

1. Find your greatness.

2. Think different.

Let me tell you a story. There were two shoe brands battling for publicity at the London Olympics. The official shoe brand used the hashtag #takethestage. This was Adidas. It gained 2.9 million views. Then the rival brand launched a campaign with the hashtag #findyourgreatness. It got 4.5 million views. This was Nike. Why did this happen? Well, “Take the stage” speaks of winning, of being number one. But “finding greatness” connects at a deeper level. It whispers to a longing, a search for uniqueness and potential in all of us. It demonstrates relevance and resonance at its best. Finding greatness is knowing your core—what you do best, what you stand for, what you love to do. Love is important because, “the harsh truth is that if you don’t love what you’re doing, you’ll lose to someone who does,” says Jerry Porras, author of the international bestseller, Success Built to Last: Creating A Life That Matters. Remember that greatness doesn’t have to be one thing. Apple is not only great with design; it’s also excellent at delivering an experience. Applying this to personal branding,

“Be distinct in the way you think. See something different,” says American brand strategist Catherine Kaputa, management supervisor of the award-winning “I Love New York” campaign and founder of SelfBrand LLC. Some call this differentiation, others call it distinction. It’s what makes brands float on top of the wave, so to speak. Once YOU have identified what you do best—say you’re a top-notch structural engineer, ask: how does that distinguish you from the rest? Maybe you are a structural engineer who cares about sustainability—now that’s golden. Just as we choose products based on a value, people choose to work with us for our unique contribution to the team or to a particular situation. (Check out our infographic on the 12 types of great employees.) Distinction begins by observing what’s working and what isn’t working in your team. “For instance, what has never been questioned in your industry, business, or department? Why not? What would happen if it were...? What’s missing? How can that lead to an opportunity for you?” Ask those questions, Kaputa advises.

PULSE

How else can you be distinct? Volunteer your expertise, suggests author Barbara Stanny. People who stand out are those who “…put in long hours, especially at the outset, volunteered for unsexy assignments, signed up for extra training, accepted any public speaking opportunity that came along, returned every phone call, got involved in community organizations.” Look around. Contribute value to the team and to the company in ways that are distinctly yours.

3. Write for the ear. Shoot for the eye. Aim for the heart.

That’s from Al Tompkins, Broadcast and Online Group Leader of the Poynter Institute for Media Studies. • “Write for the ear.”—In other words, be mindful of how you sound. Auditory experience is integral to branding. Just as cars are often judged by the sounds that their engines make, or by how much noise they are able to filter out, you may be perceived by others based on what you say and how you say it. Pay attention to the words that you use and your tone and manner of speaking. Infuse your own character and color your words, but do it in the proper context. It will make a lot of difference. • “Shoot for the eye.”—Pay attention to how you look. Branding guru Peter Montoya says, “For the next two weeks, observe everything in your ‘brand environment’— what you do, every tool you use, every article of clothing you wear—all the objects that surround you and all the activities you carry out during a typical day. Ask yourself what each of these objects and activities says about you.” • “Aim for the heart.” What makes you watch or share a video? My sense is, it has something to do with feelings. Maybe it sparked happiness, pride, or plunged

you to grief. Whatever it was—it connected with you emotionally. Similarly, great people, like great brands, are able to make that connection with others. Professor Nancy Reardon says that if a hiring manager “has a choice between two candidates who are equally talented, he’ll choose one who has reputation as being the kindest and hardworking.” That’s connection. That’s heart. Successful branding always involves people. Somebody’s got to pick a restaurant, buy that shirt, or click on a website. In the same way, you’ve got people to learn from, to mentor, and to inspire. Be teachable. Be accessible. Be reachable. So look up from your keyboard. Step away from your computer. Listen to what people say about you. Listen to yourself. There in that space between what you want to be and what they perceive—is the brand YOU imagine. Want to maximize your strengths and distinct personality traits? Take the 16 Personalities Test and find out what makes you special

http://bit.ly/1gJe3kS ALSO READ, IN THIS ISSUE “8 Lessons on Creativity from a Walt Disney Imagineer” (page 25)

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WHICH BRAND OF EMPLOYEE ARE YOU? Meet 12 great employees

by Jill Geisler, head of leadership and management programs at the Poynter Institute and author of Work Happy: What Great Bosses Know Infographics by Elena Sapnit

1. THE POPULAR PACESETTERS They distinguish themselves by delivering consistently excellent work. Co-workers trust that the product will be better and the work more enjoyable when they are on the team.

8. THE GLASS FILLERS Here’s a toast to the optimists in your team. Glass Fillers refuse to see a vessel as half-empty. Their positive, can-do attitude counteracts negativity and boosts morale.

2. THE SOLUTION SPOTTERS Unlike some who are great at talking about problems, Spotters inevitably identify solutions and routinely offer to help with the work.

9. THE PLIABLE PLANNERS Pliable Planners bring the best of both worlds—structure and flexibility—to their work. They build great road maps but quickly shift gears when detours make more sense.

3. THE BOUNDARY SPANNERS Build influence by getting to know people whose roles and responsibilities vary greatly from theirs. 4. THE PERIPHERAL VISIONARIES Cousins to the Boundary Spanners, these employees take pains to see how their work affects others. They think of the big picture, and even strategically, about the organization. 5. THE JIMINY CRICKETS Like the venerable little sidekick to Disney’s Pinocchio, these employees are characterized by conscience. Jiminy Crickets deftly ask questions that get people thinking about ethics, diversity, fairness, accountability, safety, legality—helping people see past their blind spots. 6. THE EARLY ADOPTERS New technology, process, or product? These team members are out front and giving it a try, even gaining mastery. At their best, they serve as role models for others, proving that learning something new need not be intimidating.

10. THE RESPONSIBLE RISK-TAKERS Organizations need employees whose ideas break new ground. At the same time, change and innovation often involve risk. 11. THE TURNAROUND TALENTS These are the employees with whom you’ve had tough conversations, whom you’ve asked for improvement—and who eventually gave it to you. Turnaround Talents took your constructive criticism, difficult as it was to hear, and acted on it. 12. THE BRASS WHISPERERS Speaking truth to power, these are team members who will tap you on the shoulder and alert you to a bad decision, bias, or bungled message. They have a knack for helping you see things you miss, with no agenda other than looking out for the team’s welfare—and yours. (Not to be confused with the Brass Kisser, a wholly different type indeed.) Learn more about the different types of employees by typing this link or by scanning the QR code below.

7. THE CO-BRANDERS Strategically align their personal brand with the organization’s. While they develop their own voice and presence online and beyond, they do so in ways that aren’t in conflict or competition with the team’s mission. http://bit.ly/1r5kjIh

WOMEN WOMEN IN POWER by Niña Terol-Zialcita

Gl o ba l ly, women com pris e o n l y a f raction of decis ionma kers in the power and en ergy s ector, perpetuating the n o tion that power, i n deed , is a m an’s world.

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A European study entitled Women in the Renewable Energy Sector states that women make up roughly four percent of “decision-making positions” and “less than one percent” of top management positions. A similar scenario exists in the Philippines, where top executives in energy and petroleum corporations are mostly male, and where, to this day, there’s a lack of data on women in the industry. However, the increasing global demand for clean, renewable energy has created shifts in the landscape, and more opportunities are opening up for women who want to make a mark in this field.

WOMEN AND THE ‘GREEN ENERGY REVOLUTION’

In the Philippines, this view is shared by Agnes de Jesus, Chief Sustainability Officer of First Philippine Holdings Corporation (FPH). Within EDC’s annals, Agnes holds the distinction of being the second woman to be hired by the company, when it was still known as the state-owned Philippine National Oil Company–Energy Development Corporation (PNOC-EDC). Agnes was hired when PNOCEDC was still a young company blazing its own trail in developing the country’s geothermal resources. So, early in her career—and early in EDC’s corporate life—Agnes led the company’s engagement with grassroots communities; she made sure that people’s participation and indigenous knowledge were part and parcel of

geothermal development operations. With Agnes’s role, EDC’s pioneering efforts in community engagement in the geothermal energy industry were adopted in various government protocols. She also worked with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), became a ThirdParty Reviewer of World Bank country reports, and has spoken in almost 70 local and foreign conferences so far. Today, as chief sustainability officer of FPH, she guides the conglomerate’s efforts on environmental stewardship, social responsibility, governance, and business ethics. Looking back, Agnes says that there is much that a woman can bring to the “energy table,” so to speak. “Renewable energy is a space where women will find fulfillment because it is multifaceted,” Agnes shares. She also points out: “The breadth of concerns and their diversity allow women to be creative and innovative. Work in the energy sector is never boring.” “Embrace diversity,” she advises women who want to enter this sector. “Recognize that we all have contributions…Complement rather than compete.”

Agnes De Jesus

IT’S ABOUT HARD WORK AND ‘FIT’

For Valerie Dy Sun, head of Investor Relations at First Gen, success in the power industry is more a function of hard work and of “fitting” within a certain corporate culture. She shares, “Ricky [Tantoco, First Gen’s Executive Vice President] and Giles [Puno, First Gen’s President and Chief Operating Officer] would pride themselves on [First Gen being] a young organization—very dynamic. They also always spoke about ‘the fit’ [with First Gen’s culture].” Valerie shares, “I like that this workplace values hard work [and] critical thinking. I like that we respect one another…Here, opinions are highly valued. If you have a different opinion, if you have a different idea, it’s always worth saying something. Of course, it will be debated—you will have to defend it. But at the end of the day that’s how

Valerie Dy Sun

Trixie Roque

you make an argument defensible and strong—if you really can argue it out in the correct manner or if you can really prove what you’re trying to say.” In Valerie’s world, defending ideas based on hard facts is key, as her role involves corporate finance, such as fundraising, loans administration and compliance, relationship management with banks and investors, treasury, investor relations, and business development. Her 12-year career in First Gen has seen the company grow from two power plants to a diverse energy portfolio worth $4.9 billion in assets. Through its subsidiary, EDC, First Gen has also begun expanding its geothermal operations to Chile, Peru, and Indonesia. The key to personal and career growth, according to Valerie, is “putting in the work”—whether you’re male or female. “You have to rise to the occasion…[and] also deliver more if you want to get noticed.”

RISK AND COMMITMENT ARE GENDER-BLIND

Trixie Roque is another woman in First Gen who proves that risk and commitment are gender-blind. As First Gen’s Senior Manager in Business Development, she leads teams that perform technical and financial

feasibility studies, and “package” projects from investment decisionmaking to project development. Part of Trixie’s job also entails visiting power plant sites in order to monitor and oversee projects from inception to construction, and liaising with communities, government units, and agencies to get the needed community buy-in, endorsements, and permits. Because these sites are often in remote locations, this wife and mother of three often has to cross rivers, climb rocks, and go up mountains—all in a day’s work. “There was a time I was pregnant and I had to personally inspect the transmission line route across rugged terrain just to make sure the project would be completed on time,” she shares of an experience while still in PNOC-EDC. “This had to be done because we had a commitment to the community and to our stakeholders.” For Trixie, there is nothing more fulfilling than bringing electricity and helping drive progress in a community. In order to succeed in this field, Trixie advises others: “You need to do a lot of extra homework. Know how to ask [questions], because what you need to know here, you won’t learn from school—you’ll learn from your mentors. You [also] must know and understand your stakeholders—no matter how big or small they are, because their support will be one of the keys to the realization and the success of the project...”

To the women, she especially advises: “Your charisma sometimes makes it hard for people to turn you down, yet you should not [act inappropriately]. Learn to be one of the boys but be aware that you have physical limits… You [also] have to be strong. If you really want to prove a point or stand by your recommendation, be firm. Stand on your own two feet.” Agnes de Jesus, Valerie Dy Sun, and Trixie Roque have shown that women, just like men, can succeed in the power sector with the right combination of attitude, technical skills, and the drive to make a mark in their field. Their backgrounds and motivations may be different, but they bring life to FPH’s mantra to be “Powered by Good” and to (literally) bring light to lives and communities. This feature was originally published as a two-part series in Business Mirror. To read the full articles, type the shortlinks or scan the QR codes below:

http://bit.ly/1ux2jwk

http://bit.ly/1xVZn8Xt

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THE MAKING OF A BRAND REBORN

BY NIÑA TEROL-ZIALCITA (FPH), WITH EXECUTIVE INTERVIEWS CONDUCTED BY DEEDEE AGUSTINES (FPH)

n June 2014, FPH citizens and viewers of some CNN programs and the blockbuster film The Amazing Spiderman 2 saw an ad that depicted paper being folded out to reveal expanding landscapes of possibilities, each fueled by different corporate entities. It was set against an orchestral score that depicted positivity and youthful energy. A new tagline, “Powered by Good,” was introduced. That was the new corporate ad of FPH, and it signaled a new direction for communicating the company’s vision and mission. The ad took over a year to develop, but its story began much earlier than that, when Benjamin “Jay” Lopez (BRL), then-Vice President for Corporate Communications of FPH and now President of INAEC; FPH Chairman and CEO Federico “Piki” Lopez (FRL); and Corporate Communications Adviser Danny Gozo met to discuss new directions for the FPH story. They felt that, with a new generation taking over the company, it was high time to reintroduce FPH to audiences old and new.

FRL

Some of the Philippines’ top advertising agencies were asked to present their ideas for the rebranding effort. Emerging as the winning agency was BBDO-Guerrero, the creative team behind the widely successful “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” campaign of the Department of Tourism (DOT). After months of careful strategizing and collaboration with key leaders from FPH, the result was a fresh and current take on what it means to be part of the FPH family, and all the good things to look forward to in the years to come. Current takes you behind the scenes for a sneak peek at the creative process, through the lenses of the individuals that made it all happen. CURRENT Why did we feel that now was the right time to embark on a new corporate rebranding campaign?

the other is talent-centricity, making sure that we get the right people on the bus and in the right seats; and synergy, getting all the different companies—no matter how diverse they were, with all of their strengths and their capabilities— working together. But for all of that to happen, you have to have a whole group of companies that’s driven by a common identity and a common purpose. It is very, very important that pulling all that together is a brand. CURRENT What were the factors and elements that we looked at before arriving at this campaign? FRL A brand has to be authentic. It’s got to really reflect your values, your DNA.

Piki Lopez (FRL) There were three themes that came out, that I had to stress on, if we were to strengthen the companies. One was strategic clarity;

BRL

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In our case, by looking back and seeing that some of the most challenging periods in our history happened because we stood very steadfast on certain principles; we came to discover our DNA and the values that have brought us to where we are today. CURRENT What were our main considerations in tapping agencies to bid for the rebranding project? Deedee Agustines (DA), AVP for Integrated Corporate Communications, FPH We looked at three things: (1) reputation; (2) track record; (3) chemistry. Chemistry was important because we needed to see that they understood—and that they “got”—what FPH is all about. Publicis and BBDO-Guerrero were the last two agencies standing. They both had strong thematic and tactical creatives which we could see going into longerterm directions. They also had a keen sensitivity to FPH’s corporate objectives. We chose BBDO-Guerrero because there was a clear alignment in terms of style and approach, and an immediate understanding of the creative brief and material we had shared with them. CURRENT How did we arrive at the tagline, “Powered by Good”? DA The first tagline that really stood out [from the agency proposals] was “A Force for Good” by BBDO-Guerrero. However, there was some apprehension on the use of the word “force”—and [seemed like it] had been used elsewhere. But there seemed to be an agreement on

the use of the word “good” as an accurate representation of the company’s values. CURRENT Let’s take a step back. What to you are the hallmarks of a successful brand? Danny Gozo (DG) They have to have the following characteristics: memorable, distinctive/unique, lasting. Almost all successful brands have these qualities. Some have more, some have less. Jay Lopez (BRL) That which truly resonates, inside and outside the organization, as who you really are. Tony Harris (TH), Chief Executive Officer, BBDO-Guerrero Successful brands are ones that are easily understood and “played back”* by their audiences. This means that the messages that the brand owners have put out are aligned with the perceptions and opinions that their consumers make for themselves. This means that every touchpoint with which a member of a brand’s potential audience comes into contact needs to reflect the overall message a brand is putting out. It is no good seeing an expensively produced commercial talking about excellent service and then calling up only to find you spend hours in a telephone queue. CURRENT What do you see as the common pitfalls in developing a brand? DG Overuse. “Powered by Good” has got to be uniquely owned by FPH! Its

subsidiaries must map out their own brand identity by themselves, but aligned with “Powered by Good”! BRL Being inconsistent, in what is said and done, with the declared values. TH I have to be a little bit careful here and name no names, but I think one of the most difficult things to get over in a branding process is to understand the brand owners and what they really want. It is absolutely crucial that the process reflects what they themselves want and where they want to be. The mistake is often to be what your audience wants you to be. I am not saying that stakeholder opinion is unimportant, but it should not be the driver. A brand owner has a vision that the audience has no sense of currently, so it should set the agenda and be proud to stand in front of the results of the process. CURRENT Why did we decide on this particular creative execution? Why 3D animation but using the “feel” of paper? DG Our creative brief to the agencies asked for communication that would stand out and convey a friendliness and approachability to a new and younger generation. There was also [a foreign ad] that captured the imagination of the group at all the meetings and became the reference material for our creative development. This then led to an organic look for the AVP animation.

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“Play back”: Advertising lingo that has similar meanings as “imbibed,” “lived out,” “reflected.” Touchpoint: A point of contact or interaction between a company and its customers or stakeholders. It really does mean that every facet of how a brand behaves is crucial–if Nike talks about an attitude of “Just Do It,” not only does it make people aware of it through sportswear and trainers, but it also puts on fun runs that anyone can join and creates fuel bands to encourage people to stick with their training. Their whole picture is very clear to consumers.

It was decided that paper, unfolding into numerous objects—a sort of animated origami—was the most charming way to showcase and communicate the look and feel of the brand. CURRENT What impact did we want to achieve with this campaign? Do you think we achieved it? DA To spark conversations, create awareness and affinity, and to highlight the companies’ values in a friendly and inclusive manner for a new generation. I think we are in the process of assessing the campaign’s effectiveness in more tangible and measurable terms. But I think, at this stage, we have certainly managed to spark a conversation. CURRENT How do you see the FPH “Powered by Good” brand taking root over time? DG I think it will be the benchmark of how we will behave as a company moving forward. How we govern. How we relate to our various publics. I expect the subsidiaries to be conscious of doing good for our country, our people, and, of course, our stakeholders. [The brand] showcases the “soul” of the corporation and underscores the Lopez values from which our DNA emanates. BRL Moving from strength to strength. In every opportunity, a chance to reflect the values that have defined who we are.

TH The FPH “Powered by Good” thought was intended to be what is known as a Challenger Brand** strategy. This means that it isolates a clear point of view about why the organization acts as it does—it deliberately sets out to make every element of their activities to play back to the motivations and values that are held most closely. It is always a brave stance because it must be unwavering and be reflected everywhere. However, when we were first given the brief, we felt very positively that FPH had all of the tools, the integrity, and the mission to deliver this promise. Over time, I hope it is adopted throughout the organization and played back unequivocally by everyone concerned. There are many, many stories throughout the organization of how the activities of FPH are ”powered by good” and hopefully the opportunity to keep telling people about them will be taken. FRL We hope that everyone in the company will come to own and live the tagline, “Powered by Good.” We want it to be a way of doing business—because it has been a way of doing business for us in the past. We probably just didn’t articulate it. Now, we’re baring our heart to our employees and saying, “This is what we’re all about.” It’s very important that we apply and demonstrate this tagline—this philosophy—in various ways, at various levels of the organization.

FPH, CHALLENGER BRAND

In sync with the Lopez values, our agency, BBDO, has defined FPH as possessing the unique characteristics of what make up a “Challenger Brand.” And we’re in good company. Together with companies like Virgin, Apple, AirBnb, Tesla, Google, Dropbox, and Gift, we’re defined by the following precepts: WHAT WE’RE NOT “Being a Challenger Brand is not about a state of market; being number two or three or four doesn’t in itself make you a Challenger.” WHAT WE ARE “Challenger is, above all, a state of mind. It is a brand, and a group of people behind that brand, whose business ambitions exceed its conventional marketing resources. As a consequence the brand will need to change the category decision-making criteria in its favor, to close the implications of that gap.”

Source: “The Eight Credos” on EatBigFish. com. Learn more by typing this shortlink or by scanning the QR code below:

http://bit.ly/1qwuTr4 Consequently, Challenger Brands behave and act a certain way. Similar to our Lopez values, here are “The Eight Credos of Successful Challenger Brand Behavior”: 1. Embrace Intelligent Naivety 2. Build a Lighthouse Identity 3. Become the Thought Leader 4. Create a Symbol of Re-evaluation 5. Sacrifice 6. Overcommit 7. Enter Popular Culture 8. Be Ideas Centered

For more information on the Challenger Brand, please see: “Rise of the Challenger Brand” on CMO by Adobe. Type this shortlink or scan the QR code below:

http://cmo.cm/Xntzi0

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Power Bank by the Current Editorial Team

t’s never easy to chronicle the rise of any corporation—much less craft a compelling narrative. Then again, as The Audacity DNA shows, not all corporations have quite as fascinating a story as First Philippine Holdings (FPH). We see this just from the opening line: “In 1992, First Philippine Holdings didn’t have a megawatt to its name.” This is FPH after Martial Law— after it was seized from the Lopez family, and mired in debt by mismanagement. This was the company turned over to Oscar Lopez in 1986. From here, The Audacity DNA details the company’s struggle to rebrand and reach a higher peak: including the initial search for a new core business—everything from manufacturing to prawn farms. As context for the company’s re-entry into power generation, the book’s author, the late Raul Rodrigo, illustrates the chaotic landscape of Philippine power in the early ‘90s: massive shortage and expensive power provided by multinationals whose sole motivation was profit. FPH saw that it could fill a need in the industry and contribute to national development. Thus, the Bauang Power Plant was born. In the book, we are given a close look into the years behind the success of the Bauang Power Plant: from altercations with foreign companies unhappy about losing out to a local group, to financing and construction

I NSPI R I NG R E A D

difficulties. At the same time, we are shown the character and the indomitable will of the core group of men who, in building Bauang, laid down strong foundations for FPH. This pattern recurs throughout the company’s journey: from the transition into cleaner fuels, to the changes brought by the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA), to more recent events. There are no attempts to gloss over hard truths here; there are only the human voices of those who put in long days and nights to hammer out deals and make crucial decisions—which sometimes meant admitting defeat. It is these voices that make The Audacity DNA a compelling read—the voices of Oscar, Piki, and Manolo Lopez; of Ernie Pantangco, Peter Garrucho, Ricky Tantoco, and Jon Russell; and of all those who share with us what it was like to work in FPH at such an exciting and harrowing time. Their accounts lend drama to what’s normally considered the sedate talk of

business—like the “just-in-time” purchase of shares that prevented the Arroyo administration from taking over Meralco early in the game. Ultimately, it is their stories that reveal what turned FPH into a true powerhouse: Audacity. The audacity of men who set out to fulfill what was thought to be an impossible mission. The audacity of leaders who knew that it wasn’t just about dreaming big for the company, but also about dreaming big and succeeding for the Philippines. The Audacity DNA does not strive to be a complete account; it ends after only six chapters—completed shortly before its author’s untimely demise. But the stories it contains are already more than enough to teach us—especially those who want to be a part of FPH’s journey into the next millennium—lessons on leadership and success—straight from the voices of those who blazed a trail and brought FPH from the lowest of the lows, to the highest peaks.

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RANDING

comprises the elements of a product or service which makes it more recognizable to their audience. These can be visual symbols, memorable phrases, design treatments, and even sounds. They make up the identity of the product or service that allows the audience to more easily differentiate one from another and therefore become more memorable for them. One key part of branding is the logo, which is a visual symbol designed to make a brand more memorable and allow consumers to access their viewpoint on them more quickly. Think about Nike’s swoosh or the four circles of Audi.

The Nike Swoosh

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BRANDING

101 FPH’s recently released POWERED BY GOOD ad is just one component of the company’s branding strategy. What exactly is “branding,” and what does it mean for our company? As shared by Tony Harris, Chief Executive Officer, BBDO-Guerrero

The Four Circles of Audi

These two are solid, but a brand is much more intangible because it is made up of what one might consider emotional elements—associations, feelings, memories, benefits, and dislikes towards a particular product that can develop and change over time in the audience’s mind as they become more familiar with the brand and its intentions. In effect

it is the means to differentiate between products or services emotionally and this is why the inputs into a marketing plan are so important.

McDonald’s branding is made up of the Golden Arches, the “I’m Loving It” jingle, signature products such as the Big Mac, Ronald McDonald, and many more. The brand is considered “fun and family-oriented,” whilst for some it is considered “American.” A brand can be different things to different people—its owners obviously hope that what they say and what people think are aligned, but this depends entirely on the audience experience. ADVERTISING—that is,“the action of calling something to the attention of the public especially by paid announcements” (Merriam—Webster), is one of the key inputs in helping to shape people’s associations and feelings towards a brand. BBDO-Guerrero is the agency on record of FPH, which developed the recently launched “Powered by Good” campaign. It was also the ad agency that launched the popular “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” campaign of the Department of Tourism (DOT). Read our cover story for a closer look at the development of FPH’s “Powered by Good” ad campaign.

www.fphc.com

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FUTURE FORWARD LESSONS FROM EDC’s 2014 Leaders Assembly by Milo Alejo (EDC) and Frances Ariola (EDC) Photos by Ivy Henson (EDC)

On July 7, 2014, EDC took to the challenge of gathering 500 of the company’s geographically spread supervisors, managers, and executives in one massive Leaders Assembly held in Manila. With a feel that was reminiscent of the cult films Tron, Macross Plus, and The Matrix Trilogy, the 2014 Leaders Assembly, dubbed “Future Forward,” served as a rallying point for an organization that had just survived the “world’s strongest storm in recorded history” and was bursting to move forward with high energy. The event also served as the launch of an internal tagline, “The Power of

Nature is In You,” an internal marketing campaign that aims to connect EDC employees to the recently launched FPH brand (“Powered by Good”) and inspire them towards a 2020 goal of reaching US$1 billion in revenues. HIGH TECH Powered by high technology tools, the 2014 Leaders Assembly featured innovative ways to communicate this year’s messages. Participants registered using bar codes imprinted in their name tags. EDC leaders used videos to enhance their messages. Senior Vice President and Chief Finance Officer,

Nestor Vasay, made use of augmented reality (AR) technology to update EDC leaders on the company’s financial and strategy performance. Elizabeth Nasol, Vice President for Human Resources, imparted her thoughts with the use of real-time drawing effects. Through these innovations and other high-tech touches, EDC leaders were reminded to embrace new technologies and make them instrumental to the company’s success. ALL HEART In spite of the gloss and polish of the event, participants were also

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heavily engaged in modules that used a “back-to-basics” approach. The “Leaders’ Dialogue” was a town hall session where EDC executives openly answered more than 30 questions from the audience. As a reminder of the importance of safety in any EDC undertaking, Dr. Ted Esguerra, EDC’s Disaster and Crisis Head, talked about disaster preparedness with his signature dash of humor. Finally, Seaoil President Glenn Yu gamely shared his insights and experiences on how he transformed Seaoil into one of the country’s oil and gas leaders. To incite commonality despite their differences, the Leaders Assembly featured an internal marketing campaign centering on FPH’s brand “Powered by Good.” Through a special video, EDC Chairman Federico R. Lopez (FRL) linked the branding initiative with the Lopez Family Values. FRL also praised EDC’s response to Supertyphoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in 2013, citing that this showed him that EDC was already “powered by good” even before the company joined the Lopez Group of Companies. “For me, nothing can be as inspiring for a leader to see ordinary people just doing what you did…The good that you did inspired a lot of us,” the Chairman pointed out. The moving finale of the event, showing EDC leaders linking hands and converging toward a central point, demonstrates that at the core of EDC’s success are its people—diverse but unified, fueled by passion, and powered by good.

5 TIPS FROM THE CORE TEAM ON HOW TO MOUNT A SUCCESSFUL EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT EVENT 1. Be ambitious. Start with a very aggressive event. Even if you scale down later, the end result will still be better than average. 2. Build a diverse team. Select members from different functional departments and age groups. Make sure there’s a healthy mix of male and female perspectives. Make the most of the collaborative outputs of your right-brained and left-brained colleagues. 3. Choose a strong leader. From the core team, choose a leader that everyone will respect and follow. She/He will have the hard job of sifting through all the great ideas. She/He doesn’t have to be a manager. EDC’s 2014 Leaders Assembly was managed by Ms. Grace Non, a supervisor from the Human Resources Management Group. 4. Outsource. You don’t have to do everything yourselves. Look for third-party service providers whom you can trust to deliver your requirements. For EDC, we’ve chosen to partner with Creation Station and Director Raymond Lauchengco. 5. Go with the flow. In spite of all your planning, you may run out of back-up plans. Sometimes the best ideas come from adrenaline-rich situations.

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CREATING A FUTURE WITH FIRST GEN By First Gen Corporate Communications and HR Management The invitation to the First Gen General Assembly (GA) on August 4, 2014 said, “Discover a future of energy possibilities…a future created by You and First Gen!” Everyone came with different expectations. Everyone left with a deeper sense of purpose and a clearer sense of identity as part of the First Gen team. The message shared by our President, Giles B. Puno (GBP), was clear: “We’re pushing forward on all fronts. We need all hands on deck, moving as one to execute our plans and deliver the results.” In this important assembly of over 200 employees, the company’s leaders shared First Gen’s directions and key initiatives, including the continued development of natural gas, hydro, and geothermal projects; entry into the wind and solar spaces; and geothermal exploration in Latin America and Indonesia. The company is also looking to pioneer the pursuit of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as an alternative fuel supply source for existing and future projects. There was a palpable excitement as employees considered the magnitude of these projects and their significance to national development. The assembly was also an opportunity for employees to revisit the company’s past, and deepen their appreciation of the respective roles they played, and continue to play, in promoting First Gen’s long-term growth. From 42 MW in 1995, First Gen’s net attributable capacity now stands at 2,158 MW—and growing. From using a single fuel (bunker), First Gen also has diversified its fuel mix; its power plants now rely primarily on clean, indigenous, and renewable energy sources. The reach of electricity that the company produces likewise has widened from Luzon to the Visayas, Mindanao and soon, beyond the Philippines. Of course, there have been many challenges that have confronted First Gen along the way, but according to GBP, the company has something working to its advantage. “The

First Gen Group achieved its current position through its people,” he said. “Their competence and commitment are what will bring us again to the next level of success, to our next frontier.” At the GA, First Gen Chairman Federico “Piki” Lopez shared, “We weren’t driven primarily by the need for profit and a hefty bottom line. What propelled us was a desire to build something bigger than we were, ignited by a passion to blaze new trails for the country.” In gathering as a team, and in looking back at the company’s shared history and its desired future, everyone at the GA claimed their part in First Gen’s history, and shared the dream.

We asked a few people about their insights from the GA, and here’s what they shared: “There’s pride in being a part of a great company [and in seeing] how it transformed through the years.” - Bless Pagkalinawan, HR Manager “I like the fact that we are committed to exploring different types of clean energy. I was particularly interested in hearing about our plans in solar and wind power. I believe that these are technologies of tomorrow.” - Martin Lacdao, Legal Counsel “GAs like this make me more conscious of the developments within and outside the organization. It makes employees feel proud [to be] members [of it]. It gives assurance that the organization is financially stable and stays strong amidst economic setbacks. It was fun to see the old photos and look back with a smile. It strengthens camaraderie and shows the new hires that it is worth staying, and growing old, with First Gen.” - Venus Bautista, Executive Secretary

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A ALCIT I Z L F R O M Y N I ñ A T E RNOM A N D I A E N B o n BY J E T T I R W T R AT i ILLUS

a f you’ve ever been to Disneyland, o l- Z i r e T watched Disney movies (and sang asongs y Niñ from their award-winningBsoundtracks), or have at one point or another been pestered by your children to buy Disney merchandise, it will be hard to imagine that Walt Disney, the legendary man behind the Disney empire, once faced failure. But as former Walt Disney Imagineer McNair Wilson shared, “Walt Disney built a theme park that people thought wouldn’t succeed…When Disneyland opened, Walt Disney was broke.” With boldness, audacity, and a clear vision, Walt Disney nixed the naysayers and went ahead to build an entertainment empire loved by children and adults alike from all over the world. Today, the Walt Disney Company is a diversified corporation operating globally, with businesses in “Media Networks, Parks & Resorts, Studio Entertainment, Consumer Products, and Interactive *Disney Imagineers are individuals working under Walt Disney Imagineering, the design and development arm for Disney theme parks worldwide.

l c i ta

"Curiouser and curiouser" - Adapted from Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

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McNair Wilson’s doodles

2 Media.” As of May 2014, the company has a market cap of USD142.92 billion (approx. Php6.20 trillion), ranks No. 100 in Forbes’ Global 2000, and is No. 17 among the “World’s Most Valuable Brands.” (Source: Forbes.com) At a U.S. Embassy-sponsored workshop in Manila called “The Curiosity Tour,” former Walt Disney Imagineer McNair Wilson—who was part of conceptualizing five of Disney’s theme parks and was the lead Imagineer for Disney’s “Tower of Terror” attraction—shared some lessons on creativity honed from within a world of wonder, delight, and good ol’ pixie dust.

“THE BEST TOOL OF CREATIVITY IS A QUESTION.”

Creativity, according to Wilson, is a product of one’s innate curiosity. “Never stop asking questions,” he said. “Be the other guy who says, ‘Why not?’” “The universe is expanding faster than the speed of light…if the universe, on its own, is [growing and expanding], what are you doing?!” The next time you have a problem to solve, Wilson recommends using this question: “Wonder what it would be like if we…?”

“CHALLENGE ASSUMPTIONS. ASK, ‘HOW ELSE CAN THINGS BE DONE?’” According to Wilson, another offshoot of remaining curious and asking questions is challenging accepted norms—whether it’s the way your desks are arranged in the office, the [color] of shirt and tie you think you should wear to work, or other “unwritten rules.” What else can you try that may not be in the instructions or in “how we’ve always done things,” but which can still get you the results you need? Chances are, some of your ideas may work—it’s just that no one has bothered to ask or try them out. According to Wilson, “That old saying, ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,’ is for people who are satisfied with life, work, and business as usual.” For creativity and innovation to take place, there must be openness to a certain amount of experimentation and risk-taking.

“GET OUT OF THE WAY OF INSPIRATION.”

Whether you’re in a formal brainstorming session or are sharing ideas with colleagues, there are times when you “block” others and prevent

insights and inspiration from taking root. Wilson urges, “Get out of the way!” “It’s not so much the words you say, but how you say [them that’s considered blocking],” he says. Do you raise your eyebrows when someone speaks up? Do you appear disinterested when someone’s pitching an idea? Do you immediately jump in to say why something “won’t work”? Wilson proposes a shift in perspective: “Be positive—be curious! Sometimes, it’s the most unlikely person in the room that can contribute a great idea.”

Using all the senses can help you redesign an experience, improve a product or service, identify an unmet need, or simply generate new ideas. Wilson shares the experience of a bakery off Disney’s Main Street that had a sudden spike in sales when a redesign in the chimneys allowed the scent of freshly baked chocolate cookies to waft out onto the street. “When you’re designing—when you’re creating—use all five senses,” Wilson quoted the late Walt Disney. Wilson also talks about the power of observation. Oftentimes, new solutions emerge from observing how people interact with a particular product or service. “You have to practice noticing other things,” he points out. “How can you take a familiar place or experience and look at it differently?”

McNair Wilson, former Walt Disney Imagineer

“USE ALL FIVE SENSES.”

“DOODLE. PLAY.”

A self-confessed doodler who used his love of drawing, theater, and makebelieve to build a fruitful career, Wilson suggests going back to days of childhood wonder and just playing around with paper, pens, and playful props in order to unclog the brain and spark ideas. “Seventy-five percent* of all learning is visual,” he points out. “People that doodle, focus.” He also says that “people who doodle retain 29 *Source: "Why doodling may help improve your memory,” Newsweek, last updated September 14, 2010

“Creativity is just connecting things.”

POWER BANK

afford.” Go for what excites you, and be fueled by that sense of adventure. Even if your concept does get trimmed down, you’ll still be much better off than having nothing.

possibility, making it easier to accept and try new ideas.

percent more information than people who don’t.” He also challenges traditional notions of what adults should and shouldn’t do. He says: “In all cultures, children by the age of two or three can sing, play, make stories, play dress-up… The natural urge of human beings is to be curious and creative. What happened to YOU? What if you are creative and you never found out?”

“TRY SOMETHING NEW.”

Creativity can be awakened when you try something new—sometimes, in the simplest of ways. You can try a new dish at a favorite restaurant, a different ice cream flavor, a new drink, a different route to or from work—anything. “Sometimes, some of my favorite things are things I used to hate,” Wilson admits. And that’s where new possibilities open up. If you try something new often enough, you soon shall have expanded your realm of

“START SMALL. JUST START.”

Oftentimes, the barrier to a great idea is the typical “lack of time and budget.” Wilson doesn’t see this as a hindrance— even they had some scrimping to do while at Disney—but it poses an interesting challenge to problem-solving. “Anything worth doing is worth starting poorly just to get it done,” Wilson asserts—but he doesn’t mean being mediocre. He means starting something without aiming to be “perfect”—just to get momentum going— and then improving on things as you go along. “It’s not about a big budget,” Wilson points out. “What do you want to do? Do it.” While you’re at it, give yourself a tight timeline to force yourself to come up with something, sooner than you think. Wilson urges, “Go beyond what makes sense. Go beyond what you understand. Go beyond what you can

ving “We keep mo ning new forward, ope oing new d d n a , s r o o d se we’re u a c e b , s g in th uriosity c d n a , s u io r cu g us keeps leadin ths.” down new pa

“TAKE THE RISK.”

BS STEVE JO

NEY WA LT D I S

Finally, being open to creativity and to new ideas will mean nothing if you don’t actually take risks to make something happen. “Take the risk. What do you love to do? Do it. Find a way to put into your regular work what you love the most,” Wilson exhorts. For McNair Wilson, the thespianturned-Imagineer-turned-wizard-ofcreativity, being curious and creative is not just a great way to work—it’s also a great way to live and be. “What do you do best? Are you using it every day? If you’re saving it— what are you saving it for?” He emphasizes, “Find your passion—find out what it’s about, and put it in your life. You have no excuse.” McNair Wilson (www.teawithmcnair.com) is a consultant, lecturer, public speaking coach, and the author of Hatch: Brainstorming Secrets from a Theme Park Designer. Scan the QR code below to get a free download of the complete first chapter.

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Unplug

Get

Ready for

Rain

No sun? No worries! We’ve got you covered with some rainy-day ideas for home and travel. We’ve also got food for the tummy and soul—and an up-close-and-personal look at First Gen’s “baker and brewer” brothers

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WHAT TO PACK IN YOUR

EMERGENCY BAG

With the Philippines ranking third among the world’s most vulnerable countries in terms of natural disasters, there’s no escaping the reality of floods and earthquakes, and even fires and other forms of calamities. In order to prepare your family for the inevitable, Dr. Ted Esguerra, Disaster and Crisis Team Head at EDC, urges us to keep our homes wellstocked and shows us what to pack in an emergency bag. Make sure you’ve got one for each member of your household!

FLASHLIGHTS WHISTLE

MOBILE PHONE SWISS KNIFE MEDICINES EMERGENCY KIT

BAND AID

TIN CANS

MINERAL WATER

CANDLE

MATCHES RADIO

SLEEPING BAG

BATTERIES

TOWEL & CLOTHING

ALSO REMEMBER TO PACK 1. 2. 3. 4.

Signaling or communications kit A paracord Ziplocs In one Ziploc, store these: rubber band, cash, IDs, passport, list of family contact info, duct tape, garbage bag

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Unplug

8 IDEAS FOR RAINY-DAY TRAVEL by Gerbs de Castro (EDC) and Niña Terol-Zialcita (FPH) Primary photography by Atty. Jules Terrado-Acosta (First Gen)

1. WHITE WATER RAFTING, KAYAKING, AND TUBING

Extreme water sports become a hot activity during the rainy season, as stronger rapids occur when water levels rise. We recommend white water rafting along the Chico River in Kalinga Province, Cordillera Administrative Region; kayaking at the Tibiao River in Antique; and white water tubing in Sarangani Province.

2. SCUBA DIVING

Scuba diving is popular in this country regardless of the season (except during typhoons). Several great dive spots to try are the Tubbataha Reef National Park in Palawan, The Canyons in Puerto Galera, and Apo Island in Negros Oriental.

3. WAKEBOARDING

A combination of snowboarding, surfing, and water skiing, this sport can be enjoyed in places such as the Camsur Watersports Complex in Camarines Sur, Republ1c (in Nuvali), and Deca Wakeboard Park in Davao City. Just remember to get out of the water during a storm—especially when there’s thunder and lightning.

4. SURFING

Experience the ninth best surf spot in the world, according to CNN, in Siargao, Surigao Del Norte. You could also visit San Juan in La Union, which is the Surfing Capital of the Northern Philippines. And let’s not forget the birthplace of surfing in the Philippines: Baler, Aurora Province.

5. WATERFALLS AND HOT SPRINGS

Since it’s raining anyway, why not enjoy some of our most notable waterfalls and have the water wash your cares away? Some places to start would be the Pagsanjan Falls in Laguna, the Bomod-Ok Falls in Sagada, Mountain Province, and the Ditumabo Falls in Baler, Aurora Province. The cool weather is also a great time to “normalize” your body temperature by visiting hot spring resorts. Some to try: Pansol in Laguna, the Asin Hot Springs in Benguet, and the Maguinit Hot Springs in Coron, Palawan, and several more across the country.

6. CULINARY TOURS

If you’d rather stay totally dry during the wet season, indulge instead in the best of Philippine cuisine and have a culinary tour in the destination of your choice. You can head as far north as Ilocos for their spicy, robust dishes; Pampanga in Central Luzon, to experience the “Food Capital of the Philippines”; Bacolod to indulge your sweet tooth; or Davao to get to know the durian and “bamboo cuisine.” The truth is, wherever in the Philippines you go, great food and warm welcomes are just around the corner.

7. URBAN MUSEUM HOPS

If your itchy feet want to wander about but you’re stuck in Metro Manila, make the most of the metropolis’ roster of well-curated museums. Of course, start at the Lopez Museum in Ortigas for an up-close-and personal look at the works of Juan Luna and Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo, among

other classical and contemporary works. Be amazed by the gold collection at the Ayala Museum in Makati; explore contemporary art at the Metropolitan Museum in Malate, and immerse yourself in history at the National Museum in Ermita and the Bahay Tsinoy in Intramuros. While you’re in Manila, get to know other galleries and art spaces as well for that truly rainy-day bohemian vibe.

8. SOCIAL ENTERPRISE AND “VOLUNTOURISM” TOURS

Who says you can’t help out while traveling and having fun? Gawad Kalinga’s Enchanted Farm in Angat, Bulacan welcomes visitors, volunteers, and interns year-round and shows you where some popular products such as Human Nature, Theo + Philo artisan chocolates, and Bayani Brew iced tea are made. There are also coffee farm tours—usually conducted during the harvest months of November to March—for those who want to mix travel with their caffeine fix and also get to know the local coffee farmers. For other “voluntourism” options, check out http://www.choosephilippines.com/ specials/voluntourism/. Given all these choices, travelers definitely need not worry that the rainy season has begun. One just has to look at the other side of the coin and discover a brand-new set of things to explore in our exciting archipelago. The fun never stops for a traveler.... Larga na!

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ARTS & CULTURE

ESSENTIAL MIA By Deedee G. Agustines (FPH)

If you’re lucky enough to own a painting by Mia Herbosa, you’ll realize the artist and her technique are one and the same. In person Mia is as gentle, as dreamy, and as enchanting as the colors and the impressions on her canvas, and as exacting, as detail-oriented, and as precise as her finishing touches. And her multihued life—she’s an artist as well as a wife, mother, teacher, daughter, friend, and inveterate student and traveler—is reflected in the variety of subjects she paints. She also derives inspiration from other famous painters throughout history, her teachers and mentors, and her mom, Elaine. CURRENT What’s your inspiration for your upcoming exhibit? MIA HERBOSA (MH) “The Essential Invisible”—my inspiration was this undercurrent of thought I have inside, which deals with finding truth and beauty and—I guess you would say God—in this life. I have this innate need to understand what makes life beautiful, how the heart can feel so strongly from seeing things, and how one person may grow and bloom in understanding life while another wilts and grows sour and sullen in another life. What makes for a life of value? These questions tend to run around my head most days. CURRENT What began your interest in art? MH Very early on I loved to look at picture books at home and at paintings hanging around my grandparents’ house, as well as uncles’ and aunts’. My mom always encouraged it as she obviously has a love for it herself. She was very crafty and would tell me to pose for her; I would always be curious about these things. CURRENT What is your preferred medium and why? MH Oil is my preferred medium, though I do enjoy watercolor and sculpture, as well as drawing, printmaking, and mixed media. I feel oil is a very powerful medium and it actually teaches you about life because it is so powerful and takes years to understand and master fully. It is incredibly versatile, used thick or thin, scumbled dry or veiled wet. It offers incredible possibilities of lightness and darkness in every color and affords you mistakes you may easily change along the way. It definitely has taught me much about patience and understanding and kindness towards oneself and others. CURRENT Favorite artist and why are you drawn to his/ her work? MH So plenty! After about 20+ years creating art, my list of favorites has grown far and wide and very diverse...Locally

I love Juan Luna, Felix Hidalgo, [Vicente] Manansala, [Jose] Joya, [Anita] Magsaysay-Ho— so many! I can just read about artists and art I like every day and keep on going. I also love Vincent Van Gogh more and more through the years—I think we have many similar ideas. First time I went to Europe, we caught a huge impressionist show in Paris. I was about 16 and I bought a little book about him and his letters to [his brother] Theo. Since then I was hooked on art and artists. I think he had crossed borders of time and seem to speak directly to me. And I think this is why I love art so much: it’s a one-on-one communication that transcends so many borders of time and space that at the same time fills you with bliss and wonder. CURRENT What is the most fulfilling aspect of your art? MH That I am constantly learning and I am learning in a quiet gentle way by myself, through an inner guidance, I would say. Art has been a master teacher for me and has brought me many friends from all walks of life. People I know I would never have met if it were not for this thing we call art. It has been a passport to worlds I would never have seen if I never ventured to follow this dream. CURRENT Please share two or three of your exhibit pieces and tell us a little about each: MH Maria: she is the cover of my invite. Hard to explain why I love this portrait, I just do. I am keeping it for my daughter to remember me by when I am gone. Peaches: based purely on feeling, I favor my little still lifes in this show. They are sincerely done and show the beautiful soft but dramatic north light sky light on 57th Street in Manhattan where I first learned to paint seriously and where my life changed so many years ago.

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Frame CARLO AND CHIP VEGA

MEN ON A MISSION by Niña Terol-Zialcita (FPH) and Hazel Velasco (FPH) Photography by Lorenne Alejandrino (FPH)

CHIP VEGA Age: 29 Designation: Sustainability and Energy Efficiency Policy Officer Education: Bachelor of Science in Economics major in Environmental and Natural Resource Economics, University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) Master’s Degree in Economics University of Hawaii at Manoa Work Experience: Taught Economics for three years at UPLB Years of working in First Gen: Two years From being part of the same gene pool, to going to the same schools, teaching in the same university, and eventually working in the same company, Carlo and Chip Vega have always seen themselves as a duo who’ll back each other up all the way. Although differing in years and roles, the Vega Brothers are men on a mission—and First Gen is truly fortunate to have this pair of young, bright, and talented brothers in its team.

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JARGON BUSTER:

FEED-IN TARIFF (FIT) A Feed-in Tariff is a guaranteed payment for electricity generated from emerging renewable technologies (i.e., Run-of-River

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN FIRST GEN? CARLO Chip had an internship here; I had zero connections. After my MBA, my goal was that I would be in an industry that I’d be very good at. At first, what attracted me was that First Gen’s leaders were very young. But what made me stick is that...the training and the education that I got from working here, from 2006 until today, [I feel like I want] to give back. I’ve learned so much about the industry because I was with First Gen. That’s why I feel that...part of paying back would be to serve the company for a very long time.

Hydro, Biomass, Solar, Wind and Ocean) actually delivered to the transmission and/or distribution network. The FIT System in the Philippines provides eligible renewable energy projects with support in order to promote, develop, and accelerate the use of indigenous and renewable energy sources in the country. Source: Chip Vega

YOU’RE ALSO WORKING ON A LOT OF THINGS THAT MATTER A LOT TO THE INDUSTRY… CHIP I would say so…I was involved in the work done by the National Renewable Energy Board Technical Working Group (NREB-TWG) helping get the FIT (Feed-in Tariff) System implemented. For the marketing part, my involvement has been to assist in providing our customers with customer-needspecific services that can potentially improve their systems and discuss with them renewable energy policy-related concerns.

CARLO VEGA Age: 32 Designation: Head of Power Economics and Trading Education: BS Economics major in Development Economics, University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) Master in Business Administration Asian Institute of Management Work Experience: Taught Economics for 1.5 years (three semesters) at UPLB Years of working in First Gen: Eight years

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Frame WOULD YOU SAY THAT THERE’S SOME MENTORING FROM CARLO TO CHIP AT WORK? CHIP Definitely, definitely. When it comes to the fundamentals of the industry, I think it just makes sense to learn it from him. CARLO When we talk to each other, we cannot escape conversations about work, about the industry. SPEAKING OF MENTORS, WHO ARE YOUR MENTORS AT FIRST GEN? CARLO I feel very fortunate being in First Gen because from the time that Sir Peter Garrucho (PDG) was the CEO, I considered him someone that I looked up to already…I started my real regulatory power economics training [with First Gen Chairman and CEO Federico R. Lopez]. Dennis (Gonzales) and Arman (Lapus) are people I look up to as mentors, as people to consult on everything with the power industry. My mentors also include Ricky (Tantoco), Giles (Puno), JR (Jon Russell), and EBP (Ernie Pantangco)—presenting to (and getting grilled and challenged) by the First Gen ExeCom has always been a learning experience for me. Ang dami na (There’s been a lot). Tapos siyempre (Of course), my boss, Lito (Santos)…Kokoy Villegas is also on my list—I cannot forget. Kokoy, Dennis…these are the mainstays— they’re institutions already in First Gen. Everyone has something unique to offer, and they’re very good at doing what they’re doing.

CHIP With the limited time that I’ve been with the company, I’d say that I’ve been mentored by the likes of Al Santos, Edwin CoSeteng, and Kokoy Villegas. DID IT EVER OCCUR TO YOU THAT ‘MY BROTHER’S THERE ALREADY. MAYBE I SHOULD CARVE OUT MY OWN PATH’? CHIP Upon entering, I made sure that there [would be] that opportunity to go to a separate space from him. You can’t avoid overlaps because this is one industry— [considering] that we have the same background—but I did see a different specialization, that’s why I felt confident coming in that it won’t be too much of an overlap. AND YOU HAD NO PROBLEMS BEING COMPARED. DO YOU TWO GET COMPARED? CARLO [I may have the bigger problem] because he would always achieve what I couldn’t achieve. (Laughs) There were several things…where I didn’t get in and he did. Before, I wanted to study abroad, I didn’t get to do that. But…there’s no trace of animosity or sibling rivalry, especially for me. I’m very happy that he was able to do what I wasn’t able to do. CAREER INSIGHTS WOULD YOU HAVE TIPS FOR THOSE WHO JUST JOINED THE COMPANY? CARLO (Shows a running shirt with the slogan, “Never settle”) Having been in First Gen longer, I remember this interview with FRL. He was asking, “What are you looking for?” I said, “A company I would grow old with.” This attitude that, in what you do, “never settle”… has kept me here. Because the industry is nakaka-addict (addictive). It continues to grow. At the same time…I feel like I should never settle in what I do. I should continuously develop, learn, and grow with the industry as the industry progresses. BUT THERE ARE THOSE WHO MIGHT INTERPRET “NEVER SETTLE” AS “ALWAYS LOOK FOR NEW OPPORTUNITIES.” CARLO Never settle [in terms of] your work output. Like in running, never settle for the last [running] time [score] you were able to achieve…

THE BAKER AND THE BREWER

Raised by a pair of scientists and academicians, Carlo and Chip found their scientific and creative outlets in baking and brewing beer, respectively. Both brothers also admit to being bookworms. “Most of the books…that I read, I get from [Chip]…I don’t know how he gets to buy the good books,” Carlo teases his younger brother.

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CHIP Going back to something our Tatay taught us—he taught us how to run. So you’re running, right? And you feel like you can’t run anymore. So you pick a point, then you say, “I’ll do just that.” When you reach that point, pick another point and run to that point. And when you reach that point, pick another point. And that’s how he taught us how to run…I had problems because [I had weak] lungs. But that’s how he taught me how to run…At the start you probably said, ‘I can’t’… CARLO And you’ve probably gone farther. CHIP Ten points out. CARLO Farther than where you initially wanted to go…I think in terms of our approach to life, that’s the value of [“Never settling”]. Our dad is like that—full of principles...

WHAT’S YOUR OPINION ON THE CULTURE OF INSTANT GRATIFICATION—?

CARLO We were never taught that…We were working students in college—because…we won’t be given money in excess of our allowance, which is usually very small because our house is inside the campus…Our Tatay would always say, “If you want to go out, work for it. Earn your keep.” So that has always been a family value…That drive to succeed financially as well [has always been with us]. CHIP …I think it’s healthy to maintain [an attitude where] you want something badly but balance it out with,

“Is it reasonable?” For as long as it’s within reason, that’s fine. CARLO The value that’s missing [in instant gratification] is: You have to work hard for where you want to go. It’s not as if you can get from Point A to Point B easily…All the achievement in our lives, we’ve really, really had to work hard for [them]. It’s more gratifying—mas masarap ’yung pakiramdam na ginawa mo ’yon (It feels great that you were able to do that). No free rides—we’ve never had a free ride.

YOU MENTIONED BEING “ON A MISSION.” WHAT IS YOUR MISSION WHILE YOU’RE IN FIRST GEN?

CARLO Our mission is to be the best of the best— experts in our respective areas in the power industry. CHIP It’s being the best in anything we do.

WHERE DO YOU BOTH SEE YOURSELVES 10 YEARS FROM NOW?

CARLO In five to 10 years, I hope to contribute as much as possible and see through the growth of platforms of the company. CHIP I see myself with my own family, working on energy policy and still growing my understanding of the industry’s dynamics. CARLO The rule for us is look for your own space— make your own stars. Conquer new places.

“Our parents would always say: Do what you have to do—you’re a man on a mission. But always head for home.” ~ Carlo Vega

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first introduced this in 2006, and they became popular here (through word of mouth), especially when speaking of pasalubong and tokens for head office employees and visitors,” shares Milen Adrados of FPHPC HR

RADIUS

THE POWER OF

FOOD By Hazel Velasco, with reports from Rhea Tacata and Lorenne Alejandrino Photography by Ria Silvino and Lorenne Alejandrino

FOODIE STOP: Bonete Master • NEAR First Gas Santa Rita and FGP Corp. San Lorenzo power plants, Sta. Rita, Batangas • MUST-BUY Bonete • PRICE Php2.00 per piece Can you buy something delicious with Php2.00? Oh yes! And it’s only five minutes away from our First Gas plants in Batangas. It’s the bonete—a hybrid of pan de sal and muffin with a texture of a lightly toasted doughnut. “One of our employees brought this from a bakeshop near Taal and we loved it. So when the bakery opened near the area, we were so happy,” Che Guevarra of First Gas HR says. “Served piping hot, bonete goes well with butter and coffee. Delicious!” says Ria Silvino of FPH Legal. Eat them, dip them, and you’re done! FOODIE STOP: Purple Oven • NEAR Benpres Building and One Corporate Center • MUST-BUY Chocolate Campfire cake • PRICE Php700 a roll One look at Purple Oven’s Chocolate Campfire Cake and you know it’s going to be a fun dessert. Spikes of marshmallow frosting coat alternating layers of moist chocolate cake and ganache. It’s a perfect gift for kids and kids-at-heart. Best served with coffee.

Sometimes you need something cold and sweet; sometimes you need something warm and starchy. Whether you’re looking for something to share or to relish by yourself—we’ve got a selection all around our offices and sites.

FOODIE STOP: Eriel’s Cakes and Pastries • NEAR First Gas Hydro Power Corporation, Nueva Ecija • MUST-BUY Silvanas • PRICE Php195/box (25 pcs.); Php105/box (12 pcs.) If you need a sugar boost or a pasalubong (take-home gift) from the North, Eriel’s silvanas are on top of our list! Imagine

FOODIE STOP: Jaratez Eatery • LOCATION Benpres Canteen (5/F) • MUST-BUY Sweet and Spicy Spaghetti with toasted bread • PRICE Php30 per serving buttercream sandwiched Jaratez Eatery’s Sweet and Spicy between two cashew meringue Spaghetti can instantly turn wafers and coated with cookie manic Mondays into delightful crumbs. They’re so good it’s ones. The chase between the hard to eat just one piece. “For us here at First Gas sweetness and spice of its red peppery sauce makes you want Hydro Power Corporation, to gulp one twirl of pasta after Eriel’s silvanas are different another. The hotdogs and cheese because they’re thin and are trademarks of homemade crisp. The sweetness is just goodness. Make sure you buy right and the buttercream is perfect. One of our employees before 3:00 p.m. as it gets sold-out fast! Best served with cold soda or fruit juices.