Manuel V. Pangilinan led Manila Electric Company (Meralco) was honored at the 2025 AsiaPacific Stevie® Awards in Seoul, South Korea, clinching 11 awards for its outstanding initiatives in sustainability, thought leadership, and corporate social responsibility.

Two of the three Gold Stevies of Meralco recognized “MTerra Solar, A Global Breakthrough: The World’s Largest Integrated Solar and Battery Facility” under the Sustainability & Climate Protection Services and Product Design & Development categories.

MTerra Solar is recognized as the world’s largest integrated solar and battery storage facility, big enough to supply clean energy to approximately 2.4 million households and avoid carbon emissions by an estimated 4.3 million tons annually — equivalent to removing over 3 million gasoline-powered vehicles from the roads every year.

This represents Meralco’s strong push toward renewable energy to meet the country’s urgent energy needs, while enabling a more sustainable future.

As described by the Stevie Awards, “MTerra Solar stands out as a groundbreaking achievement in sustainable energy, effectively addressing the Philippines’ pressing energy demands while advancing Meralco’s coalfree vision.” The same entry also received a Bronze Stevie under the Sustainable Business Models category.

Meanwhile, Meralco first vice president and chief sustainability officer Raymond B. Ravelo was named Climate Hero of the Year, earning another Gold Stevie for Meralco for his leadership in driving the company’s transformation into a sustainable leader in the energy sector. Ravelo was recognized for driving and championing Meralco’s game-changing sustainability programs and reinforcing strong governance to accelerate the company’s shift toward clean energy

“This global recognition affirms our belief that doing what is right for our planet, people, and communities is also good for business. Indeed, these honors fuel our passion to build a more sustainable and equitable energy future for all,” Ravelo said.

The company also won a Silver Stevie for “Meralco’s Race to Zero Waste Program,” a comprehensive waste management initiative that achieved an industry-leading diversion rate of 95 percent — well above the 20 to 40 percent corporate average for plastic recovery — by embedding reuse and recycling practices across all Meralco facilities, while actively engaging employees, partners, and communities.

Meralco also took home Bronze Stevies for the following initiatives:

• “Meralco Powering the Good Life,” under the Climate Protection and Sustainability Campaign of the Year, honored as the company’s overarching sustainability agenda — deeply rooted in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and anchored on the pillars of Power, Planet, People and Prosperity — promoting clean energy, environmental stewardship, and inclusive growth that delivers meaningful and lasting benefits to customers, communities, and the country.

• “BulacanSol: Meralco’s Road to a Coal-Free Future by 2050,” under the Sustainability & Climate Protection Services category, cited as a key component of Meralco’s Longterm Sustainability Strategy, which aims to enable a just, orderly, and affordable transition to clean energy — with the goal of becoming coal-free by 2050.

• “Meralco’s #Mbrace Diversity and Inclusion Program,” under the Diversity and Inclusion category, commended for driving inclusive workplace practices with a strong focus on women empowerment, and the inclusion of LGBTQIA+ individuals and persons with disabilities — fostering a culture of belonging and equity across the organization.

• “Pangako: The 2023 Annual and Sustainability Report,” under the Innovation in Annual Reports category, highlighted for capturing Meralco’s performance and progress across its financial, operational, and sustainability goals through a compelling and transparent integrated narrative.

• “Pangarap: Creating a Better World for Dreamers Through Community Empowerment,” under the Innovation in Annual Reports category, celebrated for showcasing powerful stories of transformation from communities empowered by One Meralco Foundation — reflecting the company’s deep commitment to nation-building through social development.

• “Meralco Liwanag Park: Honoring Service, Partnerships, and the Power of Community,” u nd e r t h e I n t e r n a l Corporate Events category, recognized for celebrating customer partnerships with lasting community impact, highlighting how Meralco lives by its corporate values of sustainability, innovation, and bayanihan and malasakit.

Gold, Silver and Bronze Stevie Award winners were determined by the average scores of more than 120 executives from around the world who served as judges.

“The submissions in the twelfth edition of the AsiaPacific Stevie Awards were outstanding,” said Stevie Awards President Maggie Miller. “The judges remarked that the innovation and perseverance demonstrated in the nominations was inspiring.”

This year’s Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards received over 1,000 nominations from organizations across 29 markets. The Stevie Awards are widely regarded as the world’s premier business awards, recognizing excellence in the workplace for over two decades.