As the energy sector transforms, industry professionals are pursuing new skills and refreshers to remain competitive in a fast-changing landscape.

Academic partnerships address multiple challenges, including closing skill gaps, facilitating knowledge transfer, and enhancing industry standards.

This is precisely what Manuel V. Pangilinan-led Meralco Power Academy (MPA) has been championing — ensuring that the workforce is not only highly skilled but also future-ready.

By addressing skill gaps, MPA guarantees that graduates are equipped with both technical expertise and practical experience necessary to thrive in the modern power and energy sector.

Through its Let’s Volt-In Academic Partnership Program, MPA collaborates with leading universities to ensure that graduates possess both technical expertise and practical experience essential for thriving in today’s dynamic power and energy landscape.

These efforts are made possible through existing Memoranda of Understanding with academic institutions, particularly with three campuses of the Mindanao State University (MSU) System — MSU-Iligan, MSU-Marawi, and MSU-General Santos — which allowed MPA to deliver impactful programs such as guest lectures, equipment donations, and technical workshops.

These academic collaborations spark innovation and research initiatives that address critical industry challenges while providing students and faculty with invaluable insights into industry operations and best practices.

The partnerships also ensure a well-developed pipeline of qualified engineers, scientists, and technical professionals well-versed in current trends and emerging technologies.

Beyond knowledge sharing, MPA strengthens these partnerships through strategic equipment donations—such as a Power Transformer Tap Changer Simulator to MSU-Iligan and a 34.5 kilovolts (kV) Switchgear and Protection System Assembly to MSU-GenSan—enhancing hands-on learning and technical training

These alliances foster meaningful exchanges of ideas and expertise between academic institutions and industry leaders. More importantly, they help align academic curricula with industry best practices, contributing to national energy security and economic growth by producing well-rounded, experienced professionals.

MPA achieves this through a comprehensive program built on four key pillars, with guest lecture series and seminars serving as a cornerstone of its educational approach.

The premier energy education institution regularly brings industry experts — including seasoned Meralco engineers, executives, and technical specialists — into academic settings to deliver lectures, webinars, and interactive workshops.

These sessions cover a wide range of topics, from cutting-edge technologies to real-world case studies and career pathways in the energy sector.

This year’s guest lecture series was held on September 18 at MSU-Iligan, September 19 at MSU-Marawi, and September 22 at MSU-General Santos, made possible through the Let’s Volt-In Academic Partnership Program.

A highlight of this year’s visits was the deeply personal and inspiring talk by MPA President and Meralco Executive Vice President and COO Engr. Ronnie L. Aperocho.

An alumnus of MSU-Marawi, Aperocho shared his remarkable journey — from a struggling electrical engineering student to leading one of the country’s premier power companies.

Aperocho recounted his early challenges: a desire to pursue journalism but the course wasn’t offered at MSU; a brief stint in Political Science and a semester-long break due to illness in his first year in college.

Upon returning to school, he found renewed purpose through the support of professors who helped him appreciate mathematics and engineering. Their guidance led him to top the 1992 Electrical Engineering Board Examination.

Embrace ‘occupassion’

Drawing from his corporate experience, Aperocho shared five fundamental lessons for professional success: love your job or change your mind set about it; showcase your special talents when opportunities arise; embrace what he calls “occupassion,” a fusion of occupation and passion; respect leadership while preparing to lead others; and work harder than hard.

He also emphasized the PRIDE values that have guided his career: Passion, Resilience, Innovation, Discipline, and Excellence.

In a particularly moving moment during one of his talks, Aperocho told students: “Your struggles aren’t setbacks; they are the building blocks for your future. The challenges you face and the hardships you endure are what forge your resilience, deepen your character, and provide you with the wisdom you’ll need to achieve your dreams. Every time you push through a difficult moment, you’re not just surviving, you’re building a stronger foundation for the success that lies ahead.”

Complementing the executive’s inspiring narrative, other speakers focused on the technical aspects of engineering practice. At MSU-Iligan, Meralco’s Protection Relay Engineer Engr. Rhehan Pamlian discussed the Praxis of Engineering.

At MSU-Marawi, Business Center head Engr. Larry Lucian E. Lluisma III explored the same theme. At MSU-GenSan, MPower Strategic Account Management Head Engr. Anna Faureen Quintos, herself an MSU-GenSan alumna, shared her insights.

The speakers, all MSU graduates, elaborated on how the theories learned in school are applied in the workplace, bridging the gap between classroom concepts and real-world implementation. Their presentations provided students with concrete examples of how academic foundations translate into professional practice in the power and energy sector.

“The education and experiences we’ve completed, are completing and we are going through, in this University and in life in general, are essential in ensuring a secure ground as we face the complexities and realities of life. Thank you to the MSU System, our mentors and inspirations who were and are part of ensuring that we will have a foundation that’s built to last,” Quintos said.

This dual approach, which combines inspirational life lessons with practical technical guidance, delivers comprehensive benefits. Students gain invaluable exposure to real-world applications and expert insights that textbooks alone cannot provide. At the same time, MPA enhances the industry relevance of academic programs and builds a more substantial brand presence across partner universities.

The result is a more informed student body equipped not only with technical competence but also with mental resilience and emotional preparedness for professional success.

Through these partnerships, MPA continues to shape a future-ready workforce capable of driving the country’s energy transition and economic growth.