We Power with Care is a mantra that we live by not only when dealing with our customers and partners, but also with one of our most important resource, our People. This stems from the belief that people are most productive when they are cared for and valued. At Alsons Power, we make sure that our employees feel their importance by providing them with a workplace environment where they can learn, grow and show their unique selves. Hence, our programs and people initiatives are designed to cater specifically to the unique needs of our employees. Learning and development, career progress and succession plan, experience-based rewards; are just some of the programs we have implemented in recent years. It is our hope that by doing these things, our employees would know that to us they are more than just employees, but family.
“The importance of respect, trust, patience, commitment, dedication determination, perseverance, and self-discovery are the things I learned in my everyday life with Alsons. With the diverse cultures we have in the organization, respect, trust and patience are vital in building stronger working relationships among the employees.”
Mary Shower Megrenio (HRA Sr. Supervisor)
Shower, as we fondly call her, is one of the pillars in Alsons Power having served the company for more than 22 years. Now, we will get to know her as she shares the story of how she got started with Alsons and how she’s grown into the professional that she is as she leads the HRA Department at Sarangani Energy Corporation.
When and how did you start your career at Alsons Power?
While looking for a job after graduating from college in 2000, I volunteered to be a peer facilitator at a state college in Zamboanga City. In September of that year, I was introduced to Mr. Llewellyn Lisondra (LRL), the guest speaker at the Peer Counselors Association seminar I attended. Little did I know that this chance meeting will kick-start my career at Alsons Power. Two weeks later, I got a call from the seminar organizers asking me if I was still looking for a job and if I was interested in applying at Western Mindanao Power Corporation (WMPC) as HR Staff. As it was, LRL was the head of the HRA department at WMPC. Without hesitation, I said, “Of course, it will be my honor to be considered as a potential candidate for the HR Staff position.”
When the Admin Staff at WMPC called me for an interview and examination, I happened to receive another call from a canning company in Zamboanga City, informing me that I was hired as Personnel Staff.
Even without assurance of employment from WMPC, I declined the other company’s offer without a second thought. I knew that I was destined to be part of WMPC, and so, on October 5, 2000, my journey with Alsons Power began.
What are the things that you appreciate about being an employee of this company?
I’ve been with Alsons Power for more than 22 years and being part of this company is such a great blessing for me. I appreciate how the company values the uniqueness of each employee and how they acknowledge the importance of our contribution to the whole organization, which eventually builds a stronger sense of belongingness by making us realize that we are an integral part of the team. I also feel that there is equal opportunity for personal and professional growth, which is evident in the personnel movement within and inter-company. Case in point, I started as WMPC HR Staff and got promoted to HRA Supervisor after 3 years. In April 2015, I was given the opportunity to join the Sarangani Energy Corporation and was blessed with another promotion as HRA Senior Supervisor early this year. Lastly, the management sees to it that we get to go home safe and sound to our families by providing us with a healthy and safe working environment.
What are the things that you have learned in your journey here at Alsons Power?
In the years that I’ve spent with the company, I’ve learned the importance of respect, trust, patience, commitment, dedication, determination, perseverance, and self-discovery. I learned that to build a strong working relationship among employees of diverse cultures, you need to value respect, trust and patience. To successfully achieve our deliverables, we need commitment, dedication, determination and perseverance. Finally, with all the challenging situations and issues that we face on a daily basis, we can discover ourselves, learn more about ourselves, and better understand ourselves. Self-discovery enables us to live a purpose-driven and meaningful life.
How has Alsons supported your passion for continuous learning?
As I always say, being an HR practitioner is not just a profession, it’s a passion. A passion that I want to continue for as long as my physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being will allow me to do. My eagerness to serve the organization drives me to continuously learn and acquire new knowledge and insights. This inspires me to proceed further with my education. The work and life experiences I gained working with Alsons are helping me in my quest for the degree of Doctor of Management with a major in Human Resource Management. My loyalty to the company is not gauged by how much I get or earn, or by the fact that no other company has hired me. I’ve stayed this long with Alsons because I have developed a strong sense of purpose as a person. It is rewarding to know that I am instrumental to the success of the organization.
What message do you have for our newbies who are still finding their way in the organization?
Just take it one step at a time, learn about your work environment, practice good time management, spend time and talk to other employees in the workplace, welcome constructive feedback, don’t be complacent, try to venture outside of your comfort zone and embrace challenges, offer help to others, and most of all, stay humble and think of yourself as a lifelong learner and a work in progress. With all of these, surely, success and a sense of fulfillment will follow.
