Ang Pahayagan

What does it mean to bring your whole self to work—especially when your identity challenges long-standing industry norms?

When Yanyan Manzon, an AboitizPower Land Solutions Specialist, sat down for an interview, she shared a personal experience as a transwoman who had undergone sex reassignment surgery.

“When I don’t have to mask parts of who I am, I can focus more fully on my responsibilities and bring my best ideas forward.”

In a male-dominated industry like electric power, her decision to be fully transparent was an act of quiet courage. Regardless of her identity, Yanyan was hired by AboitizPower because of her capabilities.

AboitizPower’s formal journey in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) began in 2019, sparked by a small but passionate legal team. From monthly employee stories and Pride forums to Safe Spaces Act learning sessions, DEIB gained traction quickly.

In 2021, the company expanded HMO coverage to include same-sex and common-law partners, offering equal benefits to employees regardless of marital status.

By 2023, with over 3,000 employees, AboitizPower adopted its first official DEIB policy, reinforced by partnerships with groups like the Philippine Business Coalition for Women Empowerment (PBCWE).

Every day inclusion took shape through internal campaigns like #EverydayPrideDay, new hire forms with preferred pronouns, and content delivered in local dialects.

In June 2023, AboitizPower joined the Philippine Pride March for the first time, taking the company’s values beyond its offices and into the streets.

These efforts validate a March 2025 study published in Current Psychology that said organizational trust significantly influences employee pride and performance. This suggests that when employees perceive their workplace as authentic and values-driven, they are more likely to feel engaged, committed, and empowered to perform at their best.

Pride in the control room

For John Alekhine Dionisio, Assistant Control Room Operator at GNPower Dinginin in Mariveles, Bataan, being openly gay in a traditionally masculine environment might have once felt risky. But not here.

His team leaders, Eric and Luis, don’t just treat him professionally—they connect with genuine interest. “We talk about my personal life,” he shared, smiling. “Masarap maging bakla sa trabaho.” (It feels good to be gay at work.)

📸John Alekhine Dionisio, Assistant Control Room Operator at GNPower Dinginin

He never even had to formally come out of the closet as acceptance is just part of the culture. His colleagues even consult him on SOGIE, or sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.

Meanwhile, in Davao, April Gonzales, a proud lesbian and Control Room Engineer at Therma South, Inc., built a nearly nine-year career with AboitizPower, even finding love along the way. April’s partner works in the chemical laboratory, and their relationship has never been hidden or judged.

“From day one, it felt like home. I wasn’t treated any differently,” April said. “Because I’m accepted for who I am, I’ve gained the confidence to go beyond what’s expected of me.”

April Gonzales, Control Room Engineer at Therma South, Inc.

She’s been promoted twice and continues to thrive. “They don’t look at who you are—they look at what you’re capable of.”

Journey of transition and belonging

Justin Alec Rama, Vendor Accreditation and Performance Management Specialist at Therma Marine, Inc., began her gender transition at a later point in her life as a young adult. At AboitizPower, she didn’t just find a job—she found a place where she could truly be herself.

One moment stood out early on. At the office, unsure of which restroom to use, she was gently and firmly guided by Ate Sheila, a housekeeping staff member: “Huwag ka sa panlalaki mag-CR… doon ka sa girls na CR.” (Don’t use the men’s restroom… use the women’s instead.) That quiet affirmation told her she was seen and accepted.

📸Justin Alec Rama (3rd from right) with her Supply Chain Management Team.

Her supply chain team goes the extra mile by pairing her with female colleagues during work trips, checking on her well-being, and supporting her through the ups and downs of transition.

“The support makes me strive to perform well,” Justin explained, adding how she is never made to feel less and, amidst stress, is even encouraged to rest, recover, and return stronger.

At the same time, Yanyan Manzon, now thriving at Therma Visayas, Inc. in Cebu, proves that authenticity can exist even in traditionally male-dominated spaces. As the company’s first transwoman employee to undergo sex reassignment surgery, she blazed a trail just by being honest from day one.

📸  Yanyan Manzon, AboitizPower Land Solutions Specialist

“Pride Month is not just a celebration. It’s a protest for collective well-being,” she said. Despite initial doubts about whether a “man’s world” would accept her, she found a culture grounded in respect. “My queries and opinions are always acknowledged.”

John’s joyful candor, April’s steady confidence, Justin’s brave transformation, and Yanyan’s quiet revolution show that when people feel safe to be themselves, they perform better, live better, and lead better.

At AboitizPower, DEIB is not a checkbox, but a value that can help power progress. The company’s DEIB journey continually creates spaces where people don’t have to choose between their identity and their career.

Because when you bring your whole self to work—and your workplace celebrates it—that’s not just acceptance. That’s power. That’s the power to be you. (PR)

TOP 📸 (L–R) Yanyan Manzon of Therma Visayas, Inc.; John Alekhine Dionisio of GNPower Dinginin; Justin Rama of Therma Marine, Inc.; and April Gonzales of Therma South, Inc. are colleagues in AboitizPower’s Transition Business Group who show that being true to one’s self can power performance.