In his 29 years in the power generation industry — eight in the Therma Visayas power plant in Toledo City, Cebu — Nilo Lumbaca, 56, has always aspired to be the best he can be because of his family.

“Outside of work, I really value spending quality time with my family. Being with them recharges me, and it gives me the motivation and balance I need to bring my best self to work,” the seasoned mechanical engineer said. “My current position is Shift Manager, where I am responsible for ensuring safe, reliable, and efficient plant operations.”

On Christmas and New Year’s Day, Nilo and members of Therma Visayas’ Operations Team will be working in shifts in the power plant, sacrificing what could have been time with family and friends. “It’s giving up the chance to enjoy the holiday together and an opportunity to relax, celebrate, and share special moments with loved ones.”

Regardless, for Nilo, the call of duty is strong. Even during the holidays, he acknowledges that he has a responsibility to his team, the 300-megawatt power plant, and, to a wider extent, energy security in the Visayas region.

“In power generation, a moment’s inattention can impact equipment, production, and people. I come to work, even on holidays, because safety and reliability don’t pause, and it’s my responsibility to make sure we deliver both,” he explained.

As Shift Manager in Therma Visayas, he helps oversee a coal dome facility and two power units, equipped with a state-of-the-art Circulating Fluidized Bed and the Best Available Control Technology that can minimize coal dust emissions. In all of that, Nilo still believes that people are the most important resource in any organization.

“The greatest lesson I've learned over my 29 years is that while technology evolves rapidly, the absolute paramount importance of human safety and communication remains the constant, non-negotiable priority,” Nilo imparted.

Nilo is just one of many more unsung heroes in the energy industry, faithfully fulfilling their duty, even if that means being away from their families during the holidays, just to keep the Christmas lights on and festivities going for everyone else.

This holiday season, twenty-five-year-old King Joshua Arzadon of Benguet traded off the cold climate of his hometown for the warmer weather of Negros Island, where he is currently a Grid Supervisor in AboitizPower’s San Carlos Sun Power (SacaSun) and Calatrava solar power projects.

King placed second in the September 2022 Registered Electrical Engineer Licensure Examination, then joined AboitizPower for his first job at the National Operations Control Center (NOCC) in Benguet, where engineers remotely operate, monitor, and control run-of-river hydropower and solar facilities across the Philippines.

Just last August 2025, King moved to his current post in the Visayas, where he will have his Noche Buena with work friends and colleagues instead of with his family in northern Luzon.

“The holidays are a great time to spend with the family, where you find joy in each other as you prepare a feast for the night and wait expectantly for the countdown,” King shared. “These moments will still occur, although mine will be shared with fellow team members working during the holidays.”

King explained that being away at work during the Christmas season is no longer foreign to him, rooting back to his days doing holiday duty at the NOCC. Besides, his purpose remains clear.

“The season is not complete without the twinkling lights, festive dinners, and calls from loved ones; each of which needs electricity to run smoothly,” he said. “I hope for a country that fosters sustainability, where every household has access to reliable power.”

“This vision drives me on a daily basis, knowing that the power we produce will help benefit Filipino families, including mine, whatever the season may be,” he added.

Pretty soon, when he gets the chance, King plans to make it up to his family by going home to Benguet and catching up on precious time.

Meanwhile, Gibson M. Yarte’s humble beginnings in North Cotabato taught him the value of service excellence. It is an important value to have, especially as a Davao Light Gang Supervisor who leads and guides line crews in the safe installation, maintenance, and restoration of electric distribution lines.

“I grew up in a community that taught me the values of hard work, humility, and helping others—principles that guide me every day in my profession,” Gibson said. “I have been serving Davao Light for 13 years, and it has been an honor to grow, learn, and contribute to a team that plays a vital role in keeping the community powered.”

Davao Light, an AboitizPower distribution utility, is the third largest privately-owned distribution utility in the Philippines, currently serving the cities of Davao and Panabo, plus the municipalities of Carmen, Dujali, and Sto. Tomas.

By having the customer in mind, Gibson believes that their team is serving a great purpose to their fellow man — exactly what the “season of giving” is all about.

“I will be on duty this holiday season. Even on special occasions, our service continues because electricity plays a key role in every celebration, from lighting homes and cooking meals to powering community events and gatherings,” he explained.

“As line workers, we ensure that these special moments continue without interruption. It’s fulfilling to know that behind the scenes, our efforts help make the holiday season brighter for everyone.”

The personal cost to Gibson is skipped family traditions and missed moments that many other families have together — the kind of quality time that brings Gibson greater joy.

“I love my family so much, and they are the reason I stay motivated and grounded,” he said. “But I accept this responsibility knowing that our work allows others to enjoy their celebrations safely and comfortably.”

Rolando Bebelone, 29, is ready for the holiday duty, serving as a System Operations and Substation Engineer for AboitizPower’s Balamban Enerzone, located in the West Cebu Special Economic Zone.

“Balamban Enerzone is one of the power distribution utilities serving commercial, industrial, and retail electricity supply customers, overseeing two substations: Arpili and Buanoy,” he explained. “I am responsible for monitoring and controlling the power supply at the Buanoy Substation to ensure reliable and efficient operation.”

Rolando loves his job, citing his strong passion for technology and practical problem-solving, as well as curiosity on how systems operate. He maintained that if unscheduled interruptions happen during the Christmas to New Year season, “we are already prepared and we respond as quickly as possible to restore power to our customers.”

Despite his work station’s close proximity to home, Rolando is on call and ready to answer when need be, making his holiday schedule largely uncertain.

“We prioritize and value our customers during emergency calls. We ensure that our customers continue to have a reliable power supply, keeping the lights on at all times,” he said. “I understand that I might not be able to celebrate Christmas or count down to the New Year in person with my family, but as long as we communicate through video calls, it’s still meaningful.”

This holiday season, Nilo, King, Gibson, Rolando, and thousands more of their colleagues continue to maintain, operate, and steward the power plants and power networks that help keep the lights on across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Their service excellence and sense of responsibility are among the most generous Christmas presents we can ever receive.