Manny Ogena, Filipino, has a total of 35 years of experience in the geothermal industry involving geoscientific, drilling and engineering activities in exploration, resource assessment, field development, reservoir management, economic feasibility studies and power plant operations for Energy Development Corporation (EDC) in the Philippines and had worked in geothermal energy projects in Iran, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Taiwan, India and Latin America. Author/co-author of about 40 technical papers published in journals and presented in international and local scientific conferences. Co-editor of the Geothermics special issue on Philippine Geothermal Systems (Feb-Apr 2004). Convenor of the Annual EDC Geothermal Conference in 2001-2011. Served as Member of the Board of Directors of the International Geothermal Association (IGA) and Chairman of its Audit Committee (2004-2010)
Manny joined EDC in 1979 and has held his current position as Senior Vice President for Geosciences and Reservoir Engineering Group (GREG) since 2010. He joined the Company as a Geologist and was appointed Supervisor under the Geoscientific Department in 1983. He became the Exploration Manager in 1994, Geoservices Manager in 1997, Geoscientific Senior Manager in 2003, and Vice President for Technical Services in 2005.
Manny graduated with a BSc in Geology degree from the University of the Philippines in Diliman in 1977 and placed 8th in the Geologist licensure examination. He completed his MEngineering degree (with distinction) from the University of Auckland, New Zealand in 1989. He is also a graduate of the Management Development Program of Asian Institute of Management (1991) and earned his Master’s Certificate in Project Management from George Washington University (1995).
Why did you choose to study at the University of Auckland, Geothermal Institute?
To pursue a Master of Engineering (ME) at the UoA, NZ was not my idea but my former boss', also a geologist. I was challenged (despite my impression of ME being a struggle as I'm not an engineer) because my boss' reasoning was that my colleagues who were also geologists, were all then pursuing their MSc in either geology, geochemistry or geophysics. My boss said that the organisation's future need was for geothermal 'generalists' who can merge geosciences and engineering to manage both steam field production, resource sustainability and power plant operations.
We then had NZ Consultants (who were mostly graduates of UoA) under the RP-NZ bilateral agreement who had worked in similar water-dominated type of geothermal reservoirs in NZ which was then the leading geothermal country for this type of development. So, it was just fitting to pursue my ME at the UoA in NZ in 1987 to learn from their experiences and have a transfer of technology and expertise to Filipinos and to PNOC-EDC which was then the RP-counterpart agency under the bilateral agreement. The strengthening of the technical manpower of PNOC-EDC (then a government-owned and controlled corporation or GOCC) through advance educational and training abroad especially in NZ was aligned with the government's program of geothermal installed capacity expansion in Leyte, Palinpinon, Bicol and Mindanao. The Philippines became the second largest producer of geothermal energy as early as 1984 with 981 MWe, ahead of NZ.
How was your student experience and studying in NZ?
Being a newly married couple in 1987 who were then attempting to have our first child, my wife insisted on coming to NZ for a change in environment. So, I have to provide for her needs as my monthly stipends and salary were not enough. I learned to become a 'jack-of-all-trades' person during summer when students were allowed to seek temporary, short-duration jobs from those posted on students' notice boards. I easily learned and quickly adapted to the 'ropes' of driving a forklift, replacing soiled wall papers with new ones, doing traffic surveys and warehousing inventory, being a bakeshop delivery man, grass-cutting lawns, doing weekend house-cleaning, etc. These experiences moulded my character and resolved to do good that led me to have this personal slogan in life: "Strive to excel in everything that you do, so that even if you fall short of your goals and aspirations, you will still end up better if not best."
My most vivid memory, despite the years passed, were the trials and challenges to survive as depicted above. However, the one extraordinary happy event was when we went snow-skiing in Mt Ruapehu in Taupo in July 1988 during our school break, with my wife, co-MSc fellows from EDC, and some Filipino friends who were NZ-residents. That was my first experience to see and touch snow in my life and to ski on flat, then on the ski slopes complete with heavy ski gear. We were lucky to have as a friend, Ben Nanasca, the first and only Filipino who competed in the winter Sapporo Olympics in 1972 in the Alpine skiing events, and yet representing a tropical country.
Being a scientist, pursuing an ME was not my 'comfort zone'. So, the biggest hurdle for me then was how to pass and excel in the engineering courses which I had to do on the first year. Luckily, my contemporaries from EDC then were all engineers - two were also pursuing MEs and another doing a PhD. I relied on these guys for continuous tutorials and study-group sessions, supplemented with my nightly studies, readings and problem-solving of sample course-exam questions, for me to pass the engineering subjects. I eventually completed my ME in 1989 with a GPA=A+ and a With Distinction award.
When you returned to work how did the qualification help?
The ME course, being a different discipline from my BSc Geology course, was instrumental in having a dual-perspective of geothermal operations, both from the scientific and engineering spectrum, to better understand and to find the right and practical solutions to operational problems. The different exposures to varied manual trades provided enough skills development for me to become a handyman at home and to recognize the skills of tradesmen and their value to the then PNOC-EDC organization and to its Operations as a GOCC, and even after the full privatization of the company to become the Energy Development Corporation (EDC) in 2007, and what is it now known today.
With such new found perspective and combining science with engineering, immediately upon return to my home country in 1989, I was given the task to be the SPOC (Special Point of Contact) within PNOC-EDC for coordinating and monitoring the overall drilling program of the company, interacting with the Drilling, Civil Engineering, Engineering Design, Project Operations and Geoscientific groups to come-up with the plans and to execute effectively the annual well drilling program in both the exploration areas and production fields. I was promoted as Exploration Manager in 1994, and rose further in rank in the company over the years. I was promoted later as Geoservices Manager in 1997, Geoscientific Senior Manager in 2003, and Vice President for Technical Services in 2005.
Do you have an ongoing relationship with the Geothermal Institute?
EDC is currently pursuing its Advanced Education Program (AEP) focused on sending new and junior geoscientists and engineers in NZ because of its continued growth in geothermal technology for reservoir management and power plant operations. Since I also administer the AEP of EDC, there is always constant interactions with the Geothermal Institute as well as the NZ Embassy in Manila, for the academic requirements of EDC fellows throughout their stay at the Institute.
Early this year, we received our copy of the new textbook of Dr. Arnold Watson, formerly the Director of the Institute. We collaborated with Dr. Watson on some of the EDC data, graphs and tables he used in the book. Also, from time to time, we engage the Institute's faculty as trainors to mentor EDC geoscientists and engineers on their specialized fields here in Manila or at the project sites.
I had a wonderful experience in NZ which will remain as one of my memorable past - balancing the pursuit of higher education, being a dutiful husband and learning practical skills that eventually helped mould my character and drive to overcome difficulties and adversaries to succeed and attain my goals and ambitions in life.
I would love to go back and visit again the country and relive my past experiences. I would love to go to the South Island and climb Mt Cook even only up to its mid-base, and also to visit popular tourist attractions such as the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit film studios.
