TAGUIG CITY, Metro Manila—The PNOC held the 16th leg of its Ignition Talks on May 9, 2025, featuring Government Corporate Counsel Atty. Solomon Hermosura as guest speaker. With the theme “Government Service as a Teacher,” the session focused on how public service can become a powerful platform for personal and professional growth.
Atty. Hermosura, who spent 36 years in the private sector (including 27 years in the Ayala group of companies) before joining the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC) in March 2024, shared reflections drawn from decades of experience in the corporate world and his recent entry into government. Speaking candidly, he discussed insights gained from exploring the PNOC website, which led to meaningful realizations about the company’s progress and its role in the energy sector.
“I saw how the PNOC Armily, as your President calls it, is transforming PNOC into a strong and dependable leader in our country’s pursuit of energy sustainability, efficiency, and affordability,” he noted. “When I serve as counsel for PNOC, I work for a cause greater than myself. That somehow elevates lawyering from a profession to a vocation.”
A key message of Atty. Hermosura’s talk was the value of continuous learning and encourages the PNOC workforce to embrace the same mindset. “Every work for me is an opportunity for learning and improvement. I do not see myself ever retiring from work because I cannot retire from being a student,” he added.
Drawing from his leadership at the OGCC, he shared that one of his first directives to their lawyers was to know the government corporations and master their mandates. He emphasized that to be effective legal counsels, they must not only draft contracts and pleadings but become part of the “collective mind and collective heart” of the institutions they serve.
Atty. Hermosura’s stories and insights, marked by humility and purpose, resonated well with the associates. Closing the session, PNOC President and CEO Oliver B. Butalid expressed his appreciation and connected the talk to the company’s ongoing transformation.
“It’s not about your position or credentials. Your work is your calling card. If you’re known for being committed and doing your job well, opportunities will come,” PCEO Butalid said.
He also underscored the importance of fostering a shared learning culture, noting, “The collective mind cannot be enhanced if people are just confined to what they already know. There must be receptiveness to share and learn from each other.”
