AN ENGINEER WHO PRAYS

Lito with his family.  He and his wife Cecille are prayer group leaders in Singapore.

Manuel Henares—Lito or Manny to family and friends—has been in Singapore for the last 16 years now.  He has taken a variety of Sales & Operations roles with his current employer, ExxonMobil, and has been involved in projects and initiatives across multiple countries within the Asia-Pacific region.

Born in Bacolod City, Lito moved to Manila in 1976,  when he was accepted in  Philippine Science High School. He  went on to earn his degree in BS Electrical Engineering at the University of the Philippines-Diliman.  Upon graduation, he targeted the then thriving semiconductor industry, but ended up as a Commodities Trading Assistant at Procter and Gamble instead.  He realized then that for him to move up in an organization, he had to have the knowledge and skills relevant in running a business. Hence, two year after, he resigned and enrolled in the MBA program of the Asian Institute of Management.  With the support of his wife Cecille, who was then working at San Miguel Corporation, they were able to manage financially.

After earning his MBA degree, he took on a number of roles of increasing responsibilities in the electronics & semiconductor industry, where he gained extensive experience in materials management, production and corporate planning. He got concerned about the fast-paced technology advances and short product life cycles within the industry, which exposed its vulnerabilities.  Thus, when the opportunity came to transfer to an oil company, he made the move.

In 1994, Lito became   Storage & Distribution Manager at Mobil Philippines.  Armed with his experience in supply and logistics, he was able to make the shift and succeed in this new industry.  In 2000, he and his family were expatriated to Singapore and he has remained there since.  He has always attributed his good fortunes to God, whom he continues to serve via  parish work and the prayer group that he and his wife lead.

In the book "Pointers for New College Graduates,"  Lito offers some advice:

• Plan your career. Know what you want to do, which industries to explore and which companies you want to work for. Keep milestones regarding your career progress. If you are not moving up in 2 to 3 years on a job, ask yourself why and be prepared to initiate action.

• Equip yourself. Be aware of your own areas for improvement. Identify the skills and knowledge needed for you to move up. In my case, I saw the need for an MBA and personally invested time and finances in it. And always guard your integrity. Aside from your competencies, your character will always be evaluated.

• Pray. You need more than luck to manage your personal life and your career.

Read more about Lito's pointers for new college graduates, specifically for  those aiming to  work in Logistics and Supply.

"Pointers for New College Graduates," by Gerry P. Siquijor. Available at FULLY BOOKED,  St. Pauls, Pauline Bookstores, and branches of Catholic Book Center.