The commissioner of the powerful Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) retired last July 10 after completing her seven-year tour of duty.
For many accomplished career officials, retirement signals a significant shift and a slower pace. But Maceda said she welcomes her next chapter and the change it brings.
“Standing before you today, I am filled with a profound sense of gratitude and humility as I mark the close of this chapter in my life,” Maceda said.
“I survived. I remain untarnished and complete. I am still the same person as my family and friends know me. Walang nabago, walang nadagdag,” she added.
Beyond the finish line
Maceda leaves with much accomplished and inspires others to continue the work.
“ERC’s journey is far from complete. There remains significant work to be done—in strengthening institutional capacities, fostering critical thinking, and ensuring that every decision is grounded in sound judgment and a genuine commitment to the public interest,” she said.
“The other day, I told [ABS-CBN journalist] Alvin Elchico: Our work at ERC provides a test to one’s character. It is a character that will define your relationship with your loved ones and friends—not fleeting, but grounded on deep, meaningful relationships,” she added.
Enduring bonds
Maceda said she was never alone, thanks to friends and colleagues who stood by her even during difficult times.
“They were the unseen hands that steadied me, the voices that lifted me in moments of doubt, and the hearts that celebrated my victories as though they were their own,” Maceda said.
“It is said that we become the company we keep, and if I have grown in strength, character, or wisdom, it is because I was fortunate to be surrounded by those who embodied these virtues,” she added.
One of her guests was Ambassador Hellen dela Vega, a classmate since kindergarten and longtime friend.
Even in the absence of her late sister, Maceda found comfort in the presence of her sister’s closest friends.
Early career, forgotten promotion
Maceda’s journey in government began under Retired Col. Chris Abanes at the Presidential Management Staff, where she became one of the first to learn WordStar, the precursor to Microsoft Word.
When he forgot to promote her—a potential blow to any young professional’s ego—she didn’t take it personally.
“He had more important things to do,” she said.
“I learned from him that hard work was not about clocking hours, but about pouring oneself into a task and refusing to accept anything less than one’s best effort,” she said.
“Many years after I left PMS, kinuha ko pa siyang ninong sa kasal [I chose him as godfather for my wedding],” she added.
Integrity above all
As she stepped down, Maceda shared some of the important lessons that guided her journey.
“Integrity is the foundation upon which lasting success is built; it is the quiet force that sustains us when accolades fade and applause grows silent,” she said.
“And dignity in labor is the acknowledgment that every effort matters, and that the worth of a person is not defined by title or position, but by the spirit with which they approach their work,” she added.
What’s next?
Maceda is looking forward to what comes next.
“Retirement is a word that carries both a weight and a lightness—weight from all the years, memories, and experiences stacked one atop another; lightness from the anticipation of what lies ahead, the promise of rest, reflection, and new adventures,” she said.
“The promise of being able to clean my cabinets, eat in hole-in-the-wall eateries, spend more time with friends… learn mahjong, or just simply share a bottle of wine or vodka with them,” she added.
“I step into retirement with gratitude and humility. There will be time now for family, for old hobbies and new adventures, for quiet mornings and unhurried afternoons,” Maceda said.
—Edited by Miguel R. Camus
