WAAnderWoman: Around the World with Irene

With Mother’s Day coming up, WeAreAyala honors #WAAnderWomen in the Ayala group who inspire their families and colleagues to be extraordinary too.

Irene Maranan is the Vice President and Head of Communications Strategy and Sustainability at ACEN (formerly AC Energy). Irene encourages her teams to have work-life harmony. “Work can sometimes be overwhelming but it’s a responsibility that we must attend to, so having time for myself and with family are precious moments for me. It’s an opportunity to recharge and improve one’s well-being. Vacations also improve my focus when I return to work,” Irene says.

“The whole family enjoys going to the beach and traveling overseas. We try to plan our year with a balance of both these outings, and this summer we have plans to hit the beach and hopefully go abroad during autumn when it’s safer to travel.”

“Beaches are excellent locations to relax and reconnect with nature, sand, azure waters, and sun. Europe and Japan are our other travel favorites. The food, the unique architecture, and immersing in new cultures make for lasting memories,” she shares.

For Irene, travelling broadens minds and opens us up to new experiences that we can’t learn by simply looking at pictures. She also recommends that one should not be bound by timelines and itineraries.

“Hopping from one place to another and keeping track of time will only dampen a trip. One should feel like they are living the life rather than going through a checklist,” Irene says.