Filipina engineer breaks glass ceiling in male-dominated field in Abu Dhabi

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – A Filipina engineer has been breaking the glass ceiling in the oil and gas industry by showing the male-dominated profession that her gender is never a hindrance to achievement.

Melanie Rances, 32, is an electrical discipline engineer involved in front end engineering design (FEED) for facility expansion projects of a petroleum firm in Abu Dhabi.

At a young age, Rances has proven through her involvement in the oil and gas consultancy sector that “whatever men can do, women can do as well.”

“Entering a male-dominated profession brought (a) challenge. Electrical engineering and construction are fields often assumed to belong to men, and leadership was something I had to continually prove I deserved. Yet I excelled,” she said.

By transforming her struggles into opportunities and letting her work speak louder than words, Rances is an example that being a woman, despite coming from humble beginnings, is a “source of strength, resilience, and excellence.”

“My life is a testament to the power of faith, determination, and the unwavering support of family – and a reminder that with courage and perseverance, women can achieve anything they set their minds to,” she said.

Engineer's career

A native of Solana, Cagayan and the youngest of four siblings, Rances arrived in the UAE in May 2019.

She also contributed to major power distribution projects for Kuwait Oil Company, providing electrical engineering for hundreds of substations.

“Additionally, I worked on Abu Dhabi National Oil Co.’s gas projects, replacing load management and load shedding systems across multiple substations, (among others),” she said.

Rances also worked for various power firms on their large-scale engineering projects from August 2019 to June 2023.

Her achievements today have dwarfed her early struggles in her younger years as she fought hard to make it through college.

Lucky charm

As a young girl, her father would bring her whenever he went out to sell ice cream or buy and sell scrap metal under the scorching sun.

Rances’ father considered her his lucky charm and would happily and proudly count every peso he earned with Rances tagging along.

“I still remember my elementary school graduation – my shoes didn’t fit properly because they were borrowed, as we could not afford new ones. Yet, despite these small humiliations, I walked across that stage with pride and determination, knowing that education was my only ticket to a better life,” she recalled.

If it were not for the Green Meadow Foundation scholarship – her “lifeline” – Rances probably would not have the chance to reach high school.

“That scholarship covered school fees, uniforms, school supplies, allowances, and even groceries, while teaching me the importance of faith, perseverance, and service,” she said.

In her first year of college at the University of Cagayan Valley (UCV), Rances’ family could not immediately pay the tuition fee required for her exam.

“My parents worked tirelessly, making countless sacrifices and searching for every possible way to gather the money. Because of their struggle, I was only able to pay at the very last minute. Just as the school systems office was closing, I received the permit to take the exam, becoming the final student allowed to do so,” she said.

The youngest of four siblings, Rances was also elected as the first female chapter president of the Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineers of the Philippines (IIEE) – UAE in 2024.

Professional success

Later on, she pursued her Master of Engineering in Electrical Engineering at the Technological Institute of the Philippines in Manila (TIP), where she balanced the demands of rigorous coursework and work.

In March 2019, she graduated as a pioneer of the Graduate School’s Engineering Department.

Beyond work, Rances says she is “deeply committed” to public service and mentorship as the first female chapter president of the Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineers of the Philippines (IIEE) – UAE in 2024.

She led the chapter in reclaiming its “Best Chapter in Foreign Region” title.

Rances also led impactful initiatives such as Bigay Liwanag, where IIEE-UAE donated 25 solar street lights with poles in two barangays and solar house lighting kits to indigenous peoples in another community; and repaired or installed lighting at four elementary schools back in the Philippines. — JMA, GMA Integrated News