Министр энергетики Филиппин Шэрон Гарин мечтает стать геологом

Brix Lelis - The Philippine Star September 9, 2026 | 12:00am MANILA, Philippines — Before joining the Department of Energy (DOE), Secretary Sharon Garin had always dreamed of becoming an architect. But her work in the energy sector has sparked an unexpected new dream: learning to speak the language of rocks. “Now, I want to be a geologist. I love geology,” Garin said during an international geothermal conference in Batangas last week. She made the admission with a touch of humor, but her growing fascination with geology grew from her conversations with experts involved in exploring the country’s indigenous energy sources. Geology is the scientific study of the Earth, including its rocks, minerals and natural resources. In energy exploration, geologists help identify where resources are found, assess how much may be available and determine whether these can be safely and economically developed. And Garin is unstinting in her admiration for Filipino expertise. “I think the Philippines has the best geologists in the world,” she said. Her remark drew applause from the audience, followed by a playful jab at the foreign guests. “That’s why you keep pirating them.” Garin, a certified public accountant and lawyer by profession, joined the DOE as an undersecretary in 2022 and took the helm of the agency as secretary in July 2025. Prior to her stint in the energy sector, she served in the House of Representatives from 2010 to 2022, where she became the first party-list representative elected as deputy speaker and the first female deputy speaker from Iloilo. Garin earned her accounting degree from the University of the Philippines Iloilo, her law degree from the Ateneo de Manila School of Law and an international MBA from the Escuela Superior de Administración y Dirección de Empresas in Spain. Last month, Garin was among the alumni honored by the UP Alumni Association, receiving the 2026 UPAA Distinguished Alumni Award in Good Governance. Asked if she would consider pursuing geology as another degree, Garin laughed and said: “Matanda na ako (I’m already old).” Geologist Sharon Garin? It sounds feasible to me. Latest Trending Latest Latest abtest By Elijah Felice Rosales | 4 hours ago By Elijah Felice Rosales | 4 hours ago By Keisha Ta-Asan | 4 hours ago By Elijah Felice Rosales | 4 hours ago By Louella Desiderio | 4 hours ago