Zuzette Castro demonstrates her skills as a member of the MERALCO women's linecrew at their training yard in Angono Rizal on March 1, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Suzette Castro was pumping milk as a new mom when she started training to become one of Meralco's linewoman.

Castro said their training resembled a military boot camp.

“‘Yong first week ko kasi nagjaj-jogging kami, nagpa-pump ako after ng activity. Muntik ako sumuko after three days kasi ayaw dumede sa bote ng anak ko so struggle talaga ‘yon. Pero inisip ko after ano ‘yong magiging benefit sa kanya lalo po sa anak ko, kaka-isang taon lang,” Castro said.

Line workers are frontliners in servicing electrical lines. They install and maintain electrical posts and cables, and troubleshoot power distribution problems rain or shine.

Meralco started its linecrew training for women in 2013. Today, 23 line women are of service to different Meralco sectors including Castro who was onboarded in 2022.

Aside from being physically demanding, line women need to be at least 5 feet 2 inches in height with no fear of heights.

Castro recalled her first climb up an electric post.

 “‘Yong unang akyat ko talaga sa poste eh ‘yong 55 feet. Grabe, sobra ‘yong iyak ko. Bagong experience, siyempre matatakot din ako,” Castro said.

Castro shared that having a family with a background in electrical services boosted her confidence in times of doubt if she was a right fit for the job.

“Hindi naging factor dahil babae ako at puro lalaki ang andito. Ang nagdalawang-isip ako is kung kaya ko ba kasi medyo mabigat at kuryente pa. Pero dito ko naramdaman na mas importante ang safety mo kaya hindi ka aakyat ng poste nang hindi mo alam,” Castro said.

Before becoming a line woman, Castro planned to go back to Dubai where she worked as a cashier.

But after having a child, she opted to look for work that didn’t require her to leave the country.

“Dati nakikitira kami sa lola ko. Ngayon, nakabukod na kami. Worth it magstay rito sa Pilipinas,” Castro said.

Karen Canizares demonstrates her skills as a member of the MERALCO women's linecrew at their training yard in Angono Rizal on March 1, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Like Castro, Karen Cañirazes also conquered her fear and became a linewoman. She's in fact among the first batch of line women not only in Meralco but in Southeast Asia.

Fresh off college with an electrical engineering degree, Cañizares applied for a job at a TV station in 2013. But she and her classmates opted to try their luck in the then newly-launched linecrew training.

Never in her wildest dreams did she think she would be climbing electric posts for a living, but now, both women said they wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Gusto ko talaga dati building and wirings. ‘Di ko naman alam na poste pala ang akyat namin,” Cañizares said.

The training program consists of lectures and hands-on activities related to the job.

But what tested Cañizares most are the early morning physical exercises like jogging, karate, weightlifting, and calisthenics.

“Para kaming militar sa training camp. Panlalaki kasi siyang trabaho talaga. Pisikal. Mabubuhat kayo ng mabibigat. Hindi naman pwedeng hindi ka tumulong sa mga kuya mo kasi inapply-an mo siya as a linewoman. Panindigan mo siya,” Cañizares said.

Before she got hired as a linewoman, Cañizares considered working overseas.

Instead, she looked back on all the hours of hard work and intensive training she was able to survive and thought of how becoming a pioneer for linewomen would open more doors not only for her but for other women.

“Sa hirap ng training ko, ngayon pa ba ako hihinto? Ngayon pa ba ako aalis? Ita-try ko muna,” Cañizares said.

After six years of serving with the linecrew, Cañizares now sits as a Quality Inspector of Meralco’s Manila Sector, proving that it is not gender but perseverance that allows one to go up in rank.

“Lahat naman nakakaya basta (may) pagpupursige at pagmamahal sa trabaho po,” she said.

With their perseverance and strong will, Castro and Cañizares prove that women can excel, even when hanging on top of an electric post.