Noel “Ka Noel” Dizon Salonga was a distinguished leader, mentor and expert in the Philippines geothermal industry. Ka Noel spanned a thirty-year long professional career at the Energy Development Corporation with numerous geothermal influences anywhere from exploration geology and geochemistry. He was also the Assistant Vice President of the Strategic Technology and Innovations Office with a strong focus on innovations that further springs geothermal development forward. He was a strong force on isotope technology and has even updated the Philippine Meteoric Water Line in 2015 from over 600 samples along with various methods in estimating Meteoric Water Index in the country’s geothermal fields. Ka Noel was the president of the National Geothermal Association of the Philippines and was a rallying voice in the country’s technical, educational and policy drafting bodies.
Considered a Renaissance Man, Ka Noel was known of his many other passions such as in the arts (literature, music and theatre among others) and was a revered artist himself, having won the Palanca Award in 1989 for his Filipino short story, “Minero”. He was even more updated in recent trends in songs than most of the people and could hear him singing the latest tunes in his office. He expressed such interest in technology and gadgets as well – with his love for his Samsung Note and Surface and was extremely amazed by the Google Cardboard virtual reality gadget that he got one for everyone in his team.
Above everything, Ka Noel was known to many to be a loving father, a kind friend and colleague, and an encouraging and effective leader and mentor. His incredible life is an inspiration to many generations and his warm smiles and quick wits are never forgotten.