An associate professor of the MMSU College of Teacher Education (CTE) was chosen as a recipient of two prestigious awards by the Lumina Foundation for Integral Human Development (LFIHD). 

Dr. Maria Eliza S. Lopez, the University’s chief of Sentro ng Wika at Kultura (SWAK), was named Luminary Educator in Filipino and among the Outstanding Educators in Filipino by the non-government organization. 

Dr. Lopez will virtually receive these awards in the first-ever Luminary Excellence in Education and Research Awards (LEERA) on May 2. 

The Luminary Educator award is the highest recognition given by the NGO to only one candidate, while the Outstanding Educator award could be conferred to anyone who qualify to their criteria.

The selection committee cited Lopez for “her exemplary achievements in her field of specialization, extensive research projects, and successful extension activities.”

She was nominated by Dr. Zorayda S. Paguyo, education program supervisor of the Department of Education (DepEd) in Laoag City, and Prof. Kharen D. Vidad, Filipino program adviser at MMSU-CTE. 

Prior to this, she presented her research on “Sosyal, Kultural, at Ekonomikal na Kalagayan ng mga Kababaihan na Inilalarawan sa mga Piling Maikling Kuwentong Ilokano” in a national conference by the LFIHD in October 2020, and got accepted for publication in the Asia Pacific Journal of Multidisciplinary Research Special Issue for February 2021. 

In 2019, she was awarded by the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino as an outstanding teacher in the Philippines because of her exemplary performance in the promotion of the Filipino Language. 

As the SWAK chief at MMSU, the CTE professor conducts and supervises various activities related to the promotion of Filipino language in the region. – Niña Christelle M. Sumintac (correspondent)