Dr. Cristy Coloma, chairman of the MMSU Development Cooperative, was awarded as one of outstanding cooperative workers in the region during the First Regional Summit of Women in Cooperatives held Sept. 26 at the Philippine Tourism Authority Beach Resort in San Fabian, Pangasinan.

Also vice chairman of the Provincial Cooperative Union, Dr. Coloma was recognized for her \"exemplary involvement in cooperatives as an educator, researcher, community organizer, and trainer.\"

There were 12 awardees in the region, with three coming from Ilocos Norte. Congressman Jose R. Ping-ay of the party list group Coop-NATTCO was guest of honor and speaker in the gathering graced by top-ranking officials of the Cooperative Development Authority.

Now an Associate Professor IV, Dr. Coloma entered MMSU as a research assistant in 1980. She had served as extension coordinator of CBEA, director of the University Manpower Development Program, chairman of the Business Administration department at CBEA, and coordinator of the Public Administration program of the Graduate School. Currently, she is Program Accreditation and Quality Assurance chief. She is also a national accreditor for business, cooperatives and entrepreneurship, and graduate studies of the Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines.

Her M.A. in Public Administration and Ed.D. in Educational Management are both from MMSU. She finished her bachelor’s course in commerce at the Divine Word College of Laoag.

A member of the board of directors of the Philippine Federation of Women in Cooperatives, Dr. Coloma says she is happy that her sacrifices are being recognized. Hopefully, she says, her victory will serve as \"an inspiration for other women to get involved in cooperatives as a tool for community development and national progress.\"