Mayet P. Hwang has had a long and successful career with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) rising from Cooperative Development Specialist-II to Regional Director. She is praised for her strong work ethic, leadership abilities, and commitment to her colleagues. The author has known Mayet for over 20 years and considers her a close friend, recalling times when Mayet provided support and guidance during difficult periods in her own career. Mayet is admired for her passion for her work and family as well as her caring, generous nature.

1. A Tribute to Mayet P. Hwang CDA Regional Director
Pampanga Extension Office
Our Colleague and Friend
by Josefina B. Bitonio
Cooperative Development Authority
Dagupan Extension Office
I have known Mayet since the late 1990s; This first encounter marked the
beginning of our longstanding personal and professional friendship. We
both started as a Cooperative Development Specialist-II, she worked in
CDA Calamba Extension Office while I’m working at CDA Dagupan
Extension Office. Mayet’s contributions and legacies to CDA were many,
being a member of countless technical working groups, crafting policies
and procedures for the CDA. Her work ethic is more than remarkable. She
got the energy, commitment, integrity, a good team mate are all the words
that captured my image of Mayet.
Her track record is very consistent, with her directness, honesty, passion,
intelligence, friendliness, thoughtfulness with a very bright outlook to tackle
the hard stuff with ease, It’s no wonder she was promoted every now and
then from CDS-II, Senior CDS, Supervising CDS, Chief Registration to
Regional Director. Clearly, she moves from CDS-II to the highest post in
her career ladder with concrete steps backed up with solid performance.
Mayet is a special friend to me as we have also similarities in our socio
economic status back then. We both knew the face of poverty and
encountered difficulties when we were young. From her story, she told me
she has seven siblings, three males and four women. She was the no. 6
child in her family. At 7 years of age, she was selling pandesal, fish ball,
halo halo and cleaning buses as her father was a bus conductor. Her
longest business was selling retail gasoline for 11 years. So, business and
managing stuff is in her blood.
Mayet’s warm and courageous heart comforted me at one point when I
have a major problem in my career way back in 2011. I want to express
my gratitude for her moral support, warm friendship and for comforting
words during the time when I felt “me against the world”. Thanks for being
there sending me SMS in the evening and giving me warning so I can
prepare myself for a big blow in my career. During that time her

2. representation though alone has a big impact on me. As the old saying
goes, “when you’re down, you will know your true friends and she was one
of them”.
Another thank you note to Mayet, was the support and vote of confidence
in my promotion as Regional Director. As member of the Promotion and
Selection Board, it made me feel at ease seeing her around with the other
members and I know I was treated fairly. Finally, the door has opened for
me after 14 years of patience and hardwork. Thank you so much for being
there in my glorious moment and I know during those trying moments, you
have been good to me.
Mayet is a caring daughter, mother and wife. Cherished by her family,
friends and colleagues. Her generous nature will never be forgotten as she
is a good host also. I was fortunate that I was invited to her home at one
time and she introduced Korean kimchee or gimchi, a traditional
fermented Korean side dish made of vegetables with a variety of
seasonings. She always pampered me with food. Recently, she treated us
to Casa Verde with a giant burger 9 inches in diameter and 4 inches high
filled with meat, bacon, cheese, mushroom and vegetables. Wow ! what a
pleasure to have experienced this!
I must say I felt I had a special relationship with Mayet. I was always
impressed by her sharp insights and able to articulate it freely. She
is selfless and caring person, well liked and a respected friend and
workmate.

3. In whatever role, Mayet does, we knew her from whatever vantage point,
she stood apart as someone with leadership abilities and committed to her
work were readily apparent. She always finds time for her colleagues, her
friends, and her family, especially her children and her husband.
She was passionate about what she is doing having observed those
qualities in Mayet. During national conferences, she is my preferred
roommate aside from Dir Elma. I learned a great deal about her childhood
and her love for her family. They were never far from her thoughts. She
kept in regular contact with them when she was away from home, and
always made certain that she returned with “a special little something” for
each of them. It was a privilege for me to have been a part of Mayet’s life,
having had the opportunity to know her and to learn so many things from
her.
My first impression of her was, and has continued to be all these years, is
her being conscientious, and she always kept herself abreast of the latest
trends in our line of work so that when I need guidance I don’t hesitate to
call her up and she also mentors me willingly. She was not selfish to share
her thoughts.
Two years ago, we were participants to a hilarious pageant in Baguio City
to give our tribute to our Chairman who is about to end his term with the
CDA. She gave her best performance without reservation and during the
interview portion she answered spontaneously, Oh she was so good that
the audience were very much impressed of her wits and gave her the
longest and loudest applause. She stands out on her small way and she
earned the title of Ms CDA while I end up winning the best talent.

4. Of late, her fashion sense has improved a lot with some sophistication
especially during our national summit and conferences. I envy her size
now from XL to medium and come to think of it the DAP program is
encouraging her to reduce more to small size. Good for her.
Her other qualities are regular CDA master of ceremonies and ISO Internal
Quality Auditor. On a personal note she has a sense of humor, good
photographer and our shopping guide.
She dreams to finish her doctorate. I hope so. She is very welcome to
enroll in our DPA program in our university after her DAP program. May be
I can be instrumental to her dream of a doctorate degree in the future.
I wish Mayet best of luck in her endeavor with DAP. I know It’s difficult with
the endless assignments and critical thinking exercises with professors
competing for her time (as if there is no tomorrow) and squeezing students’
brain for the sake of professional learning. Anyway, at the end of the
tunnel, the sun is shining and Mayet will savor and cherish all the memories
of every learning and experiences with her classmates and professors.
with DAP. Try to take it easy, manage your time and enjoy the challenges
of this new chapter of your life.
My prayers for your health and success in your educational journey. An
investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.