The Central Luzon State University (CLSU) recently lost one precious alumna. She is Dr. Carminia Leabres Ramos, 49, graduate of PhD Development Education in 1990 and BS Agricultural Education (Cum laude) in 1977. She was also recipient of the Achievement Award in Journalism from the CLSU Alumni Association Inc. (CLSUAAI) in 1997.

Doc Min, as she is fondly called, succumbed to gall bladder cancer last December 18, 2006 after a year of silent struggle. Exuding grace and beauty, she was a strong and fearless woman until the very end. To her friends, colleagues and relatives, Doc Min was a winner, victorious at every challenge of life because of God's strength.

Her 29 years in service

Doc Min was a writer, an editor and an educator. She became an Asst. Professor I at CLSU from 1991-1992. She also held the position of Public Information Chief of the Information Dissemination Section at the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Watershed Management and Erosion Control Project (WMECP) from 1986-1988. She was the Public Information Officer of NIA from 1980-1986. Prior to this, Doc Min served as Agriculturist and Agricultural Reform Technologist at the NIA- Aurora Peņaranda Irrigation Project (NIA-APP) from 1978-1980 and at the Department of Agrarian Reform in 1977, respectively.

Doc Min's last 14 years, in government service were spent at the Bureau of Postharvest Research and Extension (BPRE). She joined the work force in July 1992 as Supervising Research Specialist and in June 1999, she was promoted as Chief Science Research Specialist of the Applied Communication Division (ACD). She was the editorial consultant and former editor-in-chief of the Postharvest News, the quarterly newsletter of BPRE. She also edited numerous publications on postharvest like the Technical Reference Guide, Proceedings of the 18th ASEAN Seminar on Grains Postharvest Technology and NAPHIRE Technical Bulletin.

Her latest project, Information Campaign on the Prevention and Control of Mycotoxin won the Best Paper Award during the 27th BPRE In-house R&D Review last March 29-30 2006.

An award winning communicator

Aside from the Achievement Award in Journalism conferred by the CLSUAAI in 1997, the Philippine Agricultural Journalists Inc. (PAJ) recognized her editorial work at The Watershed when said NIA newsletter was chosen as the Binhi Awardee for the newsletter of the year.

In 1980, the PAJ gave the Binhi Award to the NIA-WMECP soundslide documentary on the Forest Renewal: A Challenge for Today's Survival this was in recognition of Doc Min's Info Dissemination Section at NIA which produced the documentary because it was adjudged agricultural slide presentation of the year.

Doc Min writes 30 at 49. Her husband, Jaime Ramos, in his tribute to Doc Min said that his dear wife lived more than her age because she fulfilled her mission to God, her family and community in her lifetime.