After 67 years of working at the International School Manila (ISM), former First Lady Amelita “Ming” Ramos has retired at the age of 95. She was the longest serving personnel at the institution where she worked since 1955.
Still energetic and sharp for her age, the widow of the late President Fidel V. Ramos on Nov. 17 was honored by her ISM family with a formal tribute and retirement ceremonies.
The former First Lady, in her brief remarks, recalled her almost seven-decade stint at the International School where she first started as a secretary to the assistant headmaster.
Mrs. Ramos rose through the ranks, holding several positions such as a physical education teacher, director of testing, director of admissions, and becoming the school registrar. She was a consultant prior to her retirement.
Even when she was the country’s First Lady from 1992-1998, Mrs. Ramos did not give up her IS job, even driving her own car to school at times, certainly a nightmare for her team from the Presidential Security Group (PSG).
Asked why she insisted on working at the ISM while she was First Lady, Mrs. Ramos in previous interviews replied: “Somebody has to earn in the family. Who will pay for the bills? I must help Eddie (former President FVR). Well, usually back then, his salary yet to be received, was pledged like in the cooperatives or groups of) golf caddies and workers.”
Ming was accompanied onstage by eldest daughter Angel Ramos during the retirement ceremonies.
Other members of the family at the event were daughter Cristy Ramos with children Patrick and Bryan Jalasco, grandchild Sergio Samartino (son of the late Jo Ramos and movie star Lloyd Samartino), and the former First Lady’s sister Linda McCabe.
Mrs. Ramos earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education from Boston University’s Sargent School. She later earned Master of Science in Physical Education and Recreation from the University of California, Los Angeles.
She became a national champion swimmer and badminton player.
