Because of her outstanding work and dedication in improving nutritional benefits for Filipinos, Pres. Fidel V. Ramos appointed Dr. Barba as Director of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of FNRI.
Dr. Barba was also a professor at the Institute of Human Nutritional and Food, University of the Philippines in Los Banos since 1975. She is a popular speaker, lecturer, presenter, reviewer and project leader in numerous trainings, seminars, research programs, committees both in national and international scenes.
Dr. Barba finished her Bachelor of Science in Nutrition, magna cum laude, at the Philippine Women’s University in 1961. She went to the University of Hawaii where she got her Master of Science in Food Science in 1961. She earned her Doctor of Philosophy in Nutrition at the Pennsylvania State University in 1980.
Dr. Barba became a member of prestigious organizations such as Council of Deans and Heads of Nutrition and Dietetics, Nutritionist-Dieticians Association of the Philippines, Philippine Society of Nutritionist-Dieticians, American Institute of Nutrition, and the International Union of Nutritional Science.
Because of her outstanding performance in nutrition, Dr. Barba became East-West Center Fellow (University of Hawaii), and RP-World bank Fellow (Pennsylvania State University. She also received distinctions like the PAN Fellow Award in Nutrition Teaching. Distinguished Award for Professional and Academic Leadership, NDAP 2nd Clara Ruth Darby Award, and the Professional Regulation Commission Outstanding Profession of the Year in Nutrition and Dietetics.