173. CARLOS M. PADILLA, THE STATESMAN FROM NUEVA VIZCAYA
My great respect to Filipino politicians who have been around for half a
century and had contributed much not only for their constituents in their
territories but for the whole country as well. One of the great Filipinos was
the Honorable Carlos Mapili Padilla, the incumbent governor of the Province of
Nueva Vizcaya who succumbed to heart attack this morning. He was 78.
I have met, Gov Caloy, the illustrious Nueva Vizcayano statesman, a number of
times in Congress and in other national gatherings including meetings in the
Regional Development Council of the Cagayan Valley Region. My most memorable
and productive acquaintance with the great man was when I had a courtesy
meeting with him two months after I assumed the directorship of the Department
of Tourism, Regional Office 2. My close friend who is the Provincial Tourism
Officer arranged for the one-on-one talk and I was struck with awe when I met
the man who was one of the key players for the fast development of the 184
years old province in southern Cagayan Valley and the man who crafted timely
legislations for the betterment of the educational system of the country, among
others. This national figure was very accommodating and soft spoken. He was
very different to traditional politicians who bear an imposing and “siga” image
especially when they are within their office room or their turf. In our short
engagement, we talked about tourism development and he shared many of his
accomplishments and future tourism plans for the province. He encouraged me to
visit the famous Capisaan Cave in Kasibu and even narrated how the Salinas Salt
Springs in Bambang town, one of the majestic natural wonders of our country,
disintegrated. His wide knowledge of governance is very eminent in his talks as
we jump from one topic to another. I listened attentively to his remarks
concerning public service and shared his experiences from the time he was mayor
of the undivided old pueblo of Dupax up to his long stint in the House of
Representatives. Gov Caloy was also a friend of my mother. They had numerous
rendezvous during the time when mom was working in the Senate and in the Lower
House at the turn of the millennium.
Young Filipinos living outside Nueva Vizcaya has little knowledge on who Gov
Padilla was. His official profile in the House and League of Provinces in the
Philippines website reveals that he was born on September 19, 1944. As an illegitimate
child whose father died when he was 13, he was raised by his mother, Victoriana
Mapili of Aringay, La Union and Tayug, Pangasinan, along with his older two
siblings. He studied at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP),
where he served as President of the Supreme Student Council.
Gov Padilla first served as Mayor of the then-undivided Municipality of Dupax,
Nueva Vizcaya. He was the last Mayor of the undivided Dupax and the first mayor
of Dupax Del Norte after Dupax was split into three namely, Dupax del Norte,
Dupax del Sur and Alfonso Castañeda.
In 1978, Gov Padilla was among eight Assemblymen elected to represent Region II
(Cagayan Valley) in the Interim Batasang Pambansa as a member of the KBL party
of President Ferdinand E. Marcos. The first congressional elections after the
People Power Revolution of 1986 catapulted Gov Padilla to represent the lone
district of the province in the 8th Congress (1987-1992). He also served in the
10th (1995-1998), 11th (1998-2001),12th (2001-2004), 14th (2007-2010), 15th
(2010-2013) and 16th (2013-2016) Congress.
While in Congress, Gov Padilla served as Deputy Speaker (2001 & 2013-2016)
and a Minority Leader (2001-2004). He became a member of very important
congressional bodies such as the Commission on Appointments and the House of
Representative Electoral Tribunal (HRET). He became the Co-chair of the
Congressional Commission on Education (EDCom), a body to assess Philippine
education. As Education Committee chairman, he authored the landmark law Free
High School Act of 1988 (RA 6655) that ensures free high school education for
every Filipino, and RA 6728, providing various forms of government assistance
to students and teachers in private education. Gov Padilla also authored the
following measures: RA 6966 regulating the librarian profession, RA 7104
creating the Commission on the Filipino Language, RA 7168 converting the
Philippine Normal College into the Philippine Normal University, RA 7536
creating the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, the Philippine
Nursing Act (RA 9173), and the proposed Philippine Dentistry Act (HB 4908). Gov
Padilla was also the principal author and sponsor of laws establishing schools
in the province such as the Nueva Vizcaya State University and the Philippine
Science High School Cagayan Valley campus, located in Bayombong.
On several occasions, Gov Padilla represented Congress in several international
conferences abroad, such as the International Labor Organization Conference in
Geneva, the Asia-Pacific Parliamentarians’ Union, the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary
Organization Conference, and the UNESCO General Assembly in Paris among others.
In 2016, he ran for governor and won. He was re-elected in the 2019 and 2022
elections. During his tenure, Gov Padilla was a strong critic of large-scale
mining operations in the province such as the open-pit mine operated by the
Australian mining firm OceanaGold in the town of Kasibu.
Gov Padilla was a recipient of the outstanding alumnus award at the Polytechnic
University of the Philippines (PUP), where he also received his doctorate
degree in Public Administration, honoris causa. He likewise received the same
honorary degree in Education, and in Humanities, from Philippine Normal
University and Nueva Vizcaya State Institute of Technology and the Nueva
Vizcaya State Polytechnic College, now the Nueva Vizcaya State University
(NVSU) respectively. In 2022, he was awarded the Dangal ng Wika by the Komisyon
sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) in recognition of his contributions and achievement in
the furtherance of the use of the Filipino language.
Gov Padilla was married to Ruth Raña-Padilla, who also served as governor of
Nueva Vizcaya (1987-1988 & 2013-2016) and Commissioner of the Professional
Regulatory Commission (PRC). They had three children: Carlos Jr. (Jojo), Ruthie
Maye (Ruth), and Carlo Paolo (CP) and seven grandchildren. Former Governor Ruth
is my friend and we are both active members of the Cagayan Valley Regional
Tourism Council (CVRTC). She is now the incoming Regional Chair.
It was during the second term of Gov Padilla when the Department of Tourism
(DOT) tourism circuit labeled as “Feel the Vibe Vizcaya” was launched. The
highlights of the five-day circuit are the nature and eco-trails, cultural
immersion, spelunking, paragliding, farm sites and orchidarium tour, sea of
clouds viewing, waterfalls adventure and heritage tours.
Gov Caloy is an exemplary leader of our nation. His pieces of legislation will
forever mark the lives of the recipient sectors most especially in education.
His name and soul will forever be etched in the hearts of his dear Nueva
Vizcayanos. Eventhough I am from Isabela, Gov Carling touched my life because I
idolize his brand of public service. Thank you very much Gov for your service
to our country. Thank you very much for your contributions to our society. Isa
ka pong bayani ng makabagong panahon!
Mga Komento
Mag-post ng isang Komento