BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO, The Manila Times
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya (May 11, 2023)—The family of the late Gov. Carlos Padilla has announced that his remains will be transferred today, Thursday, from their residence in Solano town to the House of Representatives (HoR) where he served as a representative of the province for almost 29 years.
His wife, former governor Ruth Padilla, said from the HoR, his remains will then be transported back to the province at the Nueva Vizcaya Convention Center in the Capitol Compound in this town for public viewing on Friday, May 12.
“The convention center will be open to the public until the dawn of Saturday, May 13, which is the day of his interment in the town of Dupax del Norte where he served as the municipal mayor,” Padilla said, adding that the final Mass will be held at the convention center before the burial.
Padilla’s former colleagues in the HoR said the former congressman had faithfully performed the duties and responsibilities of a legislator, serving a total of 29 years: six years as an assemblyman and 23 years as a member of the HoR.
In various capacities, Padilla served the HoR as deputy speaker during the 11th Congress, minority floor leader during the 12th Congress, deputy minority leader, chairman of the Committees on Education and Indigenous People, co-chairman of the Committee on Education and Congressional Committee on Education, and a member of the Commission on Appointments during the 12th Congress and of the HoR Electoral Tribunal during the 10th Congress.
Introduced by Representatives Christian Unabia, Lordan Suan and Bambi Emano, House Resolution (HR) 952 stated that during his stint as a lawmaker, Padilla made notable contributions in the halls of academe and national policy with the enactment of laws.
These included Republic Act (RA) 6655, or the “Free Public Secondary Education Act of 1998” which earned him the title the “Father of Free Public Secondary Education.”
Other contributions he made were RA 6966, “Philippine Librarianship Act”; RA 6728, “Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education Act”; RA 7168, “An Act Converting the Philippine Normal College into a State University to be known as the Philippine Normal University”; RA 7356, “Law Creating the National Commission for Culture and the Arts”; RA 9272, “An Act Establishing the Nueva Vizcaya State University in the Province of Nueva Vizcaya by Integrating the Nueva Vizcaya State Institute of Technology in the Municipality of Bayombong and the Nueva Vizcaya State Polytechnic College in the Municipality of Bambang, both located in the Province of Nueva Vizcaya”; RA 9173 or the “Philippine Nursing Act of 2002”; and RA 9036 which is the law strengthening the Philippine Science High School (PSHS) system including the establishment of the PSHS Cagayan Valley Campus.
Also in HR 952, Unabia, Suan and Emano stated that Padilla was widely known as “The Legend of the North” on account of his unwavering dedication to public service, exceptional leadership skills, and enormous contribution to the nation.”
“Governor Padilla was hailed ‘Most Outstanding Congressman” during the 8th, 10th and 12th Congresses; Top-Five Congressman during the 12th Congress, Outstanding Alumnus of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines; and received the ‘Dangal ng Wika Award’ by the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino in recognition of his contributions in the furtherance of the use of the Filipino language,” HR 952 stated.
Padilla, 78, who died of cardiac arrest on Friday morning, May 5, is survived by his wife Ruth, who also served as provincial governor of Nueva Vizcaya, and children Carlos “Jojo” 2nd, Ruthie Maye and Carlo Paolo.