Carlos Padilla (politician)

Carlos Mapili Padilla was born September 19, 1944. As an illegitimate son 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 two siblings.[3]

Padilla first served as Mayor of the then undivided municipality of Dupax, Nueva Vizcaya. He was the last Mayor of an 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.[4]

While 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. Padilla has 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), among other important measures on education.[8]

Padilla is also the principal author and sponsor of dozens of laws establishing schools like the Nueva Vizcaya State University and the Philippine Science High School Cagayan Valley campus, located in Bayombong.

Padilla was a recipient of the outstanding alumnus award at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), where he served as President of the Supreme Student Council and 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.[9]

Carlos M. Padilla is married to Ruth Raña Padilla, who also served as provincial governor of Nueva Vizcaya and PRC Commissioner. They have three children: Carlos “Jojo” II, Ruthie Maye, and Carlo Paolo.[10]