Senate adopts reso honoring 'Legend of the North'
Published Jun 1, 2023 01:33 am
The Senate has adopted a resolution expressing the profound sympathy and sincere condolences on the death of Carlos M. Padilla, governor of Nueva Vizcaya.
Nueva Vizcaya Governor Carlos M. Padilla (Facebook photo)
Padilla, a stalwart of the Nacionalista Party (NP), has been hailed and considered as the “Legend of the North.” He died last May 5 at the age of 78, after suffering a heart attack. Sen. Cynthia Villar, sponsor of Sen. Resolution No. (SRN) 610, and also a stalwart of the NP, remembered Padilla as someone held in high regard by his colleagues and constituents for his “warmth, quiet dignity, and genuine dedication to public service.” The Senate unanimously adopted SRN 610, taking into consideration SRNs 615 and 646, authored by Senators Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero and Joel Villanueva, respectively. The resolution was adopted with all senators as co-authors. “I had the privilege of first working with Gov. Padilla during my term as a congresswoman when he served as the minority leader of the House of Representatives. He graciously shared his wisdom and exemplified learned insight, diplomacy, and unwavering integrity in fulfilling his responsibilities,” Villar said. “Gov. Padilla demonstrated strong leadership and was a true statesman, embodying the very essence of the Nacionalista Party's motto, 'Ang Bayan Higit sa Lahat!' He wholeheartedly worked towards the progress and improvement of our country, always prioritizing the well-being of the people,” she stressed. Padilla was first a mayor of the Municipality of Dupax and later of Dupax Del Norte. He later entered in the legislative department which included six years as an assemblyman and 23 years as a member of the House of Representatives. He was deputy speaker during the 11th Congress and minority floor leader during the 12th Congress. He chaired the Committees on Education and Indigenous People and served as a member of the Commission on Appointments and the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal. His authorship of significant laws, including the Free Public Secondary Education Act, the Philippine Librarianship Act, and the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education Act, earned him the title of the "Father of Free Public Secondary Education." Sen. Robinhood “Robin” Padilla also mourned the untimely demise of the late Nueva Vizcaya Gov. Carlos Padilla, who is a close relative of the senator. Padilla said the governor was not only a politician with an expansive political experience, but he was also an exemplary public servant who consistently served the poor by strengthening the educational systems. "He did not stop serving the poor because he genuinely knows their experiences and sentiments. He truly believed that education is key to lifting Filipinos from poverty," Padilla said in Filipino. “Manong Kaloy was a true leader and a public servant as exemplified by his actions throughout his five decades in government service as a mayor, legislator, and as a local chief executive of his beloved province of Nueva Vizcaya,” Escudero also said of the former governor.
Nueva Vizcaya Governor Carlos M. Padilla (Facebook photo)
Padilla, a stalwart of the Nacionalista Party (NP), has been hailed and considered as the “Legend of the North.” He died last May 5 at the age of 78, after suffering a heart attack. Sen. Cynthia Villar, sponsor of Sen. Resolution No. (SRN) 610, and also a stalwart of the NP, remembered Padilla as someone held in high regard by his colleagues and constituents for his “warmth, quiet dignity, and genuine dedication to public service.” The Senate unanimously adopted SRN 610, taking into consideration SRNs 615 and 646, authored by Senators Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero and Joel Villanueva, respectively. The resolution was adopted with all senators as co-authors. “I had the privilege of first working with Gov. Padilla during my term as a congresswoman when he served as the minority leader of the House of Representatives. He graciously shared his wisdom and exemplified learned insight, diplomacy, and unwavering integrity in fulfilling his responsibilities,” Villar said. “Gov. Padilla demonstrated strong leadership and was a true statesman, embodying the very essence of the Nacionalista Party's motto, 'Ang Bayan Higit sa Lahat!' He wholeheartedly worked towards the progress and improvement of our country, always prioritizing the well-being of the people,” she stressed. Padilla was first a mayor of the Municipality of Dupax and later of Dupax Del Norte. He later entered in the legislative department which included six years as an assemblyman and 23 years as a member of the House of Representatives. He was deputy speaker during the 11th Congress and minority floor leader during the 12th Congress. He chaired the Committees on Education and Indigenous People and served as a member of the Commission on Appointments and the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal. His authorship of significant laws, including the Free Public Secondary Education Act, the Philippine Librarianship Act, and the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education Act, earned him the title of the "Father of Free Public Secondary Education." Sen. Robinhood “Robin” Padilla also mourned the untimely demise of the late Nueva Vizcaya Gov. Carlos Padilla, who is a close relative of the senator. Padilla said the governor was not only a politician with an expansive political experience, but he was also an exemplary public servant who consistently served the poor by strengthening the educational systems. "He did not stop serving the poor because he genuinely knows their experiences and sentiments. He truly believed that education is key to lifting Filipinos from poverty," Padilla said in Filipino. “Manong Kaloy was a true leader and a public servant as exemplified by his actions throughout his five decades in government service as a mayor, legislator, and as a local chief executive of his beloved province of Nueva Vizcaya,” Escudero also said of the former governor.
Lauded even by El Salvador
Villanueva, for his part, said the former governor will also be remembered not only by his fellow Filipino citizens, but also by the people of El Salvador. In March 2017, Padilla testified in the Latin American country the destructive effect of mining in the province. His testimony, Villanueva recalled, was instrumental in the historic Salvadoran legislature vote that made El Salvador the first nation in the world to ban metal mining to save its waterways. “And for this, Mr. President, he has been regarded as a visionary environmental leader by many Salvadoran environmentalists,” Villanueva said.