Carlos Padilla (politician)

He filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) for re-election in the coming May 2022 national and local elections. This may be his last time running for public office.

Carlos Mapili Padilla is a Filipino politician from Dupax del Norte, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines currently serving as the Governor of Nueva Vizcaya. Padilla was elected to his first term as Governor in 2016 and was re-elected in 2019.

He ran for governor in 2016 and won, receiving 91,105 votes. He ran again for a second term in 2019 winning in a bigger margin of 17.05% than 2016's 15.2%

In 2004, he ran for senator under the ticket of Sen. Panfilo Lacson and lost. He ended up at the 24th spot garnering 3,863,693 votes which represents 11.53% votes.

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. He followed this with 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.

Carlos Mapili Padilla was born September 19, 1944. His mother, Victoriana Mapili of Aringay, La Union, and Tayug, Pangasinan, was a simple hard-working woman who raised the three Padilla children on her own despite her lack of education. Carlos was an illegitimate son. Hence, he had to paddle his own canoe to study and earn a living. His father died when Carlos was 13.