The Governor
GOVERNOR RICARTE DONG PADILLA PROFILE
A scion of a political figure in the Province of Camarines Norte, Gov. Dong Padilla is known for his ethical and transformational leadership. His management style is imbued with delineating his personal and professional interests which for him should not interface. Albeit, conscious that those two aspects of life are not mutually exclusive, because they somehow feed each other, he always makes it a point to set aside his personal considerations in favor of his professional commitment.
This was clearly manifested during his three-term uninterrupted stint as a mayor which saw him maintain a clear, uninterrupted connection to his core galvanizing vision and values which are summed up in a sense of perspective that upholds the interests of his constituents. In other words, he has a high sense of value for the common good which is nothing but the improvement of the well-being of every individual in society so that they could attain their fullest potentials
Gov. Dong grew up in an environment where public service is a daily fare. His family traces its roots to the former Governor of the province of Bulacan in the olden times, Gov.Jose Padilla, Sr. whose son by the way, happens to be his father, Roy B. Padilla, Sr., himself a former Governor of Camarines Norte, Mayor, SSS Commissioner, Assemblyman and delegate to the United Nations International Labor Organization.
His brother, Former Governor Roy Padilla, Jr. was a three-term Chief Executive of this province, also a former congressman. He has two brothers who were erstwhile mayors of the municipality of Jose Panganiban, they were, Ronnie Padilla and Roger Padilla. Recently, another brother of Gov. Dong got the highest number of votes for senatorial hopefuls nationwide, he is now Senator Robin Padilla, an actor-turned-politician.
This only shows that Gov. Dong is not alien to politics. But just like his siblings and ancestors, he never made politics as a tool for personal aggrandizement. He strived to detach and to subordinate his self interests to that of the public whom he is sworn to serve and to hold as sacrosanct and inviolable.
He never ever allowed during his incumbency as a mayor to have his name and his image emblazoned in any of the projects or vehicles which were funded by the people's money. His sense of delicadeza runs high in his personal and official trademark.
His decision to throw his hat into gubernatorial race sans a well-oiled campaign machinery was motivated primarily by his heartfelt and genuine desire to serve and not to be served, to help and to champion those who are at the fringes of society (mga nasa laylayan) and to be an instrument to advance the total human development of all CamNorteños.
His is a principle that points to the people as the boss and not the functionaries of the government.
Today, his grand ambition for the province and for the people is set to take shape as he hits the ground running, so to speak, so that everyone would share both the burden and, more importantly, the benefits of socio-economic development provincewide.
He envisions Camarines Norte to be full of vibrancy, of vigor in society, of vitality in governance. In short, he is telling everyone the world over: "Let's celebrate life in Camarines Norte!."
