SUNSTAR Baguio columnist Narciso Padilla joined his creator on Tuesday, March 5. He was 87.
Padilla, a sportswriter, photographer, event organizer and known as Baguio’s Santa Claus for the whole month of December for more than 40 years, is survived by his wife Soledad.
A former Baguio City Councilor from 1992 – 1995, Padilla was the tourism officer of the city in the early 70s when he conceptualized the Silahis ng Pasko, a multi-event month long festivity for the month of December where thousands of children participate in the Children’s Mardi Gras every December 1.
Silahis ng Pasko includes a day for the physically challenged, balikbayans, senior citizens, Christmas and New Year babies and athletes.
Prior to becoming a city official, Padilla also served as the Gintong Alay camp director of Micheal Keon who oversaw the needs of the country’s athletes like Lydia de Vega, Guido del Prado, Elma Muros and local hero Hector Begeo.
Padilla was responsible for putting up busts of Baguio’s builders like Daniel Burnham at Burnham Park, Lyman Kennon at the viewdeck of Zigzag along Kennon Road, among others.
It took him almost 20 years to complete the Brown Madonna Shrine at Kilometer 6 Asin Road, which serves to commemorate, ironically, the Edsa Revolution.
After losing his re-election bid in 1995, Padilla left for the United Sates but came back in 1996.
Padilla also served as president of the Baguio Correspondents and Broadcasters Club and the National Correspondents Club of Baguio. (SSB)