MY WIFE Consuelo Sol and yours truly would like to convey our deepest condolence and sympathy to the bereaved members of the late Benguet Governor Raul "Rocky" Molintas' family, who passed away in the United States recently while visiting his loved ones.
From any perspective, Rocky is an icon as a provincial officer and as a private citizen. It was during his term as governor of the province when marked community development projects and undertakings were at its best.
He was certainly one of the country's most outstanding provincial executives. He was also a journalist at heart!
Happily and significantly, I have had the distinct privilege and opportunity to work with him in a number of projects and undertakings sponsored by the National Correspondents Club of Baguio (NCCB).
Among others, my family and I will always remember him for his generosity, understanding, and concern whenever we informed and invited him to grace our activities specially those which were held at the Shrine of the Brown Madonna, along kilometer 7, Asin Road.
Personally, I was very fortunate to be one of the Benguet Province Everlasting award honorees when the province celebrated its 100th Year Anniversary. I was the only non-Benguet Province resident honoree at the time. Apo Rocky, personally was the award presentor.
The award citation reads: "Born on October 31, 1931 to the late Teofilo M. Padilla and the late Leonora Padilla, Narciso "Nars" Padilla, is a distinguished citizen awardee in 1961, is noted for his civic activities.
He initiated the placement of the 1990 Earthquake Heroes' Marker in honor of the volunteers and government rescue and rehabilitation units from Baguio City and Benguet Province who extended "Service beyond the call of duty" during the tragedy.
He set off the solicitation of medical assistance for the vehicular victims in Atok, Benguet and launched a fund drive for this purpose through the radio station DZWT 540.
He initiated the development of the Shrine of the Brown Madonna at Km. 7, Pacac, Asin Road, Tadiangan, Tuba, Benguet in 1986 after the EDSA Revolution. It is now a popular place of worship.
As a project officer of radio station DZWT 540 of the Mt. Province Broadcasting Co., Padilla started and implemented the project: Plant a Tree with DZWT in 1986, covering several municipalities in Benguet.
Being an accomplished journalist, he penned numerous feature articles regarding the province's activties adn development. He likewise wrote several articles about the missing mummies as a member of the 'Fact Finding Committee' in connection with the missing Kabayan mummies in 1969.
As associate editor of the Vibration News Magazine from 1995 to the early part of 1997, Padilla saw to it that articles on community and sports development in Benguet were properly published in the papers.
Suffice it to say, he has contributed to the promotion of Benguet as a tourist attraction through his media coverages of the Province.
"Nars," as he is fondly called by friends, is blissfully married with five children. He finished his elementary education at the Bonifacio Elementary School in 1943, his secondary schooling at Baguio City National High School in 1949, and his Bachelor's degreep at the Baguio Tech in 1953.
With God's grace and blessings, I will always keep my friendship with utmost respect and assocation with former Gov. Rocky like an emerald, shining, rain or shine. Goodbye, sir Rocky. May your soul rest in peace in the glory of the Almighty.