Newsman Nars Padilla, ‘last boy scout’ writes 30

LETTERS FROM THE AGNO

March L. Fianza

BAGIO CITY -- I first heard about the legend in high school. Our third year music class burned hours after school dismissal in practicing pieces for the “Singing Christmas Tree”. The program was part of the “Silahis ng Pasko” that was started sometime in 1973.

At the rehearsal on the Melvin Jones Grandstand, Manong Nars Padilla was always there to give the cue to participating choir groups he invited from the different schools in the city.

Those were the days. Today, not even a well-funded committee could come up with a musicale that can entertain family members on a chilly Christmas night. Only Mang Nars Padilla, a tireless event organizer could do it.

Part of the Christmas event is the quest for the Baguio Lucky Christmas Baby who is chosen within the first hour of December 25, and the search for the Baguio New Year Baby who is picked within the first minutes of January 1st.

Also celebrated in December that was part of “Silahis ng Pasko” was the “PMA Cadets Day at the Park”, courtesy of the Philippine Military Academy and organized by none other than Mang Nars Padilla.

That was why I stood speechless the first time I heard him boast about the tourism events he conceptualized and executed all by his lonesome most of the time.

In some other times, he would need the assistance of colleagues from the National Correspondents Club of Baguio, a press club he founded at the height of the Edsa Revolution on February 1986.

Under the “PMA Cadets Day at the Park”, the cadets showcase their silent drill by performing snappy manual of arms and marching formation, a most awaited event by residents of Baguio and the surrounding communities.

On Independence Day, PMA cadets would also be called by the indefatigable Nars Padilla to carry out their snappy silent drill at the Melvin Jones football field while Philippine Air Force pilots perform flight exhibitions and skydiving demonstrations above.  

                Honestly, Mang Nars Padilla always sneaked into my mind everytime Christmas season came by because that was how I first came to know him. He is also remembered as the yearly Santa Claus of Baguio, giving away little gifts and food to street children and indigent families.  

Through the years, I came to know him more as the one who came up with the “Lucky Foreign Visitors” tourism project in 1971, and the Summer Regatta where boat races were held at the Burnham Lake, making it more income-generating for small businessmen.

By the way, while being the City Tourism Officer in the early 70s, one time he was asked by government tourism officials to be tourism secretary but he turned down the opportunity because he was satisfied with what he was doing in the field.

Years ago while passing Asin Road, I chanced upon a Catholic mass being held at the entrance of an unfinished tunnel. Stopping by, I saw Mang Nars who told me that Immaculate Conception Day every December 8 was celebrated at the place that was converted into the Shrine of the Brown Madonna in 1988.

Never running out of ideas, Mang Nars coordinated the construction of concrete busts of Architect Daniel Burnham and Colonel Lyman Kennon at the Camp 7 police checkpoint overlooking the zigzagging Kennon Road.

Mang Nars was not only a tourism man, he was in to several sports events. He was the Camp Director of Gintong Alay in 1980, media affairs chair of Fil-Am golf 1994, first chairman of the Cordillera Paralympics, first ASEAN cycling tour director of Philippine Amateur Cycling Asso., and conceptualized the Kafagway Sports Award.

As a veteran newsman, he wrote the sports column “Sportscope”, was a correspondent to several national dailies, and edited sports pages of several local newspapers, including Baguio Midland Courier, Daily Vibrations and SunStar, among others.

As Baguio City councilor in 1992, he authored the city ordinance institutionalizing the giving of financial incentives to medalist Baguio athletes in any sports event. He assisted sports personalities Lydia de Vega, Elma Muros, Olympian Hector Begeo of Bauko, Mtn. Province and Mr. Asia Sammy Ayochoc then later helped organized the first ASEAN body building event.

The last time I talked to him, he mentioned about reiterating a letter he wrote to then President Ramos about segregating the Scout Hill from Camp John Hay, and to make the area as a permanent training camp site for Boy and Girl Scouts.

Although he has accomplished several scouting events as national director of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, he was quite sad that his wish to finally segregate Scout Hill was never realized.    

               Narciso Raqraquin Padilla, 87; “The Last Boy Scout” joined on March 5, 2019 his Creator and colleagues in the print and broadcast media who have gone ahead to the big newsroom.

He is survived by wife Sol Bermudez, children Maria Consuelo and husband Pipes Buena, Raymund, Fritz Gerald and wife Lea; grandkids Nars Anthony and Cindy, JC, Timmy, Don, Luigi and Angelica, Carlos, Penny, Buddy, Mikki and Aisha.

Thanks to Primo “Prime Suspect” Agatep, Mang Nars’ partner in so many ways, for helping provide facts.