José Padilla, Sr. was Governor of Plaridel, Bulacan and was instrumental in the change of its name (Plaridel was formerly named Qingwa). He has many children who became famous in the field of showbussiness, politics, sports and others. Among them, actors Jose (Pempe) Padilla, Jr. and Carlos Padilla, Sr., film director Consuelo Osorio, diplomat Amado Cortez, and Roy Padilla, Governor of Camarines Norte.