Victor de Padua

Victor de Padua (1898–1952) was Provincial Governor of the province of Batanes between June 1944 and February 1945, during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines. A member of the Ilocano people, he had previously been a school superintendent.

Originally named Victor Padua, he went to Batanes after high school to work as an English teacher due to a family dispute, and eventually settled in the island changing his name to Victor de Padua. He was sent to the Philippine Normal School as a pensionado, and on his return to Batanes became Head Teacher, and eventually the first Division Superintendent of Schools for Batanes. During World War II the Japanese executed the erstwhile governor Juan Agudo, and the Provincial Board of Batanes bade him serve as interim governor for Batanes. His term lasted between June 1, 1944 and February 28, 1945.

He relinquished the position to resume his original appointment as Division Superintendent for Schools. He reopened the public school system. He died in 1952 at the age of 54. He was married to Rosario Baroña; they had six children, four of which graduated from University of the Philippines Manila, College of Medicine as MDs, and 2 became civil engineers, one from the Mapua Institute of Technology in Manila and one from University of the Philippines Diliman, College of Engineering.

His descendants now live in the United States, Australia, Manila and Los Baños, Laguna in the Philippines.