Robin Padilla facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Robin Padilla
Padilla in 2023
Senator of the Philippines
Incumbent
Assumed office June 30, 2022
Senate positions Chair of the Senate Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes Committee In office July 25, 2022 – August 12, 2025 Preceded by Francis Pangilinan Succeeded by Francis Pangilinan Chair of the Senate Cultural Communities and Muslim Affairs Committee Incumbent Assumed office July 25, 2022 Preceded by Imee Marcos (as Chair of the Committee on Cultural Communities) Chair of the Senate Public Information and Mass Media Committee Incumbent Assumed office July 25, 2022 Preceded by Bong Revilla President of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino Incumbent Assumed office July 24, 2024 Preceded by Jose Alvarez Succeeded by Sebastian Duterte (Acting)
Personal details
Born	Robinhood Cariño Padilla (1969-11-23) November 23, 1969 (age 55) Daet, Camarines Norte, Philippines
Political party	Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (2021–present)
Other political affiliations	Independent (until 2021)
Spouses	Liezl Sicangco ​ ​ (m. 1996; div. 2007)​ Mariel Rodriguez ​ (m. 2010)​
Relations	Padilla family
Children	7, including Kylie
Parents	Roy Padilla Sr. Lolita Eva Cariño
Alma mater	Philippine College of Criminology (BS)
Occupation	Actor film producer film director martial artist writer politician
Nicknames	Abdul Aziz (عبد العزيز) (Muslim name) Binoe/Binoy
Military service
Allegiance	Philippines
Branch/service	Philippine Army
Years of service	2020–present
Rank	Captain

Robinhood Ferdinand Cariño Padilla (born November 23, 1969), also known by his Muslim name Abdul Aziz, is a famous Filipino actor, film director, and politician. He is currently serving as a senator of the Philippines. People often call him the "Bad Boy" of Philippine cinema. This nickname comes from the tough, but often good-hearted, characters he played in action movies. Some of his well-known films include Anak ni Baby Ama (1990) and Bad Boy (1990). He is also known as the "Prince of Action" in Philippine movies.

Mr. Padilla faced some legal challenges in the past. After some time, he was granted a pardon by President Fidel V. Ramos, allowing him to continue his life and career. Later, President Rodrigo Duterte granted him another pardon in 2016.

In the 2022 elections, Mr. Padilla was elected to the Senate. He received a very high number of votes, making it one of the most votes ever in a Philippine Senate election. He started his term as Senator on June 30, 2022. He is the first Muslim senator in the Philippines since Santanina Rasul, who served until 1995.

He is a supporter of former president Rodrigo Duterte. On July 24, 2024, he became the president of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino political party.

About Robin Padilla

Early Life and Education

Robinhood Cariño Padilla was born on November 23, 1969. His birthplace is Daet, Camarines Norte, Philippines. His parents were Roy Padilla Sr., who was an actor and politician, and Lolita Eva Cariño, an actress.

Robin has many siblings. Some of his well-known siblings include Roberto, Roy Jr., Ronaldo, Roger, Ricarte, Rodolfo, Randolf, Royette, and Rommel. His sisters are Rebecca and Carmela. One of his siblings, BB Gandanghari, is transgender.

His father, Roy Padilla Sr., was a labor leader and politician. He served as an assemblyman and later as governor of Camarines Norte. Sadly, his father passed away in 1988 during his election campaign. Robin's half-brother, Roy Jr., then ran in his place. Two other siblings, Randy and Ronaldo, also passed away when Robin was young.

Robin went to elementary school at Siena College of Quezon City. He attended high school at Saint Louis University Boys' High School. He decided to stop his studies at age 17 to focus on his acting career. Later, he completed his bachelor's degree in criminology at Philippine College of Criminology.

A Career in Acting

Padilla in 2011

Robin Padilla started his acting journey in 1985. His first big role was in the comedy film Public Enemy No. 2: Maraming Number Two. In 1991, he starred in popular films like Maging Sino Ka Man and Ang Utol Kong Hoodlum. During the filming of Ang Utol Kong Hoodlum, he had an accident with an explosion scene. This caused some scars on his body.

In 1996, Mr. Padilla wrote and starred in the film Anak, Pagsubok Lamang ng Diyos. This movie was filmed mostly inside the New Bilibid Prison while he was facing legal challenges. After his release, he continued to star in films. In 1998, he was injured again during filming when a stunt car flipped over.

In 1999, Robin Padilla began working in television. He joined the ABS-CBN comedy show Pwedeng Pwede. In 2002, he returned to his role as Anghel in Hari ng Selda: Anak ni Baby Ama 2. This was a sequel to his 1990 film. The next year, he led his first action-drama TV series, Basta't Kasama Kita. In 2005, he made two films: the thriller Kulimlim and the comedy La Visa Loca. He won the Best Actor award at the 2006 Gawad Urian Awards for his work.

In 2006, Robin Padilla moved to GMA Network. He played a main role in the 2007 TV series Asian Treasures with Angel Locsin. He also signed a deal for two films with GMA Films. These included Till I Met You and the 2009 horror film Sundo. Later, he chose to work with different film companies. During this time, he also starred in TV series like Joaquin Bordado and Totoy Bato. These shows were based on comic book characters.

In 2010, Mr. Padilla returned to ABS-CBN. One of his projects was the 2011 sitcom Toda Max. In 2011, he directed his first TV commercial for his own company, RCP Productions.

In 2013, he went back to GMA Network. He had a special appearance in Adarna alongside his daughter Kylie Padilla. He also played the lead in the 2013 action thriller 10,000 Hours. For this film, he won the Best Actor award at the 39th Metro Manila Film Festival. He was also named Actor of the Year at the 2014 Box Office Entertainment Awards.

On December 1, 2015, he returned to ABS-CBN again. He became one of the judges for the fifth season of Pilipinas Got Talent. He was also a judge in the next season in 2018.

Helping Others: Robin's Advocacies

Robin Padilla has been a strong supporter of fighting malaria since 2004. He became a spokesperson for the Department of Health's "Movement Against Malaria" campaign. He appeared in public service announcements to encourage the use of mosquito nets.

In 2007, Mr. Padilla started the Liwanag ng Kapayapaan Foundation. This foundation aimed to provide a pre-school for Muslim children who needed help in Quezon City. The school temporarily closed because it needed to get the right government permits. In September 2010, the school was able to re-open.

Mr. Padilla has also promoted Muay Thai in the Philippines. He donated ₱2,500,000 to the Muay Association of the Philippines. He also served as their chairman.

He has supported government efforts to fight crime.

Serving in the Military Reserves

Robin Padilla joined the military as a reserve officer. He holds the rank of Captain in the Armed Forces of the Philippines. As of March 2024, he held the rank of reserve Lieutenant Colonel. On July 30, 2020, he was chosen by the Army's Multi-Sectoral Advisory Board. He became the new chairperson for their Strategic Communication Committee. In December 2021, Mr. Padilla and other reservists running in the 2022 elections were temporarily relieved from their posts. This was to make sure the military remained neutral in politics. However, they remained part of the army's reserve force.

Becoming a Senator

Official portrait, 2022

Padilla delivering a privilege speech during the 19th Congress in 2022.

In 1995, Robin Padilla tried to enter politics. He ran for Vice Governor of Nueva Ecija as an independent candidate. He lost that election.

Working in the Senate

On October 8, 2021, Mr. Padilla officially filed his papers to run for senator. He ran under the PDP–Laban party for the 2022 election. His main goals included fighting crime. He also wanted to establish a federal system of government and improve community policing. Mr. Padilla also aimed to increase the minimum income for Filipino families. This would encourage Overseas Filipino Workers to return home. He also mentioned that he would hire lawyers to help him write new laws if he won.

Mr. Padilla won a seat in the Senate. He received the most votes among all senatorial candidates. This set a new record for the highest number of votes in a Senate election in Philippine history. He believes his focus on federalism helped him win, not just his popularity as an actor. Senator Win Gatchalian supported Mr. Padilla, saying he would represent Muslims well in the Senate. After winning, Mr. Padilla announced he would hire lawyer Salvador Panelo to assist him. He also hired Rudolf Philip Jurado as his chief of staff and Algamar Latiph as his chief legislative officer. Former actress Nadia Montenegro joined his team as a political officer.

In the 19th Congress, he voted for Migz Zubiri to be the Senate President. This made him part of the majority group. He is currently the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes. He also chairs the Senate Committee on Cultural Communities and Muslim Affairs.

Important Laws and Issues

In July 2022, Senator Padilla filed his first ten proposed laws. These included the Equal Use of Languages Act and a bill to suspend excise tax on certain fuel products. He also proposed changes to the Rice Tariffication Law. Other bills focused on the Magna Carta of Barangay Health Workers and an Equality and Non-discrimination Act. He also proposed civil service eligibility for government employees with five years of service. He filed bills for the regionalization of Bilibid Prisons, mandatory Reserve Officers' Training Corps, and a Divorce Act for the Philippines.

He has also shown interest in environmental issues. He met with Senator Loren Legarda to discuss these matters.

In the second week of July 2022, Senator Padilla filed more important bills and resolutions. These included proposals on federalism and creating a Congress-Parliamentary Bangsamoro Forum. He also filed a resolution for the appointment of the Marawi Compensation Board. Another resolution was about joint exploration of the West Philippine Sea. He also proposed the Local Development Fund Act and a Nursing Home for Senior Citizens Act. He filed the Civil Unions Act and the Eddie Garcia Act. He also pushed for including Philippine History in high school curriculum and establishing an Unsung Heroes Day.

As chairman of the Senate committee on Cultural Communities and Muslim Affairs, Senator Padilla pushed for an investigation. He wanted to know why Aetas in Central Luzon had not received ₱19 million due to them from a 2007 agreement.

On July 24, 2024, Robin Padilla took his oath as president of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP) party.

Changing the Constitution

Senator Padilla began holding hearings on changes to the 1987 Constitution. He did this as chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes. He plans to hold hearings in different provinces. This is to make sure all Filipinos understand the issue and can share their thoughts. He is mainly focusing on changing the economic parts of the Constitution.

Fighting Misinformation

Senator Padilla has called for different government agencies to work together against misinformation, often called "fake news." He asked for an investigation into this issue. This was part of his Senate Resolution 191, filed in September. He is leading this investigation as chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media.

He also asked other groups, like news organizations and schools, to help fight misinformation.

Military Training for Youth

Bringing back mandatory Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) training has been one of Senator Padilla's goals. This was a key part of his campaign when he ran for Senator. Since the ROTC bill is still being discussed in Congress, Senator Padilla started his own Basic Citizen Military Training in March 2024. This program is for volunteers who will help the Senate.

Supporting Muslim Communities

Senator Padilla filed Senate Bill 1273. This bill aims to create more cemeteries for Muslims and indigenous people (IPs). This would ensure that they can have proper burials according to their traditions and customs.

Protecting Entertainment Workers

Senator Padilla filed Senate Bill 450, known as the proposed "Eddie Garcia Law." This bill outlines safety measures and other benefits for workers in the Philippine entertainment industry. Its goal is to protect the well-being of actors and other workers in the industry.

Equal Rights for Couples

Senator Padilla filed Senate Bill 449. This bill aims to give same-sex couples the same rights as married straight couples under the law. He believes it is "high time" for the Philippines to do this. The bill includes rules that support the rights of such couples to have a civil union. Senator Padilla stated that giving equal rights to same-sex couples would not lessen the rights of married couples.

This bill has received support from celebrity couple Ice Seguerra and Liza Dino. However, a Marawi Grand Imam withdrew his support for Padilla because he views the bill as against his religious beliefs.

Helping Health Workers

Senator Padilla filed Senate Bill 232. This bill aims to provide more pay and benefits to barangay health workers. The bill is called "An Act Providing for the Magna Carta of Barangay Health Workers." It includes benefits like a 20% discount on certain items, a transportation allowance of at least ₱1,000 per month, and a one-time retirement bonus of ₱100,000. These benefits are for health workers who have served for at least 15 years.

Funding Local Projects

Senator Padilla filed Senate Bill 447. This bill aims to ensure funding for important development projects in local government units. Mr. Padilla said this measure would help share wealth fairly with local governments. This would help them grow and close the gap between their income and what they need to spend.

This bill is similar to the Budget Reform Advocacy for Village Empowerment (BRAVE) bill. Former Senator Panfilo Lacson proposed that bill. Senator Padilla said he shares Mr. Lacson's goal of promoting local control and budget improvements.

Discussing the South China Sea

On May 15, 2021, Robin Padilla visited Thitu Island (Pagasa Island). This island is part of the disputed South China Sea. He went there to see the Filipino community and military outpost. He praised the soldiers for protecting the country's claims in the area.

On September 5, 2022, Senator Padilla gave a speech. He again stressed the need for the Philippines and China to explore the contested South China Sea together. He said that talking and negotiating is important for the country's interests.

In 2023, Senator Padilla expressed some doubt. He wondered if the United States would fully help the Philippines if conflict grew in the South China Sea. He has suggested that the Philippine military can handle things on its own.

Senators Padilla (right) and Ronald dela Rosa (left) during a public hearing on September 6, 2024.

Supporting Vice President Duterte

Robin Padilla has shown strong support for Vice President Sara Duterte. He has opposed discussions about her removal from office. Even before formal proceedings in February 2025, Senator Padilla stated he would "definitely vote no" to her removal. He also filed a resolution on June 9, 2025, to end these discussions. He has expressed his loyalty to the Duterte family.

Family Life

Robin Padilla comes from a family of actors and politicians. His siblings BB, Rommel, and Royette are also actors. His half-brother Casimero continued their father's work in politics. He served as a union leader, a congressman, and a three-term governor.

He is also the uncle of actors Bela Padilla, Daniel Padilla, and Mark Anthony Fernandez. Robin is the great-uncle of Grae Fernandez.

In the 1980s, Robin Padilla, his mother, and four of his sisters became Jehovah's Witness.

While facing legal challenges, Robin Padilla converted to Islam. He met some Muslim elders during this time. He adopted the name Abdul Aziz. In July 1996, he married Liezl Sicangco in a Muslim ceremony. He was still facing legal challenges at the time. After being pardoned, he expressed his wish to make a pilgrimage to Mecca. He has four children with Liezl Sicangco, including actresses Queenie and Kylie Padilla.

In November 2009, Mr. Padilla announced that he and Liezl Sicangco had divorced in 2007. On August 19, 2010, Robin Padilla and Mariel Rodriguez were married at the Taj Mahal in India. They met when he was a host on the show Wowowee. Mariel Rodriguez gave birth to their first daughter in November 2016 and a second daughter in November 2019. Even after their marriage, Mariel Rodriguez remained a Roman Catholic. In 2017, Robin Padilla became a grandfather when his daughters Queenie and Kylie had children.

In 2014, Mr. Padilla supported presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte. In November 2016, President Rodrigo Duterte granted him an absolute pardon. This pardon restored all his civil and political rights.

Films and TV Shows

As actor

As director only

Television

Non-acting roles

Producer

Writer

Awards and Recognitions

See also

In Spanish: Robin Padilla para niños