In 2023, Padilla was conferred the Order of National Scientist by the President Bongbong Marcos for her contributions to the field of medicine. Padilla established the country’s first-ever Medical Genetics Unit at the University of the Philippines College of Medicine. The unit later developed into the Institute of Human Genetics and became a significant part of the National Institutes of Health–UP Manila. Under her leadership, the institute has made significant contributions in the development of genetic technology and research in the country.