
Gerona, Tarlac — Senatorial aspirant Luis “Manong Chavit” Singson has led the inauguration of Villa Luisa’s Holy Land on Sunday along with Representative Christian Yap at Barangay Pinaslang here.
The lawmaker said that they are honored to share the significant occasion with Singson as they gather in the season of the Second Advent to open the sacred space dedicated to reflection, prayer and spiritual growth.
For his part, Singson — who inaugurated the new Biblical theme park in Tarlac and was opened to the public during Immaculate Conception — visited the stations of the cross, a floating chapel and life-sized saints such as Padre Pio, Pedro Calungsod and Santo Bangkay.
Singson also marveled at the Holy Land Tarlac’s Floating Chapel, which houses a collection of Marian statues.
During a briefing, Singson — fondly called “Manong Chavit” — cited the importance of integrity in leadership.
“If you lose your credibility, you are a nobody,” said Singson, a former Ilocos Sur governor and Number 58 in the Senate ballot.
Armed with the slogan “May Isang Salita” (A Man of His Word), Singson narrated how his father had always stressed that credibility is the foundation of any successful leader and explained that maintaining a solid reputation and staying true to one’s word are non-negotiable principles that guide his decisions, both in personal and public life.
Over at Vigan City where he attended the 202nd founding anniversary of the Divine Word College, Singson stressed that leaders must not only make promises but also follow through on them.
“It’s an honor for me to be invited here since I studied here at Divine Word College. But I was forced to go to Manila since it was dangerous for me to be here back then,” said Singson, highlighting his deep personal connection to the school, which played a pivotal role in shaping his future.
Noel Meinrado F. Plete, a representative of Batch 1984, also expressed his support for the senatorial candidate, saying, “We need someone in the Senate who is a man of his word.”
The anniversary also brought together alumni, local leaders, and community members to honor Divine Word College’s long legacy of producing influential figures.
In addition to discussing integrity, Singson shared his vision for public service and economic development, which he believes can only be achieved through consistent, honest leadership.
He also highlighted his commitment to the modernization of public utility vehicles (PUVs).
“I will be the one to modernize the PUVs and finance the electric vehicles out of my own pocket,” Singson said, whose proposal for transitioning to electric signifies his dedication to positive change for the country driven by his desire to serve the public with integrity and accountability.
The event also introduced the VBank initiative in Vigan, a project aimed at addressing the challenge of 77 percent of Filipinos being unbanked which demonstrated Singson’s continued commitment to addressing the needs of underserved communities and fostering economic inclusion.
Meantime, Ilocos Sur Governor Jerry Singson, also an alumnus of Divine Word College, praised the institution’s lasting influence on the region.
“This institution has produced prominent figures in the history of Ilocos for over 200 years,” he said, acknowledging the critical role the school plays in cultivating leadership grounded in values like integrity.