ILIGAN CITY — Senatorial aspirant Luis “Manong Chavit” Singson shared a tale of survival and transformation as he recounted how he turned Ilocos Sur from one of the country’s poorest provinces into one of its wealthiest.

Speaking before a gathering attended by Mayor Frederick W. Siao and barangay captains, Manong Chavit did not hold back in revealing the harsh realities he faced in his rise to power.

“Seven times I was shot at, six times ambushed, and on the seventh, a grenade was thrown at me. But I’m still alive!” he shared in Filipino, his voice resolute as he recalled the near-death experiences that only strengthened his resolve.

Despite these violent attempts on his life, Manong Chavit’s leadership transformed Ilocos Sur from a neglected province with a decaying economy to one of the most prosperous in the nation.

“Our province was very poor back then. Our municipality was dilapidated and there was no business. It was one of the poorest, but now we are one of the wealthiest provinces in the entire country,” he said.

As the 58th candidate on the Senate ballot, Manong Chavit’s vision for national progress is deeply rooted in his personal experience of overcoming adversity.

He spoke passionately about creating economic zones that would attract investors, create jobs and sustain long-term growth.

However, he expressed frustration at the bureaucratic hurdles that have stalled similar initiatives in the Philippines. This led him to establish successful ventures abroad, including two economic zones in South Korea.

“I cannot set up economic zones here, so I built them in Korea. One of them is for electric vehicles. Everything is in Korea; I have two economic zones there. So whatever I’m doing there, I will also do here to create more jobs,” he explained, his tone pragmatic yet resolute in his commitment to bringing progress home.

Beyond economic zones, he introduced platforms such as VBank, a digital financial platform designed to promote financial inclusion, and Chavit 500, a universal basic income program that provides a P500 monthly stipend to Filipinos aged 18 and above who earn minimum wage or less, particularly those without any income.

His increasing popularity — evidenced by a 14 percent boost in approval ratings since November — reflects growing support for his visionary approach to national development.

With a track record of turning dreams into reality, Manong Chavit is confident that the strategies that saved Ilocos Sur can be applied to improve the entire nation.

“If I was able to do it in Ilocos Sur, I believe I can do it for the whole of the Philippines,” he concluded, his eyes firmly set on a brighter economic future for all Filipinos.