Former Ilocos Sur Governor and Liga ng mga Barangay President Emeritus Luis “Chavit” Singson said his new biography, Chavit: The Legend of the Philippines, will be translated into 15 languages and distributed in bookstores nationwide and abroad.
The announcement was made Saturday during a formal book launch at Chavit Coliseum in Vigan City.
Singson said the idea for the book followed a viral moment in which he threw money into the air during a public event—an incident that drew media attention in the Philippines and overseas.
“After that moment went viral, some Polish writers became curious—‘Who is Chavit Singson?’” he said. “They searched for me, found me, and after learning more, they realized my life story was worth telling.”
According to Singson, writers and collaborators traveled with him abroad to document his experiences in politics, philanthropy, and business.
“It’s not just about politics or Ilocos Sur. It’s about everything I’ve done to help people, even in other countries,” he said.
He said the book includes his perspectives on what he calls “sustainable leadership.”
“I don’t believe in just handing out money. That kind of help makes people dependent. I believe in building reward systems—ways to empower people and help them stand on their own,” Singson said.
He also expressed support for Ilocos Sur Governor Jerry Singson, his brother, but voiced frustration over delays in the approval of a free economic zone in the province.
“I’m proud of what Jerry is doing. But one of my biggest frustrations is the delay in the approval of a free economic zone for Ilocos Sur. I’ve proposed it for years, but Congress and the Senate have done nothing—it’s been passed around and forgotten,” he said.
Singson said the absence of an economic zone has led him to move some of his investments elsewhere, including a factory for electric vehicles in Batangas.
“I had to bring my electric vehicle factory to Batangas because they already have an economic zone. If we had one here, everything I’ve developed—especially my partnerships in Korea—could have been based in Ilocos Sur,” he said.
He cited a property acquisition in South Korea’s Gangwon Province valued at $100 million, which was later developed with Hyundai into a free economic zone.
“That’s what I want to replicate here,” Singson said. “Ilocos Sur has so much potential. We just need a real chance.”
Singson said he hopes the book, soon to be published in multiple languages, will leave a lasting impression.
“With Chavit: The Legend of the Philippines soon to be available in multiple languages, Singson hopes his story will serve not just as a legacy, but as inspiration—for leadership with heart, and for a province ready to rise,” he said.