LUIS“Chavit” Singson’s name is synonymous with the Ilocos Sur province. After all, the well-known politician and businessman led its development to become one of the top tourist spots in the Philippines.

A history buff’s paradise, Ilocos Sur is home to not one but two Unesco World Heritage Sites: The capital city Vigan which is described as “the best-preserved example of a planned Spanish colonial town in Asia,” and Santa Maria Church, one of only four baroque churches of the Philippines.

Singson, who served as governor through numerous terms from 1972 to 2013, personally takes pride in luring tourists to his 80-hectare property or the Baluarte in Vigan City, which has a zoo, resort complex and a grand mansion. He is likewise credited for installing the world-class Vigan Dancing Fountain Show at Plaza Salcedo; and BarTech, the only restaurant in Vigan that offers an all-youcan-eat dinner buffet and alcoholic drinks.

Never one to stop, he opened the Sulvec Greece Resort in Narvacan – a municipality in Ilocos Sur where Singson served as mayor from 2019 to 2022. The majestic Greek-inspired beachfront resort has a main house with five bedrooms, a twin villa with six bedrooms each, another set of villas each for Singson’s pilot and flight attendants, a chapel and soon, a helipad.

The Manila Times Entertainment joined a small entertainment media group to see Singson’s latest conquest and flew for a lighting overnight trip to Ilocos onboard the host’s private plane.

During the tour, Singson shared he built the private resort out of boredom during the pandemic.

“Noong tinayo ko ito, seven and a half months buo na dahil everyday binabantayan ko. It started during the lockdown, walang makalabas. So more than 300 na tao ang gumawa. Kapag may nagkakasakit ng Covid, may quarantine area na ako. May doctor na nagpupunta, hindi sila lumalabas. Kaya natapos sila ng seven and a half months,” Singson narrated.

“Walang magawa eh dahil bawal lumabas. So ang ginawa ko, inimbita ko yung mga kaibigan ko pati pamilya nila.”

Proud of achieving his chosen theme and design for the property, Singson noted, “This is inspired by Greek design. Nagaral din kasi ako ng architecture so marami akong magazines at lahat ng nakikita ko ine-explain ko sa architect, pinapakopya. Kapag may diperensya, takbo ako agad dito kasi pinapa-video ko araw-araw.”

While Sulvec Greece is not open to the public and tourists, Singson generously invites and lends it to friends and family without paying anything.

In fact, the Coco Martin-led series “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano” had their entire lock-in taping in the resort during the pandemic — all free of charge.

“Wala silang bayad. Hanggang natapos ginamit nila ito — ang dami ngang pinatay dito [sa serye],” Singson laughingly said.

“Sinasabay ko din sila sa eroplano papunta dito. In fact, lahat naman kahit si Fernando Poe Jr. noong buhay pa tumira din siya dito sa Ilocos Sur. Doon siya sa Baluarte. So lahat ng mga artista na nagpupunta, libre sila walang bayad,” he continued.

Singson said he never thinks about an ROI (return on investment) whenever he chooses to help certain people or invest in something that will benefit the province.

“Ako malugi man, okay lang. Kasama sa buhay yan. Money is not yours until you spend it. Paano na yung pera kapag namatay ka, hindi na sa iyo yan kaya kailangan gastusin mo. Kaya ako ine-enjoy ko ang buhay ko dahil maiksi lang at hindi mo malalaman kung kailan, kaya you have to be always ready. Ako pag gising ko nagpapasalamat na ako. ‘Thank you

Lord, binigyan mo ako ulit ng isang araw’.”

Singson’s name has also been connected with the Miss Universe pageant for many years now. It started in 2017 when he became the biggest sponsor of the 65th Miss Universe, which was held here in Manila. Not long after, reports came out that the pageant’s previous owners offered him to buy the organization.

Setting the record straight now that a Thai entity owns Miss U, Singson first recalled how complicated and expensive it was just to bring the pageant here.

“Noong naghanap sila ng mag sponsor, kinausap ako that time. I was invited to their headquarters in New York and negotiate. Maraming inexplain, tapos in the end, alam na nila na interesado ako, sabi nila, ‘We have a policy where we require you to deposit $1 million.’ Any businessman ayaw yun. Ako hindi naman ako nanloloko or nangbobola, so nag-down ako.”

A shrewd businessman, he laid out his reservations but still delivered his side of the agreement.

“We signed the contract para makaumpisa ako. Sabi nila, ‘We have to prepare.’ I prepared, so I bought a yacht, a new 180-seater plane, and 30 buses,” he continued.

"Tapos sabi nila ‘Governor you know, we are a big company. In Miss Universe you have to deposit another $5 million for Miss Universe only, aside sa mga gagastusin mo. Nakuha na yung $1 million ko. Pero sige napasubo na ako. So $6 million na. We signed another contract, marami ulit discussions.”

As if he hadn’t put out enough money, the MUO next informed him he would have to spend for the entire production of Miss Universe in Manila, and safety required yet another $6 million deposit.

In total, Singsong spent a whopping $12 million to bring the pageant here and was told it was the most successful edition of Miss Universe.

How could it not be?

Long story short, Singson knew he wouldn’t see much return on his investment but chalked up the very expensive experience as a win for the country’s tourism.

“Nalugi ako pero sulit. Kasi sinabi na before the event, ‘Baka malugi kayo.’ Sabi ko di baleng malugi, mabawi ko din dahil dadami ang turista.”

As the man behind the most successful staging of the pageant, MUO was offering Singson ownership by the end of it all.

"Binibigay na nga sa akin, hindi binibenta. Bakit ko bibilhin eh binibigay na sa akin? Hindi ko lang naasikaso dahil masyadong matrabaho at nagkapandemic,” Singson said.

All the same, MUO has kept its relationship going with Singson. In fact, he shared he has a standing invitation from Thai billionaire Anne Jakrajutatip, the new owner of the pageant, for a meeting and consultation.

“They’re asking me to help them, every year kasi tumutulong ako. Binibigay nga eh at may discount pa dahil tiwala na sila. Pero pandemic naman kaya umayaw ako. Ngayon pwede na, kaya pupunta na ako sa Thailand para kausapin yung nakabili.”