Rizal once said, “The youth is the hope of the fatherland.” This line may sound cliché for it is uttered almost every time someone delivers a speech but its meaning is not even close to fading. One day, a young leader rose into action without second thoughts of backing down even though the adversaries seem overwhelmingly bigger than him. He may be too young to receive great responsibilities on his shoulders but never did this thought crossed his brilliant mind. Truly, age doesn’t matter when it comes to servant leadership.

Like you, he was just a simple man who had a dream. He received his formal education in the country and abroad with a degree in Hotel Management and Institution Management from De La Salle University – College of St. Benilde. But he was not contented with being ordinary. His dream grew bigger until he heard the call of public service.

You might wonder where his enthusiasm to serve is coming from. As a child, he had grown to look up to another great leader, his own father, former Governor Luis “Chavit” Singson who in every way showed to him how to become a true public servant. From then on, he fell in love with public service. Now he, himself, followed the same path and continued what his father started. He also draws inspiration from his loving family, his wife Patch, their children Elise, Rylus and Ryker, his late mom, Evelyn, and his siblings who never fell short of providing him moral and spiritual support.

Building a nation is such a herculean task that only a few are chosen to lead yet this notable person makes it look like a piece of cake. A prodigy in leadership, he has brought numerous achievements throughout the years of his service. An opportunity opened for him to become the Vice Mayor of Vigan City in 2010 but he was just getting started. An opportunity to conquer the national legislature came. He thus served as congressman for the first district with zeal and sincerity. The burning passion to serve grow in his heart so he decided to seek greater heights as he ran for governor. He must have really amazed the Ilocanos for he victoriously won the election. During his term, the economy of the province drastically improved attracting more local and foreign investors and tourists. He once again proved his outstanding leadership and management skills as he was hailed the youngest ever President of the League of Provinces in the Philippines which he held for three years. This feat made the province even closer to the realization of its vision and goals.

He always keeps an open ear prioritizing the needs of his fellow Ilocanos. He has facilitated the construction of farm-to-market roads, water irrigation systems, and solar dryers, establishment of post-harvest facilities, construction and refurbishment of buildings, environmental movements, distribution of planting and fishing materials, bridging the gap between the rich and the poor, enriching quality education and health care, and holistic development of his domain.

He recognized the need to cultivate his knowledge and skills and to be of better service to his constituents. Last 2018, he has successfully obtained a degree in Masters of Arts in Public Administration from University of Northern Philippines – Open University.

He has always aimed to provide the best healthcare in Ilocos Sur so he underwent special training on Health Leadership and Governance Course by Zuellig Family Foundation and the Department of Health. Through this, his goal to provide a systematic health reform and establish pro-poor health-related programs in the province will be realized.

Through his efficient leadership and the undying efforts of his constituents, the Local Government of Ilocos Sur was conferred with the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) for three consecutive years making him step up and extend his services to optimum. The SGLG is an award given to outstanding LGUs that passed the assessment criteria of the Seven Governance Areas: Financial Administration, Disaster Preparedness, Social Protection, Peace and Order, Business Friendliness and Competitiveness, Environmental Management, and Tourism Culture and the Arts. With the ISO 9001:2015 Certification obtained last December 2017, he elevated the work standards of the Provincial Government of Ilocos Sur organic personnel. His dedication to his duties was renowned as he was bestowed with the Civil Service Commission PAGASA Award (Regional Level) for Outstanding Work Performance. He truly is a living legend.

And yet he remains humble for he recognizes that he alone did not make these feat possible. He was guided by the efforts of his constituents who worked day and night alongside him and inspired by the trust his people has placed upon him. He may be the most powerful man in the community but he is also a friend—a very approachable and considerate person with a generous heart who will listen to your cries and extend a helping hand without hesitation.

Having gained the trust of the people and knowing his pure intentions to uplift their welfare, he again won the elections last May 2019 and thus, his mission to cultivate this province starts anew. Today, he still stands strong against the modern turmoil as he is met with new challenges he has to overcome in this cyber age. Certainly, everything is fast changing and we need to keep up with this transition. But we do not have to worry—everything will be alright as long as we have him as our greatest leader. His commitment to serve the nation amasses a powerful force that will drive away all the dilemmas that our province may face. His ability to take advantage of his experiences will surely save us from anything. He may be different from what Rizal did back then but they share a common vision and that is to build a nation of love, freedom, and hope.