''Chavit'', also known as ''Chavit Singson Story '' and ''Chavit: Blood Son of Ilocos'', is a 2003 Filipino

epic Epic commonly refers to: * Epic poetry, a long narrative poem celebrating heroic deeds and events significant to a culture or nation * Epic film, a genre of film defined by the spectacular presentation of human drama on a grandiose scale Epic(s) ...

biographical drama film directed by

Carlo J. Caparas Carlo Magno Jose Caparas (March 12, 1943 – May 24, 2024) was a Filipino comic strip creator and writer-turned film director and producer. He is best known for creating such Filipino superheroes and comic book characters as Panday, Bakekan ...

based on a script by Caparas and politician

Chavit Singson Luis Crisologo "Chavit" Singson (; born June 21, 1941) is a Filipino businessman and politician who last served as the mayor of Narvacan, Ilocos Sur from 2019 to 2022. He was also the governor of the province of Ilocos Sur, starting from 1972 ...

. About the life of Singson, it stars

Cesar Montano Cesar Demontaño Manhilot (born August 1, 1962), known professionally as Cesar Montano (), is a Filipino actor, film producer, film director and aspiring politician. Montano started in show business as a commercial model.Eddie Garcia Eduardo "Eddie" Verchez Garcia (; May 2, 1929 – June 21, 2019), colloquially known as Manoy, was a Filipino actor, television personality, and filmmaker. Widely regarded as the greatest Filipino actor of all time, Garcia appeared in nearly ...

Tirso Cruz III Tirso Silvano Cruz III (; born April 1, 1952) is a Filipino actor, comedian, and singer. He was the Chairperson of the Film Development Council of the Philippines after one year and seven months for personal reasons. Regarded as a "matinee ido ...

Dina Bonnevie Geraldyn "Dina" Schaer Bonnevie (, formerly Sotto, Penson, and Savellano; born January 27, 1962) is a Filipino people, Filipino actress. She is recognized as the industry's "Drama Queen" of her generation. She has won 2 FAMAS Award, FAMAS Awa ...

, Pinky de Leon, Ricardo Cepeda,

Joel Torre José Rizalino "Joel" de León Torre (born June 19, 1961) is a Filipino actor and producer who is best known for his numerous films such as the biographical film ''José Rizal'' (1998), crime thriller film '' On the Job'' (2013) and the histor ...

Tommy Abuel Tomas "Tommy" Rosales Abuel Jr. (born September 16, 1942) is a Filipino actor and lawyer. He won the FAMAS Best Supporting Actor Award in '' Maynila, Sa Kuko Ng Liwanag'' (1975), and ''Karma'' (1981); and Cinemalaya Best Actor Award in '' Dagsi ...

Marita Zobel Mary Ann Blanch de Roxas (''née'' Blanch y Respall, born June 18, 1941), better known by her screen name Marita Zóbel, is a Filipina actress. She was an LVN Pictures LVN Pictures, Inc. was a Filipino film studio that was considered one of ...

and Jean Saburit.

Premise

This film is about the story of Luis "Chavit" Singson, the

Governor A governor is an politician, administrative leader and head of a polity or Region#Political regions, political region, in some cases, such as governor-general, governors-general, as the head of a state's official representative. Depending on the ...

Ilocos Sur Ilocos Sur (), officially the Province of Ilocos Sur (; ), is a Provinces of the Philippines, province in the Philippines located in the Ilocos Region in Luzon. Located on the mouth of the Mestizo River is the capital of Vigan, while Candon is ...

. Singson started

EDSA II The Second EDSA Revolution (), also known as the Second People Power Revolution, EDSA 2001, or EDSA II (pronounced ''EDSA Two'' or ''EDSA Dos'', the Spanish word for "two"), was a political protest from January 17–20, 2001 which peacefully ...

in October 2000 when he alleged he gave President

Joseph Estrada Joseph Ejercito Estrada (; born Jose Marcelo Ejercito; April 19, 1937), also known by the nickname Erap, is a Filipino politician and former actor, who served as the 13th president of the Philippines from 1998 until his resignation in 2001. ...

400 million

pesos The peso is the monetary unit of several Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America, as well as the Philippines. Originating in the Spanish Empire, the word translates to "weight". In most countries of the Americas, the symbol commonly known a ...

as payoff from illegal gambling profits. Estrada was put under investigation, but on January 16, 2001, a key piece of evidence was blocked in court, leading to protests in

Manila Manila, officially the City of Manila, is the Capital of the Philippines, capital and second-most populous city of the Philippines after Quezon City, with a population of 1,846,513 people in 2020. Located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay on ...

and other major cities backing Vice President

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Maria Gloria Macaraeg Macapagal-Arroyo (; born April 5, 1947), often referred to as PGMA or GMA, is a Filipino academic and politician who served as the 14th president of the Philippines from Presidency of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, 2001 to 2010 ...

resulting in the ouster of Estrada.

Plot

The film starts with the origin of the Singsons of Ilocos Sur and the birth of Jose and Caridad's second son Luis. Chavit grows up amidst series of killings within the province, perpetrated by the Crisologos. In 1963, Representative Claro Crisologo endorses his wife Milagring for the governorship of the province in 1963. This prompts "Operation Withdraw" where all mayors of

are threatened to withdraw their candidacy. Chavit becomes the chief of police in

Vigan Vigan, officially the City of Vigan (; ), is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, component city and capital of the Provinces of the Philippines, province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a populatio ...

. Although the town's residents want Chavit to run for mayor, his father decides to run instead and Chavit runs for councilor. Chavit becomes the champion of the Ilocanos especially those victims of the Crisologos, particularly their son Bingbong, starting a rivalry between their families. Chavit seeks the help of Senator

Ninoy Aquino Benigno "Ninoy" Simeón Aquino Jr., (, ; November 27, 1932 – August 21, 1983) was a Filipino politician who served as a senator of the Philippines (1967–1972) and governor of the province of Tarlac (1963–1967). Aquino was the husban ...

. In 1969, Bingbong perpetrates the burning of Ora Este and Ora Centro in

Bantay Bantay, officially the Municipality of Bantay (; ), is a municipality in the province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 37,118 people. History Spanish colonization Foundation Spanish conquistador J ...

. The following year, Congressman Claro is assassinated at Vigan Cathedral. Chavit challenges Milagring for the governorship and wins. Biboy is convicted for arson and sentenced to life imprisonment. While behind bars, Bingbong turns his life around through Bible studies before being released. During the

People Power Revolution The People Power Revolution, also known as the EDSA Revolution or the February Revolution, were a series of popular Demonstration (people), demonstrations in the Philippines, mostly in Metro Manila, from February 22 to 25, 1986. There was a ...

in 1986, Chavit is ousted, but is elected to

Congress A congress is a formal meeting of the representatives of different countries, constituent states, organizations, trade unions, political parties, or other groups. The term originated in Late Middle English to denote an encounter (meeting of ...

due to his charisma, and eventually returns as governor. He then gets involved with President

, leading to the

Second EDSA Revolution The Second EDSA Revolution (), also known as the Second People Power Revolution, EDSA 2001, or EDSA II (pronounced ''EDSA Two'' or ''EDSA Dos'', the Spanish word for "two"), was a political protest from January 17–20, 2001 which peacefully ...

Cast

Some of the characters were changed and their real names are enclosed in parentheses. *

Eddie Garcia Eduardo "Eddie" Verchez Garcia (; May 2, 1929 – June 21, 2019), colloquially known as Manoy, was a Filipino actor, television personality, and filmmaker. Widely regarded as the greatest Filipino actor of all time, Garcia appeared in nearly ...

as Congressman Claro Crisostomo (

Floro Crisologo Floro Singson Crisologo (July 29, 1908 - October 18, 1970) was a Filipino lawyer and politician who represented the 1st district of Ilocos Sur in the Philippine Congress from 1946 until 1959 and from 1961 until his assassination in 1970. Early ...

) *

as Victor "Biboy" Crisostomo (

Vincent "Bingbong" Crisologo Vincent "Bingbong" Pichay Crisologo (born May 31, 1947) is a Filipino politician and evangelist who served as the Representative of Quezon City's 1st District from 2004 to 2013 and from 2016 to 2019. He also served as a councilor in Quezon Cit ...

) **Bingbong Crisologo briefly appears as Biboy Crisostomo *

as Evelyn Verzosa *Pinky de Leon as Governor Milagros "Milagring" Crisostomo (Carmen "Carmeling" Crisologo) *Ricardo Cepeda as Governor Evaristo "Titong" Singson *

as Sotero *

as Jose "Celing" Singson *

as Caridad "Caring" Crisologo *Jean Saburit *Anna Marin *Rommel Montano as Chavit's driver *

Danita Paner Rafaelita Danita Gomez Paner (born April 2, 1989) is a Filipino actress and former pop-rock singer. She is the daughter of former basketball player Manny Paner and actress Daisy Romualdez, and the sister of Kristina Paner and Karl Paner. ...

as Anita *Clavel Bendaña as

Imelda Marcos Imelda Romualdez Marcos (; born Imelda Remedios Visitación Trinidad Romuáldez; July 2, 1929) is a Filipino politician who was First Lady of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986, wielding significant political power after her husband Ferdinand ...

* Bobit Carlos as Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr. *Tess Villarama as President Corazon Aquino * Willie Villarama * Willie Nepomuceno as: ** President Ferdinand Marcos ** President Joseph "Erap" Estrada *Manny Paner *T.J. Cruz *Nards Belen *Nicole Anderson *Angela Montano *Issy Miyake *Jun Collao *Angelo Montano *Onchie dela Cruz *Jeri Lopez *Pete "Bitay" Principe *Bert Brucal *Richard Arellano *Lawrence Roxas *Bryan Lacsina *Shiela Marie Rodriguez *Bobby Angeles *Rhet Romero *Ronald Regala *Christopher Miraballes *Malu de Luna *

Peping Cojuangco José "Peping" Sumulong Cojuangco Jr. (born September 19, 1934) is a Filipino politician, sports administrator, and businessman. He served as the 9th president of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) from 2004 to 2018. He previously served a ...

Tingting Cojuangco Margarita "Tingting" Manzano de los Reyes Cojuangco (born Margarita Manzano de los Reyes on April 29, 1944) is a Filipina politician, philanthropist and socialite. She was the former chairman of the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) par ...

*Billy Esposo *Boy Saycon *

Teddy Casiño Teddy is an English language given name, usually a hypocorism of Edward or Theodore or Theodora. It may refer to: People Nickname * Teddy Atlas (born 1956), American boxing trainer and fight commentator * Teddy Bourne (born 1948), British Olympi ...

*Argee Guevarra *Hardie del Mundo as

Ronald Singson , predecessor3 = Salacnib Baterina , successor3 = Ryan Luis Singson , birth_date = , birth_place = Manila, Philippines , death_date = , death_place = , nationality = Filipino , ...

* Joe de Venecia as himself *

Rodolfo Albano Rodolfo is a given name. Notable people with the name include: * Rodolfo (footballer, born 1989), Rodolfo Xavier Neves, Brazilian striker * Rodolfo (footballer, born 1991), Rodolfo Alves de Melo, Brazilian goalkeeper * Rodolfo (footballer, born 1 ...

* Roquito Ablan Jr. * Eric Singson * Salacnib Baterina *

Deogracias Victor Savellano Deogracias Victor "DV" Barbers Savellano (November 25, 1959 – January 7, 2025) was a Filipino politician who last served as a member of the House of Representatives for Ilocos Sur's 1st district from 2016 to 2022. He was also one of the Depu ...

Ernesto Maceda Ernesto Madarang "Ernie" Maceda Sr. (March 26, 1935 – June 20, 2016) was a Filipino politician, lawyer, and columnist who served as a Senator of the Philippines from 1971 to 1972 and again from 1987 to 1998. He served as Senate President fro ...

as himself

Production

The role played by Dina Bonnevie was originally intended for

Snooky Serna Maria Milagros "Snooky" Sumayao Serna (born April 4, 1966) is a Filipino people, Filipino actress. Regarded as the “''Eternal Star''” by the local media, she is best known for her portrayals in Anak ni Waray, Anak ni Biday (1984); Blusang I ...

. In the scene where Singson was shown crying following his brother's death, the former governor was played by his real son, Christopher.After the movie, comes the Chavit book

Philippine Daily Inquirer The ''Philippine Daily Inquirer'' (''PDI''), or simply the ''Inquirer'', is an English-language newspaper in the Philippines. Founded in 1985, it is often regarded as the Philippines' newspaper of record. The newspaper is the most awarded broad ...

Retrieved December 4, 2006. Impersonator Willie Nepomuceno played three roles in the movie, playing Ferdinand Marcos, Fernando Poe Jr. and Joseph Estrada, one of his most popular roles.

Accolades

References

The day Chavit Singson confronted Crisologo again

External links

*
Official Luis Chavit Singson Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chavit 2003 films 2000s Tagalog-language films Cultural depictions of Benigno Aquino Jr. Cultural depictions of Corazon Aquino Cultural depictions of Ferdinand Marcos Films directed by Carlo J. Caparas Films set in 1958 Films set in the 1960s Films set in the 1970s Films set in the 1980s Films set in the 2000s Philippine biographical films Philippine films based on actual events Viva Films films