Chavit Coliseum opens in Vigan

A SPORTS and events arena named after former Ilocos Sur governor Chavit Singson was inaugurated in Vigan City on Saturday.

CHAVIT COLISEUM Former governor Chavit Singson (left) and reelected governor Jerry Singson of Ilocos Sur during the inauguration of a sports and events arena named after the former in Vigan City on June 21, 2025. PHOTO COURTESY OF VIGAN CITY LGU

Chavit Coliseum, located on Quirino Boulevard right in the heart of the emerging city, has a seating capacity of 9,000 spectators.

The multipurpose complex is a first-rate venue for concerts, sporting events and various large-scale gatherings.

Singson attended the inauguration on Saturday which coincided with his birthday celebration.

The former governor said he wanted to build a coliseum in Vigan City during his term as chief executive of Ilocos Sur but lacked the necessary funding at the time.

He credited the current provincial government, led by his younger brother Gov. Jerry Singson, and the province's improved financial standing for bringing the project to fruition.

Ilocos Sur is now the fifth richest province in the Philippines behind Cebu, Rizal, Batangas and Davao de Oro. It also boasts of being the 11th fastest bankrolling provincial government in the country today.

The inauguration ceremony also featured the launch of "Chavit: Legend of the Philippines," a biography of the former governor written by Maciej Mikurda.

A summary of the book says that Singson is a legend in the traditional sense: a person whose deeds and exploits are remarkable, well known, and much discussed within their own lifetime.

He is one of the longest serving elected politicians in the Philippines, with a career spanning over 50 years, during which he played a role in events that changed Philippine history.

Following the coliseum's opening, the oath-taking was held for the newly elected provincial officials, led by Jerry Singson who was reeleected as governor.