CHAVIT SINGSON AND CARLOS YULO photo from Inquirer/AFP file photos

 

MANILA, Philippines—Former Ilocos Sur Governor Luis “Chavit” Singson’s offer of ₱5 million to encourage Olympic gymnast Carlos Yulo to reconcile with his family has sparked a wave of reactions online.

Intended as a gesture of goodwill, the offer has been met with widespread skepticism, with many netizens responding with sarcasm and criticism.

The offer came after Yulo’s historic performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he secured two gold medals, earning him national acclaim.

Yulo has already received numerous incentives and rewards for his achievements, making Singson’s offer an unexpected and controversial addition to the gymnast’s growing list of honors.

GRAPHIC: Ed Lustan

In a video posted on his Facebook page, Singson pledged to give the cash incentive to the 24-year-old athlete and his family in the hope of “fostering unity within the family” after their personal disputes were publicly aired and debated on social media.

“Para lang magsama-sama silang mag-pamilya, magbibigay ako ng limang milyon. […] [M]agbibigay ako ng limang milyon sa pamilya niyo kung mapatawad ninyo ang isa’t-isa,” said the former governor and business magnate in the video.

(I’ll give five million pesos just so they can be together as a family. […] I’ll give your family five million pesos if you can forgive each other.)

Singson emphasized that the reward he’s offering is also intended to promote unity within Yulo’s family and his partner.

“The reward shall be accepted by the Yulo family and Carlos’ partner, as a united front. This is not merely for Yulo’s gold medals but as a tribute to the strength and unity of the Yulo family,” Singson explained in a statement.

“In offering this reward, I hope to send a powerful message that the success of an individual is never solely their own; it is shared by those who stand by them, offering love, guidance, and unwavering support,” he added.

Despite the athlete’s exceptional performance at the recent Olympics, a series of controversies sparked by past comments from his mother, Angelica Yulo, thrust the family into an unfavorable spotlight.

In response, Yulo addressed the situation in a video, stating that he had forgiven his mother for mishandling his past earnings and making remarks about his girlfriend, Chloe San Jose, a long time ago.

Netizens slam ₱5M ‘reward’

Netizens quickly took to social media to share their thoughts, with many making light of Singson’s gesture.

Some even humorously appealed to Singson for assistance in their family matters, stressing the skepticism surrounding the idea that financial incentives could resolve deep-seated family issues.

https://www.threads.net/@aurellanajojen/post/C-1mN5RPaS7/?xmt=AQGz-iEYXBKHLPuqKiPR_C3sEd8dtmJCSRvzmQC3bejI0g

However, serious critiques from online users pointed out that Singson’s offer is an inappropriate intrusion into private matters.

Yulo has yet to make any public response to Singson’s offer. The former governor previously mentioned that he has no direct means of contacting Yulo.

Controversial public persona

Singson, a figure known for his flamboyant gestures, first gained national prominence as the star witness in the corruption case that led to the ouster of then-President Joseph Estrada.

Over the years, he has remained in the public eye, often for his controversial acts of generosity.

In June 2024, Singson made headlines when he announced a ₱7 million birthday raffle, offering 600 winners ₱10,000 each, with one lucky winner receiving ₱1 million.

But perhaps one of the more controversial reasons he recently garnered attention was when his two-vehicle convoy was apprehended by traffic enforcers of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) for encroaching on the Edsa busway last April.

Singson was in the back seat of his Fortress bulletproof vehicle when his convoy—the other car a black SUV—was flagged down along the northbound side of Edsa-Cubao in Quezon City.

Following the incident, Singson visited the MMDA headquarters in Pasig City to personally apologize to the traffic personnel who had apprehended him.

GRAPHIC: Ed Lustan

In addition to paying the ₱10,000 fine — ₱5,000 for each vehicle in his convoy — Singson fulfilled his promise to reward the MMDA for their diligence.

However, instead of the initially pledged ₱100,000, he doubled the amount to ₱200,000, emphasizing that it was not a bribe but rather an “incentive” for the agency’s traffic enforcers “to be more hardworking.”

The MMDA described the ₱200,000 as a “no-strings-attached donation,” assuring the public that no special treatment would be given to Singson or anyone else caught violating the Edsa bus lane rules.

The gesture, however, prompted a warning from a Civil Service Commission (CSC) official, who explained that despite Singson’s “noble intentions,” accepting the money from him was, at the very least, unethical, or worse, tantamount to bribery