Evelio Javier
Encyclopedia
Evelio Bellaflor Javier (October 14, 1942 - February 11, 1986) was a Filipino
lawyer, civil servant, politician, and an oppositionist during the authoritarian regime of President Ferdinand Marcos
. Due to these activities, he was assassinated by the regime on February 11, 1986. He is the brother of Governor Exequiel Javier
who defeated his foe, Arturo Pacificador, and served from 1987 to 1998 and from 2001 to 2010.
, to Everardo Autajay Javier (Moscoso) and Feliza Bellaflor. He finished his grade school in San Jose Elementary School in San Jose, Antique
and graduated high school and college in Ateneo de Manila University
. There, he received his Bachelor of Arts
degree in History and Government and his Bachelor of Laws
in Ateneo Law School
, and passed the bar examination
before he became a successful lawyer and entered into politics. Also, he is a member of the law school's Fraternal Order of Utopia.
He married Precious Bello Lotilla of Sibalom, Antique
; they had two sons, Francis Gideon Everardo and David.
, but he lost.
(Was declared by the Commission on elections as the real winner, unfortunately months after his death).
Javier fled across a park in front of the capitol building, fell into a pond, then continued into a shop on a street across from the park. Wounded, he tried to hide in a toilet stall at the rear of the shop. A gunman caught up to him and shot him several times through the door of the stall.
On the day of the funeral and burial to his final resting place at his hometown of San Jose de Buenavista, Antique, millions of mourning people in Antique followed his funeral procession to the cemetery wearing yellow shirts and tying yellow bands to their wrists. They played his favourite song, "The Impossible Dream
," during the procession to the cemetery. Thousands of Antiquenos there showed their anger and sorrow by crying "Justice for Evelio! We love you!" on the day of his death.
in the Philippines. His funeral surpassed that of Benigno Aquino, Jr.
, assassinated three years earlier in 1983.
It is said that the assassination of Evelio Javier on Feb. 11, 1986 fueled the fire to start the People Power/Philippine EDSA Revolution on Saturday, February 22, 1986.
Evelio's body went in procession through Manila, passing through Ateneo de Manila University
where he had thousands of friends and colleagues, days before the Feb. 22 People Power Revolution that ousted Ferdinand Marcos and made Cory Aquino the President of the Philippines.
Also every February 11, the Antique province declare it a holiday in his honor.
An airport, Evelio Javier Airport
, in San Jose, Antique, was named in honor of Evelio.
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
lawyer, civil servant, politician, and an oppositionist during the authoritarian regime of President Ferdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos, Sr. was a Filipino leader and an authoritarian President of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He was a lawyer, member of the Philippine House of Representatives and a member of the Philippine Senate...
. Due to these activities, he was assassinated by the regime on February 11, 1986. He is the brother of Governor Exequiel Javier
Exequiel Javier
Exequiel Bellaflor Javier is a Filipino politician. He has been elected to six terms as a Member of the House of Representatives, representing the Lone District of Antique from 1987 to 1998, and from 2001 to 2010...
who defeated his foe, Arturo Pacificador, and served from 1987 to 1998 and from 2001 to 2010.
Early life and marriage
Evelio Javier was born on October 14, 1942, in Barangay Lanag (now Brgy. Evelio Javier), Hamtic, AntiqueHamtic, Antique
Hamtic is a 4th class municipality in the province of Antique, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 38,230 people in 7,479 households.-Barangays:Hamtic is politically subdivided into 48 barangays.* Apdo* Asluman* Banawon...
, to Everardo Autajay Javier (Moscoso) and Feliza Bellaflor. He finished his grade school in San Jose Elementary School in San Jose, Antique
San Jose, Antique
San Jose is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Antique, Philippines. It is the capital municipality of Antique...
and graduated high school and college in Ateneo de Manila University
Ateneo de Manila University
The Ateneo de Manila University is a private teaching and research university run by the Society of Jesus in the Philippines. It began in 1859 when the City of Manila handed control of the Escuela Municipal de Manila in Intramuros, Manila, to the Jesuits...
. There, he received his Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in History and Government and his Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
in Ateneo Law School
Ateneo Law School
The Ateneo de Manila Law School is the law school of the Ateneo de Manila University, a private Jesuit university in the Philippines. It was founded in 1936, in the Padre Faura, Manila campus of the Ateneo, where it remained even after the college, graduate school, and basic education units moved...
, and passed the bar examination
Bar examination
A bar examination is an examination conducted at regular intervals to determine whether a candidate is qualified to practice law in a given jurisdiction.-Brazil:...
before he became a successful lawyer and entered into politics. Also, he is a member of the law school's Fraternal Order of Utopia.
He married Precious Bello Lotilla of Sibalom, Antique
Sibalom, Antique
Sibalom is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Antique, Philippines. It is known as the "Rice Bowl" of the province. As of 2007, the National Census and Statistics Office records show that Sibalom is inhabited by a total of 53,934 residents and is projected to increase to 63,254 in the year...
; they had two sons, Francis Gideon Everardo and David.
His term as civil servant
He ran for governor of Antique and won in 1971 making him, at the age of 29, the Philippines' youngest governor during that decade. He did not run again for election in 1980, instead, he ran for Assemblyman at the Batasang PambansaBatasang Pambansa
The Batasang Pambansa , also known by its nickname, the Batasan, was the former parliament of the Philippines, established as an interim assembly in 1978 and finally as an official body in 1984. Under the 1973 constitution, it replaced the former Congress established under the 1935 Commonwealth...
, but he lost.
(Was declared by the Commission on elections as the real winner, unfortunately months after his death).
Death
At 10:00 on the morning of February 11, 1986, three or four armed and masked gunmen riding in Jeeps went to the New Capitol building in San Jose, Antique. While Evelio Javier was talking to his friends on the steps in front of the capitol building, the masked gunmen opened fire at him.Javier fled across a park in front of the capitol building, fell into a pond, then continued into a shop on a street across from the park. Wounded, he tried to hide in a toilet stall at the rear of the shop. A gunman caught up to him and shot him several times through the door of the stall.
On the day of the funeral and burial to his final resting place at his hometown of San Jose de Buenavista, Antique, millions of mourning people in Antique followed his funeral procession to the cemetery wearing yellow shirts and tying yellow bands to their wrists. They played his favourite song, "The Impossible Dream
The Impossible Dream
The Impossible Dream is the debut album from The X Factor UK series 2 runner-up Andy Abraham. It was released on 20 March 2006 and entered the UK Album Chart on 26 March 2006 at #2 selling 176,689 copies in its first week.-Track listing:...
," during the procession to the cemetery. Thousands of Antiquenos there showed their anger and sorrow by crying "Justice for Evelio! We love you!" on the day of his death.
Legacy
Javier was one of many politicians murdered during the period of martial lawMartial law
Martial law is the imposition of military rule by military authorities over designated regions on an emergency basis— only temporary—when the civilian government or civilian authorities fail to function effectively , when there are extensive riots and protests, or when the disobedience of the law...
in the Philippines. His funeral surpassed that of Benigno Aquino, Jr.
Benigno Aquino, Jr.
Benigno Simeon "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr. was a Filipino Senator and a former Governor of Tarlac. Aquino, together with Gerry Roxas and Jovito Salonga, formed the leadership of the opposition to the Marcos regime in the years leading to the imposition of martial law in the Philippines...
, assassinated three years earlier in 1983.
It is said that the assassination of Evelio Javier on Feb. 11, 1986 fueled the fire to start the People Power/Philippine EDSA Revolution on Saturday, February 22, 1986.
Evelio's body went in procession through Manila, passing through Ateneo de Manila University
Ateneo de Manila University
The Ateneo de Manila University is a private teaching and research university run by the Society of Jesus in the Philippines. It began in 1859 when the City of Manila handed control of the Escuela Municipal de Manila in Intramuros, Manila, to the Jesuits...
where he had thousands of friends and colleagues, days before the Feb. 22 People Power Revolution that ousted Ferdinand Marcos and made Cory Aquino the President of the Philippines.
Also every February 11, the Antique province declare it a holiday in his honor.
An airport, Evelio Javier Airport
Evelio Javier Airport
Evelio Javier Airport , also known as Antique Airport and San Jose Airport, is the only airport serving the province of Antique in the Philippines...
, in San Jose, Antique, was named in honor of Evelio.