ANTIQUE'S DON QUIXOTE:

Man of the poor, servant for his people, a sincere fellow, a man of a good charisma, believer in change, a dreamer, a visionary, idealistic, he was true to his friends and fair to his foes, a brave man, a simple down to earth person that describes a good man named GOVERNOR EVELIO B. JAVIER. For his love to the people, to the Antiquenos as well as to the countrymen he sacrificed much his life and blood to regain freedom and democracy on his foes. Many weep, plead and shout for justice in respect for his heroism. But his noble ideas still remain in the very heart of his fellow at the threshold of his impossible dream – freedom and justice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Hero’s Birth

Evelio Bellaflor Javier was born in Barangay Lanag (now, Barangay Evelio B. Javier), Hamtic, Antique to Prosecutor Everardo Autajay Javier and Feliza Bellaflor a school teacher from Culasi on October 31, 1942. Married to Precious B. Lotilla of Sibalom, with whom he had two sons, Francis Gideon and David. A hardworking student graduated with first honors at San JoseElementary School and the Ateneo de Manila High School. In 1963, EBJ completed his Bachelor of Arts Major in History and Government at the Ateneo College of Arts and Sciences and likewise finished his Bachelor of Laws also in 1968, and passed the Bar Examination. He then, became a successful lawyer and a member of the law school’s Fraternal Order of Utopia.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As a civil servant

Destined to be a public servant, he ran and won landslide vote as Governor of the Province at the age of 28 in 1971. EBJ, declared as the Philippines’ youngest governor during that period. During his term, he created the Antique Sports Complex and Binirayan Festival (1974). He also pursued the economic program of cooperatives, and the Antique Upland Development Program supported by Ford Foundation and other funding agencies. This was used as model for the third world countries strategy for sustainable development. Evelio did not run for re-election in 1980, he decided to pursue a scholarship grant to the John F. Kennedy School of Government at the Harvard University in 1981. Though in 1982, he ran for Assemblyman at the Batasang Pambansa in contradiction of the authoritative Marcos candidate but he lost due to fraud. But it was sad to say when the Commission on Elections declared that he was the real winner years after his death in 1986.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Hero’s Death

Fateful morning of February 11, 1986, EBJ and his colleagues talking under the tree adjacent the Antique New Capitol building, three masked men alighted from a Nissan patrol jeep and mercilessly gunned down Evelio. He absconded across a park in front of the capitol building, fell into a pond, and then continued running across the street even though he was wounded, he wanted his self-safety in a comfort room owned by a Chinese merchant. EBJ was cornered by his attackers showing no mercy, harshly pleadings, and brutally riddled his body.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On this day, the whole Antique weeps for EBJ’s death; seeking for a true justice, peace and freedom. Young generations per se cannot imagine the 20hour funeral procession from north to south, wearing yellow shirts and yellow bands to their wrists, accompanied by the tunes of Impossible Dream (Evelio’s favorite song), the rich and the poor, the young and the old showed their anger and sorrow by crying and shouting “JUSTICE FOR EVELIO! WE LOVE YOU!” during his death.Therefore, even Evelio died after 25 years, his dreams are still alive on every heart of Antiquenos. As a young generation, I can deeply feel the pain, the sorrows and a weeping heart of his followers in seeking justice.

 

 

EBJ’s Legacy to the Province of Antique

Evelio’s noble works focused in good governance, human dignity, Antiqueno identity, bondage from poverty and oppression, political freedom, environmental care and sports development.Recognizing his trust, he created the Upland Development Program which helps the farmers learn the proper utilization, management and conservation of our natural resources that does not compromise the environment itself. EBJ is the brainchild of the Binirayan Festival which commemorate the landing and settlement of our forbearers and a homecoming of Layas Antiqueno. As a sports enthusiast, he initiated the creation of the Antique (Binirayan) Sports Complex as center for sports (and cultural) activities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the honor of his heroism, the public plaza where he was gunshot was renamed after him – the Evelio B. Javier Freedom Park. It was also declared by the National Historical Institute as one the major historical sites in the Province. Evelio B. Javier Auditorium in Delegate Angel Salazar Jr. Memorial School and Evelio Javier Airport in San Jose was also named after him.Furthermore, Evelio was one of many politicians murdered during the Martial Law era in the country. Many said that his assassination fueled the fire to start the People Power Revolution last February 25, 1986.Later, the Congress passed a law declaring February 11 as a holiday in Panay Island to commemorate his heroism.