Skip to content

Tag: Evelio Javier

Evelio Javier’s sons oppose pardon for convicted lawyer

Published by Ellen on March 21, 2013

Evelio Javier: Democracy martyr
Evelio Javier: Democracy martyr
Evelio B. Javier, former governor of Antique, died while performing a task for the restoration of democracy on Feb. 11, 1986.

He was assassinated while keeping watch over the canvassing of votes in the snap presidential election between the well-entrenched dictator Ferdinand Marcos and Corazon Aquino, widow of the assassinated senator Benigno Aquino, Jr and mother of the current president, Benigno Aquino III.

Justice was not fully served with the acquittal of the suspected brains of the murder but it was a consolation for the Javier family that some of the accomplices in the crime were convicted.

One of those convicted was lawyer Avelino T. Javellana, who has applied for executive clemency.

Continue readingEvelio Javier’s sons oppose pardon for convicted lawyer

No more Christmas cards from Precious

Published by Ellen on September 1, 2012

Antique Gov. Evelio Javier and wife, Precious, participate in a town festivities.
Watching Tuesday evening the enthralling rendition of the “Impossible Dream” by Filipino sopranos Rachelle Gerodias, Joanna Ampil; Vietnamese tenor Duc Tuan with Honna Tesuji, a Japanese, conducting a specially assembled Symphony Orchestra composed of Filipino musicians during the Vietnam National Day celebration at the Sofitel Hotel, what came to my mind was one of Philippine democracy’s martyr, Evelio Javier, whose widow, Precious Lotilla-Javier was laid to rest in Antique Wednesday.

“The Impossible Dream” was Evelio’s favorite song.

The song is from the musical “Man from La Mancha”, which was adapted from Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes’ masterpiece “Don Quixote.”

Precious’ moving tribute to Evelio at the end of the latter’s funeral mass in February 1986 (Evelio’s assassination sparked the first People Power that ended the 20-year Marcos dictatorship), had references to the dreamer Don Quixote character.

Continue readingNo more Christmas cards from Precious

Precious Lotilla-Javier, widow of Evelio Javier, dies in US

Published by Ellen on August 18, 2012

President Cory Aquino and Precious Javier at the wake of Evelio Javier in February 1986.
By Nestor P. Burgos Jr.

Inquirer Visayas

Precious Lotilla-Javier, the widow of slain Marcos-era opposition leader and former Antique Governor Evelio Javier, died in Los Angeles on Thursday (Friday in the Philippines) after years of battling cancer. She was 67.

Precious died in her sleep, according to former Antique Gov. Salvacion Zaldivar-Perez, a friend of hers.

Former Energy Secretary Raphael “Popo” Lotilla, a nephew of Precious, also confirmed his aunt’s death.

Perez said the elder son of Precious, Francis Gideon, will be going to the United States to fetch his mother’s remains for burial in Antique beside the grave of her husband. Gideon’s younger brother David is based in the US.

The youngest of six siblings, Precious is a member of the prominent Lotilla clan of Sibalom town in Antique.

A former teacher, she worked at an organization in Los Angeles which researches on deafness and ear ailments.

Continue readingPrecious Lotilla-Javier, widow of Evelio Javier, dies in US

Sen. Edward Kennedy and Philippine democracy

Published by Ellen on August 27, 2009

Edward KennedyThe passing away of President Cory three weeks ago and last Friday’s 26th death anniversary of her husband, Senator Benigno Aquino Jr., brought back to mind the events of February 1986 when the world stood in awe as Filipinos linked arms, armed only with prayers and faith, to restore democracy in the country.

Yesterday, we were yet reminded of that glorious February with the news of the death of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, the last surviving son of America’s political royalty.

Precious L. Javier, widow of the late Evelio Javier, the former Antique governor whose murder helped spark the outrage that led to the 1986 People Power, sent me the U.S. Congressional record of February 19, 1986 when American senators passed a resolution expressing their deep concern over the massive fraud that attended the Feb. 7, 1986 snap presidential elections.

Continue readingSen. Edward Kennedy and Philippine democracy

Ninoy, Cory, Evelio

Published by Ellen on August 20, 2009

Update: Former Antique Governor Enrique Zaldivar passed away Friday. His remains lie in state at the Philippine Independence Church Cathedral on Taft Avenue (in front of PGH).

Update: Please see reflections of Precious L. Javier, widow of Evelio Javier, under comments.

When I passed by the statue of Evelio Javier in front of the provincial capitol in San Jose, Antique last Monday, I noticed he was holding a yellow ribbon.

Antique Governor Sally Perez said the yellow ribbon on Evelio’s statue was part of their tribute to former President Aquino. Rightly so because the heroic lives of Evelio and that of Sen. Benigno Aquino, Jr. and President Cory Aquino are inextricably twined.

Although I was born and grew up in Antique, I personally met Evelio Javier when I was covering the Cory Aquino for President Movement in 1985. He and Sally, on loan to CAPM from the University of the Philippines where she was in the staff of UP President Edgardo Angara, were active in soliciting one million signatures prodding Cory to run for president in the 1986 presidential snap election.

Continue readingNinoy, Cory, Evelio