Antique marks martyrdom of ex-Gov Evelio Javier
ILOILO CITY—Antiqueños on Wednesday commemorated the 40th death anniversary of former Gov. Evelio B. Javier, honoring a leader remembered for his courage in the face of tyranny and steadfast defense of democracy.
Observed every Feb. 11 under Republic Act No. 7601, Evelio B. Javier Day is a special nonworking public holiday in the provinces of Antique, Capiz, Aklan and Iloilo. The law institutionalized the annual observance to pay tribute to Javier’s life, leadership and martyrdom.
Javier was assassinated on Feb. 11, 1986, at the height of political unrest in the country. He was 38.
A strong opponent of the strongman rule of then President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., Javier led the opposition forces in the campaign for the snap presidential election in 1986.
His killing, just weeks before the Edsa People Power uprising, became one of the defining moments of resistance in Western Visayas region against the dictatorship.
In his message for this year’s commemoration, Antique Gov. Paolo Everardo Javier urged residents to remember not only the office that Javier held, but the principles he embodied—justice, democracy and genuine service to the people.
‘Truth over fear’
“His life reminds us that leadership is a responsibility, and that public office is a trust that must always be exercised with honesty and courage,” the governor said.
He called on Antiqueños to choose “truth over fear, service over self and unity for the greater good.”
Former Gov. Sally Perez, in a speech during the commemoration rites, reflected on the legacy of a man she described as “a soldier for democracy.”
“Forty years since bullets tried to silence a man whose only true weapon was courage,” Perez said. “He did not fight with guns in the smoke of battle. But make no mistake. He was a soldier nonetheless—a soldier for democracy, a soldier for dignity, a soldier for Antique.”
Perez recalled the climate of fear that gripped the country during the final years of authoritarian rule, noting that Javier chose to speak out when many remained silent.
“The Supreme Court once described him as a fallen hero who dared to speak against tyranny when many chose silence,” she said, adding that while Javier did not live to see the “breaking of the dawn,” his voice helped hasten the country’s return to freedom.
She also emphasized that Javier’s legacy continues in present-day governance, citing the leadership of his nephew, the incumbent governor, as a continuation of principles rooted in integrity and service.
“This is not simply a family connection. This is a continuation of belief—that leadership must bow to truth and rise against injustice,” Perez said.
As wreaths were laid and prayers offered, residents were reminded that the annual observance is not only about remembrance but renewal—a recommitment to democratic ideals and ethical leadership.
Forty years after his death, Javier’s name still resonates across Antique and beyond, a symbol of principled leadership during one of the most turbulent chapters in the country’s history.
“He did not see the dawn of freedom,” Perez said, “but he carried the sun on his back so the nation could.”
