A WREATH-LAYING ceremony is held during the 40th death anniversary of former Antique Gov. Evelio Javier in San Jose de Buenavista on Wednesday, Feb. 11. (Antique PIO)
ILOILO CITY – This province remembered Gov. Evelio B. Javier on his 40th death anniversary on Wednesday.
“We stand in remembrance. We stand in gratitude. We stand in pride. There are moments in history when a life becomes larger than death. Evelio's was one of those lives,” said former Gov. Salvacion “Sally” Zaldivar-Perez, one of the two speakers about Javier who played a pivotal role in the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution.
The other speaker was Sen. Bam Aquino, who delivered a video message to people gathered at the plaza of the provincial capital San Jose de Buenavista where Javier was shot and killed on Feb. 11, 1986 for protecting the votes of then candidate Corazon Aquino.
“Alalahanin po natin ang kanyang tapang, ang kanyang integridad, ang kanyang malakasit, at pagmamahal sa bayan (Let us remember his courage, his integrity, his strength, and his love for the country),” said Aquino.
“Alalahanin siya bilang isang lider na pinaglaban ang demokrasya sa ating bayan ang kanyang sakripisyo ay naging inspirasyo sa nakaraming Pilipino at nag bigay lakas sa laban sa ating kalayaan (Let us remember him as a leader who fought for democracy in our country, his sacrifice became an inspiration to many Filipinos and gave strength to the fight for our freedom),” added Aquino.
“Today, 40 years after his martyrdom, his legacy lives on in this province. It lives on in the courage of our people. It lives on in the institutions strengthened by sacrifice. And it lives on in leadership that continues the work he began,” Perez said.
A wreath-laying ceremony was attended by Javier’s family, including incumbent Gov. Paolo Javier, his nephew.