Evelio Javier reunited with his wife in death

EVELIO (left) and Precious (right) in an undated photo taken when Evelio was still governor of Antique. PHOTO FROM THE ANTIQUE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE

SAN JOSE, Antique—The remains of the widow of one of the heroes of the 1986 Edsa People Power Revolution were buried on Wednesday here.

The ashes of Precious Lotilla-Javier, wife of the slain former Antique Gov. Evelio Javier, were buried beside the grave of her husband at San Jose Catholic Cemetery three days after these were brought home from Los Angeles where she died last Aug. 16 of cancer.

Precious, 67, was buried in a granite tomb identical to that of her husband around 11 a.m. after Mass and necrological service at St. Joseph The Worker Cathedral in the capital town of San Jose.

Her funeral was subdued and without any procession from the church to the cemetery as was her request.

But thousands of Antiqueños came to her overnight wake and burial. These included nuns, students, teachers, officials and supporters of Evelio.

“We are here because we are forever in gratitude to Evelio and Precious for their sacrifices for Antique,” said Marivic Nietes, one of those who attended the Mass.

Nietes, 47, was a freshman at St. Anthony College when Evelio was gunned down by heavily armed men on Feb. 11, 1986, in front of the provincial capitol.

Evelio, an opposition leader, was then monitoring the canvassing of votes of the snap presidential elections between Ferdinand Marcos and Corazon “Cory” Aquino.

“We ran to the plaza when we heard that he was shot and we we’re all crying,” Nietes said.

She said many Antiqueños, especially the elderly, still shed tears when Evelio’s favorite song, “The Impossible Dream,” is played.

Nietes said she brought her three children aged 7 to 15 years old to Precious’ burial so that they will know and understand the history of the province and the sacrifices of the couple.

Evelio became endeared to many of his province mates because he espoused principled politics and transparent leadership. He was known for his refusal to be accompanied by armed escorts even when threats to his life heightened.

His advocacy for good governance is best remembered in one of his speeches where he said: “Public office is not a means of livelihood nor is it inherited.”

At the necrological rite, Precious’ elder son, Francis Gideon, tearfully thanked all those who had shown their support and sympathy for their family.

The wake also brought together the province’s political rivals Gov. Exequiel Javier, Evelio’s younger brother, and former Gov. Salvacion Zaldivar-Perez.

In a eulogy delivered on behalf of the family, former Energy Secretary Raphael “Popo” Lotilla described his aunt as “one true person for others.”

Precious “found meaning in her grief and suffering, and drew upon them to console others,” Lotilla said.

He also narrated how Evelio and Precious met in 1957 at the San Jose airport when he was 15 years old and she was 12. Precious was self-conscious and uncomfortable because Evelio was constantly staring at her.

The two were formally introduced in 1962 and met again two years later. They were married in 1966.

They left for the United States in 1980 after Evelio was admitted as a scholar at the Harvard University’s School of Government. Evelio went home to the Philippines to help in the anti-Marcos struggle.

Precious came home in 1986 to bury her husband just a few days before the Edsa People Power I uprising.