Wanted: A museum to display memorabilia of Evelio Javier

In a small, cramped room at the lobby of the old provincial capitol are photographs taken when he was governor from 1972 to 1980, when he was with his family, and when he was buried. The collection also includes a blue vest, a pair of boots and a yellow-colored cap he wore when he ran for the Batasang Pambansa in 1984, and his clothes when he was shot and killed in 1986 at the height of the struggle against the dictatorship of President Ferdinand Marcos.

Although Evelio Javier may be widely revered in Antique as a democracy icon, his memorabilia are no longer prominently displayed for public viewing but kept in the locked room, hardly seen through the glass door and panels.

“Beloy (Javier) is our hero, but we could not even take care of his memorabilia,” said a resident, who declined to be named to avoid being caught in the issue and in surmising why the leader has slipped to obscurity.

Javier was gunned down on February 11, 1986, during the canvassing of votes of the 1986 “snap” presidential elections between Marcos and Corazon “Cory” Aquino. He had been campaigning for Aquino and his death was among those that hastened the collapse of the dictatorship leading to the Edsa “people power” revolt.

His death anniversary is a special nonworking holiday on Panay Island. Most of the landmarks and main structures in Antique have been renamed after him. A younger brother, Exequiel, has repeatedly been elected congressman or governor.

The memorabilia of the slain leader were unveiled in rites at the capitol lobby from across the town plaza to commemorate his 16th death anniversary on Febreuary 11, 2002. This was meant to serve as a constant reminder of his life and sacrifice to the next generation of Antiqueños.

Fr. Fortunato Abiera, chair of the provincial historical council, said the items were displayed at a gallery on the ground floor of the building but had to be moved to give way to its renovation as office of the provincial assessor. The items were placed in the small room along with memoirs of Tomasa Dioso Salinog or “Lola Masing,” a “comfort woman” or sex slave by Japanese soldiers during World War II who has become an icon for her struggle for justice. She died in 2007.

“We were told that a new museum will be built to house the memorabilia, but nothing is definite yet,” Abiera said.

Vice Governor Rosie Dimamay said the provincial government planned to build the museum by next year at the Evelio B. Javier Freedom Park. It will initially cost P5 million, she said.