Governor Evelio B. Javier Day in the Philippines Date in the current year: February 11, 2024

Evelio Bellaflor Javier was a Philippine lawyer, civil servant and politician. He served as governor of Antique from 1971 to 1980. During the 1986 Presidential campaign, he was an opposition leader and staunch supporter of Corazon Aquino who ran against then-president Ferdinand E. Marcos.

The snap elections were held on February 7, 1986. Four days later, while the counting of votes was still continuing, Evelio Javier was murdered by several masked gunmen in San Jose de Buenavista, Antique. His funeral was attended by thousands of people.

The assassination of Javier was one of major events that sparked the People Power Revolution in the Philippines. The revolution began on February 22, 1986 and resulted in the overthrow of the dictatorial regime of Ferdinand Marcos.

Evelio Javier Day was first celebrated in the four provinces on Panay Island in 1987 and was declared a special non-working public holiday in these provinces in 1992.