TWO HEROES WHO ROCKED A NATION
Evelio Javier and Edgar Jopson never met in real life, but they have much in common. Both men experienced the beginnings of social consciousness early in their lives and, with their Ateneo education, felt compelled to speak out for their countrymen during the years of the Marcos Regime.
While they differed in the manner with which they sought change -- Evelio taking the side of gradualist, enlightened reformist politics, as the way forward for the country, and Edjop believing in violent struggle due to the futility of reforms in the political culture and class structure of Filipino society – they both met violent deaths that turned shocked the Filipino people.
Edjop became president of the National Union of Students of the Philippines and led student demonstrations that would later form part of the First Quarter Storm—the most intense period of student activism in Philippine history. Under Martial law, he engaged in a new level of militancy. He joined a labor union as an organizer and negotiator and even helped in their family-owned business to put up a union, to the consternation of his father.
He was recruited by the Communist Party of the Philippines and soon became one of its top cadres. He was captured by the military, but escaped and went to the countryside with his wife Joy to live among the peasants. He was assigned to Davao, where he soon rose through the top ranks as party leader for the whole of Mindanao, inevitably ending up on the top of the Philippine military’s Order of Battle (or liquidation list). During a military raid, Edjop was killed.
Evelio witnessed the hardships and suffering of Antique’s poorest, wondering why the land, with all its resources, cannot feed the people who have to endure the deprivations of modern slavery. As a grown man, Evelio was drawn passionately towards two of his greatest obsessions—reforming the politics of Antique and the culture of corruption and patronage in the country; and Precious Lotilla, whom he was determined to win and wed.
Elected as the youngest governor of Antique and in the Philippines, Evelio agonized about continuing to serve as leader of the province under the political party of an oppressive regime. Finally, Evelio decided not to run for another term and accepted a scholarship at the Kennedy School of Government of Harvard University. His friends and allies, and the people of Antique, begged him not to leave, but Evelio was determined to join the resistance movement against Marcos by lobbying and speaking out in America.
The assassination of Ninoy Aquino compelled Evelio’s return to the Philippines to join the political opposition. Despite death threats, he campaigned hard for Cory Aquino in the 1986 snap presidential election and won the vote for her in Antique. A few days after the election, he was ambushed and brutally gunned down.
The lives of Evelio Javier and Edgar Jopson are re-told as a rock musical about love and ideals in a country in search of heroes and where affliction seems never ending. Written by Palanca Awards Hall of Famer Ed Maranan “EJ: ANG PINAGDAANANG BUHAY NINA EVELIO JAVIER AT EDGAR JOPSON” completes Tanghalang Pilipino’s 21st Theater Season.
With a cast headed by Ricky Davao (as Evelio Javier) and Jett Pangan (as Egar Jopson) and the live music of The Dawn, “EJ: ANG PINAGDAANANG BUHAY NINA EVELIO JAVIER AT EDGAR JOPSON” is presented in cooperation with the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts with the support of the Evelio B. Javier Foundation. It will run four weekends at the Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (Cultural Center of the Philippines Little Theater) from February 15 to March 9, 2008, with 8:00 PM shows on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and 3:00 PM matinees on Saturdays and Sundays.
Directed by Chris Millado, others in the cast are Rody Vera, Juliene Mendoza, Stella Cañete, Tex Ordoñez, Mayen Estañero, Wenah Nagales, Bong Cabrera, Nar Cabico, and the Tanghalang Pilipino Actors Company. Tickets at P300 and P600 are available at Tanghalang Pilipino (832-3661), CCP Box Office (832-3704), and Ticketworld (891-9999). Website: www.tanghalangpilipino.com; email: ccptanghalan@yahoo.com.
While they differed in the manner with which they sought change -- Evelio taking the side of gradualist, enlightened reformist politics, as the way forward for the country, and Edjop believing in violent struggle due to the futility of reforms in the political culture and class structure of Filipino society – they both met violent deaths that turned shocked the Filipino people.
Edjop became president of the National Union of Students of the Philippines and led student demonstrations that would later form part of the First Quarter Storm—the most intense period of student activism in Philippine history. Under Martial law, he engaged in a new level of militancy. He joined a labor union as an organizer and negotiator and even helped in their family-owned business to put up a union, to the consternation of his father.
He was recruited by the Communist Party of the Philippines and soon became one of its top cadres. He was captured by the military, but escaped and went to the countryside with his wife Joy to live among the peasants. He was assigned to Davao, where he soon rose through the top ranks as party leader for the whole of Mindanao, inevitably ending up on the top of the Philippine military’s Order of Battle (or liquidation list). During a military raid, Edjop was killed.
Evelio witnessed the hardships and suffering of Antique’s poorest, wondering why the land, with all its resources, cannot feed the people who have to endure the deprivations of modern slavery. As a grown man, Evelio was drawn passionately towards two of his greatest obsessions—reforming the politics of Antique and the culture of corruption and patronage in the country; and Precious Lotilla, whom he was determined to win and wed.
Elected as the youngest governor of Antique and in the Philippines, Evelio agonized about continuing to serve as leader of the province under the political party of an oppressive regime. Finally, Evelio decided not to run for another term and accepted a scholarship at the Kennedy School of Government of Harvard University. His friends and allies, and the people of Antique, begged him not to leave, but Evelio was determined to join the resistance movement against Marcos by lobbying and speaking out in America.
The assassination of Ninoy Aquino compelled Evelio’s return to the Philippines to join the political opposition. Despite death threats, he campaigned hard for Cory Aquino in the 1986 snap presidential election and won the vote for her in Antique. A few days after the election, he was ambushed and brutally gunned down.
The lives of Evelio Javier and Edgar Jopson are re-told as a rock musical about love and ideals in a country in search of heroes and where affliction seems never ending. Written by Palanca Awards Hall of Famer Ed Maranan “EJ: ANG PINAGDAANANG BUHAY NINA EVELIO JAVIER AT EDGAR JOPSON” completes Tanghalang Pilipino’s 21st Theater Season.
With a cast headed by Ricky Davao (as Evelio Javier) and Jett Pangan (as Egar Jopson) and the live music of The Dawn, “EJ: ANG PINAGDAANANG BUHAY NINA EVELIO JAVIER AT EDGAR JOPSON” is presented in cooperation with the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts with the support of the Evelio B. Javier Foundation. It will run four weekends at the Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (Cultural Center of the Philippines Little Theater) from February 15 to March 9, 2008, with 8:00 PM shows on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and 3:00 PM matinees on Saturdays and Sundays. Directed by Chris Millado, others in the cast are Rody Vera, Juliene Mendoza, Stella Cañete, Tex Ordoñez, Mayen Estañero, Wenah Nagales, Bong Cabrera, Nar Cabico, and the Tanghalang Pilipino Actors Company. Tickets at P300 and P600 are available at Tanghalang Pilipino (832-3661), CCP Box Office (832-3704), and Ticketworld (891-9999). Website: www.tanghalangpilipino.com; email: ccptanghalan@yahoo.com.
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