Ben Evardone

In this Filipino name, the middle name or maternal family name is Pagaran and the surname or paternal family name is Evardone.

Ben Evardone
Governor of Eastern Samar
In office June 30, 2019 – June 30, 2025
Vice Governor	Maricar Sison
Preceded by	Marcelo Ferdinand Picardal
Succeeded by	RV Evardone
In office June 30, 2004 – June 30, 2010
Preceded by	Clotilde Hilaria Japzon-Salazar
Succeeded by	Conrado Nicart Jr.
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Eastern Samar's at-large congressional district
In office June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2019
Preceded by	Teodulo Coquila
Succeeded by	Maria Fe Abunda
Personal details
Born	Ben Pagaran Evardone (1963-09-30) September 30, 1963 Sulat, Samar
Party	PFP (2024–present)
Other political affiliations	PDP–Laban (2016–2024) Liberal (2010–2016) Independent (2009–2010) Lakas (2007–2009) LDP (1995–2007)
Relations	RV Evardone (child)
Occupation	Politician

Ben Pagaran Evardone (born September 30, 1963) was the governor of Eastern Samar, Philippines and was the Congressman of Eastern Samar; he was born in Sulat, Eastern Samar (then part of undivided Samar), on September 30, 1963.

Early life

Ben Pagaran Evardone was born on September 30, 1963. Evardone was a former journalist who covered the final years of the Marcos dictatorship. He was also the student council president for the University of the East in 1983.

Political career

First installation as Governor of Eastern Samar (2004-2010)

Evardone served as the governor of Eastern Samar from 2004 to 2010 through two terms: from 2004 to 2007 and from 2007 to 2010. He was an ally of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, supporting the idea of the establishment of a regional government if she were ousted and replaced with a junta.

Eastern Samar Representative (2010-2019)

Evardone, along with Walden Bello, Kaka Bag-ao, Teddy Baguilat, and 20 members of the press, left Manila through two commercial planes to Palawan to pick up a few passengers. They then went to Thitu Island, the planes being the first to land there and the first congregational delegation to visit the island.

Second installation as Governor of Eastern Samar (2022-2025)

Evardone ran for governor in 2022; he also actively voiced his support for then-vice president Leni Robredo's presidential campaign. He got elected as Governor of Eastern Samar. He was also the longest-serving governor and he was the vice president of PDP–Laban for the Visayas. In 2024, Evardone withdrew his candidacy for reelection in the 2025 Philippine general election and was replaced by his son, RV Evardone, who won the election.

Personal life

Evardone is married to Grace Maniago.

Electoral history

Electoral history of Ben Evardone

Year	Office	Party		Votes received				Result
				Total	%	P.	Swing
2004	Governor of Eastern Samar		LDP	75,445	50.20%	1st	—N/a	Won
2007			Lakas–CMD	122,467	84.18%	1st	+33.98	Won
2019			PDP–Laban	127,857	56.36%	1st	-27.82	Won
2022				211,554	88.52%	1st	+32.16	Won
1995	Representative (Eastern Samar)		LDP	27,888	25.89%	3rd	—N/a	Lost
2010			IND	74,082	38.07%	1st	+12.18	Won
2013			Liberal	79,083	47.16%	1st	+9.09	Won
2016				132,089	58.32%	1st	+11.16	Won

References

Bibliography

• Bello, Walden (2025). Global Battlefields: Memoir of a Legendary Public Intellectual from the Global South. Clarity Press. ISBN 9781963892116.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link)