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.
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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.