Ben Evardone

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

Ben Pagaran Evardone (born September 30, 1963) is 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.

Ben Evardone
Portrait of Ben Evardone for the House of Representatives
Governor of Eastern Samar
In office June 30, 2019 – June 30, 2025
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 (age 61) Sulat, Samar
Political party	PFP (2024–present)
Other political affiliations	PDP–Laban (2016–2024) Liberal (2010–2016) Independent (2009–2010) Lakas-CMD (2007–2009) LDP (1995–2007)
Relations	RV Evardone (child)
Occupation	Politician

Early life

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.^[1]

Political career

Evardone unsuccessfully ran as representative of Eastern Samar in 1995.

He served as the governor of Eastern Samar from 2004 to 2010.^[2]

Then, Evardone ran as district representative in 2010 and won, serving as the Congressman of Eastern Samar for three terms.

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.^[3][4] He later switched to Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, the party chaired by President Bongbong Marcos.

In 2024, Evardone withdrew his candidacy for reelection in the 2025 Philippine general election and was replaced by his son, RV Evardone,^[5] who won the election.^[6]

Personal life

Evardone is married to Grace.^[7]