Patricia Chanco Evangelista: The Voice Of The Unheard

    In the world of journalism, few voices resonate conviction, and unwavering commitment to truth as that of Patricia Chanco Evangelista. An acclaimed journalist, documentarian, and advocate, Evangelista has carved a path defined by her dedication to human rights, storytelling, and giving a voice to those who are unheard. I find Her work, often characterized by its raw honesty, and thus earning recognition in both local, and international, making her one of the most influential figures in contemporary journalism.

A Journalist Born In the Storm

    Evangelista was born in the Philippines, a nation known for its complicated colonial history, political instability and socioeconomic inequality. As soon as she born she was captivated to the power of words and storytelling. Though her career in journalism started to take shape in her adolescence, her rise to fame came from winning the London 2004 International Public Speaking Competition giving the speech "Blonde and Blue-eyed".

    In her speech, Evangelista discussed identity, colonialism, and the intricate details of being a Pilipino. At just 19 years old, her passion, and intellect made her a national symbol of hope. She articulated the often unspoken pain and pride of a generation trying to reconcile their national identity with the world. Her message signifies that the "Filipino's spirit is not defined by western ideals, but it is their own resilience and identity".

    What sets Evangelista apart is her unwavering dedication to those who are often unheard. As a journalist, she has continuously focused on the stories of the communities, whether they are victims of human rights abuse, survivors of natural disasters, or affected by poverty and inequality.

Fearless Storytelling

    During the war on drugs under President Duterte's administration, Evangelista was among the few journalist who dared to expose the grim reality of extrajudicial killings. Her reporting for "Rappler", the Philippines' groundbreaking digital news site, took readers into the homes and streets where blood was spilled, offering stories behind the TV. Her documentary series "Impunity", stands as a testament to the lives lost and the families left behind, presenting a portrayal of the brutality that the President Duterte allowed.

    Despite the gravity of the stories she tells, Evangelista remains humble. She often shifts the focus away from herself, insisting that the real heroes are the individual whose stories she has the pride to share. She has described herself as simply the "messenger, a conduit for the voices of the oppressed, the forgotten, the silenced, and the unheard.

Notable Work

In 2023, a year after President Rodrigo Duterte's reign, Patricia published her most powerful and deeply controversial work entitled "Some People Need Killing: A Memoir of Murder in My Country". The book further explored the Philippines' war on drugs, a campaign that saw tens of thousand of extrajudicial killing under President Duterte's name. Evangelista, who spend years covering this acts, delivers a fearless account of the lives' cost on that war.

Through detailed interview and first hand observation, Evangelista captures the agony, grief, and the trauma that police brutality had cause on ordinary Filipinos. but Her memoir is not just a documentation of brutality, it is also an indictment of the systems that allowed to it to flourish. She holds power accountable, questioning the wrongs which were these unfair, and unjust killing.

A Legacy of Advocacy

Beyond her journalistic journey, Patricia Evangelista is a fierce advocate for freedom of the press. In a country where journalist often face threats, intimidation, and violence. she has been vocal about the need to protect the rights of journalist to report with freedom and without fear, and despite the gravity of the stories she tells.

Still Evangelista remain remarkably humble, often shifting the attention to us, the people, insisting the real heroes are the individuals who remains oppressed, forgotten, silenced, and unheard. But through her works as a journalist she shines light to those who aren't given a chance to speak.