Renato Zosimo “Zosing” Evangelista, 52, the first and only lawyer from the Mangyan Indigenous peoples of Mindoro, an island in the central Philippines, died on April 14 after suffering a stroke.
For many among the Mangyan, long pushed to the margins and often associated with poverty and limited access to education, Evangelista’s life stands as evidence that opportunity can reshape life paths, and that faith, perseverance, and service can uplift an entire community.
“He showed us what we can become,” a Mangyan elder said, a sentiment widely echoed across upland communities following his passing.
A life shaped by loss and perseverance
Born into a Hanunuo Mangyan family, Evangelista’s early life was marked by hardship. He lost his mother at 14 and spent much of his youth moving between relatives in the upland areas of Bulalacao and Mansalay in Mindoro.
Life in the mountains meant long walks to school, carrying bananas down steep trails for small earnings, and studying under difficult conditions that forced many to abandon education. Yet these early struggles also shaped his discipline and determination.
“God gave me good people around to help me reach my goals in life,” Evangelista once said in an interview.
He often spoke of mentors such as Casimira Villegas, a Mangyan formation worker and educator associated with the Mount Tabor Mangyan Formation Center in Mindoro.
Professor Emy Mandia of De La Salle University recalled Evangelista as “Casimira Villegas’ little boy who could play the piano at a very young age… truly a gifted person, the first Mangyan lawyer, and a champion of many legal advocacies, especially for indigenous peoples and the environment of Mindoro.”
Childhood memories marked by friendship
Former classmates at the SSPS-run Holy Infant Academy in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro, said Evangelista was never bullied, noting that such behavior would not have been tolerated by the school’s nuns.
Instead, they recalled a childhood marked by friendship and curiosity.
Christian Alberto, a classmate, said: “He would bring me to where they were staying in Mt. Tabor and tell me stories about what was happening there… I would often bring him to our house in Ilaya so he could play the piano… then we would eat together, and he would share stories about their tribe.”
Julius Pastrana remembered: “He loved action movies.”
These recollections reflect a young man who moved easily between communities while maintaining pride in his cultural roots.
Breaking barriers in Manila
Evangelista’s life changed when he received a scholarship from a Dutch foundation, allowing him to study in Manila.
There, he encountered prejudice against Indigenous identity.
“It hurts, but what can I do?” he once said of discrimination.
Rather than withdraw, he excelled.
At Manuel L. Quezon University, he became a student leader, serving as class president, student council member, and writer. He graduated among the top of his class before pursuing law, where he earned distinction in commercial law.
He later joined the Roco, Kapunan, Migallos, Perez and Luna Law Offices, earning respect in one of the country’s leading legal circles.
Despite professional success, he remained anchored to his roots.
“I am just getting experience,” he said. “I want to go back home and serve my people.”
