Church officials: Balangiga bells’ return denotes peace

BALANGIGA, Eastern Samar, Dec. 15  -- Top officials of the Roman Catholic Church said the return of the Balangiga Bells, which were taken as war booties 117 years ago, signified friendship, respect and peace. 

Aside from strengthening the faith of the people of Balangiga, returning the artifacts to its rightful place is an event that promotes good relationship between the Philippines and the US, said Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines President and Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles. 

“The bells’ repatriation underlines deeper appreciation of respect and friendship. This joyful event will strengthen the faith of people since this is part of their heritage and treasure,” Valles said in an interview before the handover ceremony Saturday afternoon.

Borongan Diocese Bishop Crispin Varquez said the three bells mattered a lot to the faith of the people since these are used to call people to come to church to attend masses.

“This is a symbol of peace and reconciliation and remind us that we have to move on from the Balangiga Encounter. We will care them as a precious legacy to the heroism and courage of our forefathers,” Varquez said. 

After 117 years of being under the custody of the US government, there will be symbolic ringing of the bells during the mass on Saturday night, Varquez said. 

The Balangiga Encounter happened on Sept. 28, 1901, when residents, led by Valeriano Abanador, initiated an attack against US soldiers. The villagers killed 54 American soldiers using bolos. 

It was the biggest defeat of the foreign troop during the Philippine-American war. About 2,500 Filipinos were killed in  the US retaliatory attack. 

The Americans took the Balangiga bells after they turned the town into a “howling wilderness”. 

Two of the three bells used to be enshrined at the Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming while the third bell was at Camp Red Cloud in South Korea. (SQM/PNA)