MANILA – The return of the Bells of Balangiga to the Philippines was an affirmation of the deep relations between the country and long-time ally United States, according to Malacañang.
“The Palace enthusiastically awaits the arrival of the Balangiga Bells to the country on Tuesday, Dec. 11,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a statement.
President Rodrigo Duterte will lead the scheduled handover of the bells Tuesday at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City, said Panelo.
“We consider the occasion as an affirmation of our strong and enduring relations with our long-standing ally, as we thank them for this gesture that would formally put a closure to a tragic and contentious episode in both our countries’ history,” he added.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines was also thankful for the return of the bells, which were “an icon of nationalism, patriotism and personal sacrifice in the pursuit of freedom,” given their role as instruments in defending the town of Balangiga in Eastern Samar during the Filipino-American war.
‘IT IS TIME’
In a separate statement the United States Embassy said the return of the Balangiga bells to the Philippines was a product of years of work and not due to any particular events or statements.
“There are a number of presidents, a number of secretaries (of Defense), a number of US and Philippine ambassadors who worked for the return of Balangiga bells,” said the embassy spokeswoman Molly Koscina.
“People have worked for so many, many years. It is time to return the bells and we are very proud that it is happening,” she added. “This is an opportunity to close the chapter, and we are looking forward to the future of our enduring and important alliance.”
Duterte, among other Philippine leaders, demanded that the United States return the three Bells of Balangiga that American soldiers took as war booty from Balangiga 117 years ago.
After the return of the three bells to the Philippines on Tuesday morning, a separate ceremony will be held on Dec. 15 for the turnover of the bells to the Balangiga Church, according to Panelo.
The US turned over two bells on Nov. 15 at the Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming. The other bell was in a US military museum in South Korea.
Residents of Balangiga and Eastern Samar Church leaders insisted that the bells – a symbol of pride for the people of Samar – were the property of the local church.
It was believed that one of the bells was used to signal an attack of Filipinos that killed 48 American soldiers. In retaliation, Americans destroyed the town and killed thousands of Filipino soldiers and locals in one of the bloodiest chapters of the Filipino-American war./PN
