MANILA – The historic Bells of Balangiga are finally back in the Philippine soil over a century after they were taken as a war booty by United States soldiers during the Philippine-American War.
A US C-130 plane carrying the three bells arrived at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on Tuesday morning where US Embassy officials turned them over to Defense secretary Delfin Lorenzana.
According to Lorenzana, the return of the historic bells is a fitting closure to the war between the Philippines and the United States in 1901.
“Now, they are home. They are going back to where they belong,” Lorenzana said in a speech. “It is time for healing, it is time for closure. It is time to look ahead as two nations should, with shared history and as allies.”
“This is one of the most memorable days in the Philippine history,” he added. “Let the Balangiga bells serve as a memorial of those soldiers who fought valiantly for their country.”
For his part US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim said it was just the right time for the United States to return the bells to the Philippines after calls from several previous presidents of the latter country.
“On behalf of the United States, it is my great honor to be here at this closing of a painful chapter in our history,” Kim said. “The bells’ return reflects the strong bonds and mutual respect between our nations and our people.”
“It demonstrates our determination to honor the past and the sacrifices made together by Filipinos and Americans. And it heralds our bright future as friends, partners and allies,” he added.
President Rodrigo Duterte, who was expected to be present at the ceremony, skipped Tuesday’s event. But he will be there when the bells are returned to Samar on Dec. 15, according to Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo.
“The President, upon the recommendation of the secretary of National Defense, will no longer be attending the handover of the Balangiga bells,” Panelo said. “The President will instead be in Samar to turn over the bells to Balangiga officials.”/PN
