DID YOU KNOW that one of the oldest — if not the oldest — bells in the Philippines still rings manually, operated by a human-handcrafted “piano” made of wood, without any electronic system?
These historic bells, located at St. Clement’s Church in La Paz, Iloilo City, create a unique atmosphere during the holiday season by playing Christmas carols, filling the air with joy from the start of Simbang Gabi until the arrival of the Three Kings. Popular carols include “O Come, All Ye Faithful,” “Joy to the World,” and “Silent Night.”
The bells are also versatile: they ring year-round to mark various liturgical seasons, such as the Lenten period, playing songs appropriate to each occasion. The 13 bells, housed on the fourth floor of the church’s carillon tower, have been in place for 73 years and will celebrate their 75th anniversary in 2027.
The origins of the 13 bells
According to Rev. Fr. Constantino “Bong” Puzon, CSsR, parish priest of Our Mother of Perpetual Help Parish, St. Clement’s Church, the idea for installing the bells began in 1949, inspired by Fr. Francis Burns, a Redemptorist priest from Belfast, Ireland, who wanted to recreate the carillon bells he saw in his hometown.
By 1952, Fr. Burns commissioned the world-renowned bell maker Gillett & Johnston, known for producing the largest carillons of the time. The bells, featuring Gaelic inscriptions, arrived in Iloilo in January 1953 and were first used on February 6, 1953.
A historic blessing
The blessing of the bells in 1953 was a historic event, presided over by then-Vice President Fernando Lopez, accompanied by the U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines.
“Not many occasions see the vice president and the U.S. ambassador present. That shows how special this carillon tower is,” said Rev. Fr. Puzon.
Calling the faithful to worship
Rev. Fr. Puzon emphasized that the bells serve as a call to worship. Every time they ring, it invites parishioners to gather for prayer and reflection.
“They call people to come and pray, to honor the Lord, and to experience the joy of worship together,” he said.
The bells are especially cherished during the Christmas season, playing carols before Mass and enhancing the festive atmosphere.
According to Rev. Fr. Puzon, even legendary Filipino singer-songwriter Jose Mari Chan was inspired by these bells to compose his song “Christmas Past” during his school years at St. Clement’s in the early 1960s.
The man behind the bells
The 13 bells are operated manually by Wilfredo Poblacion, affectionately known as Manong Willy, from Barangay Nabitasan, La Paz district. At 61 years old, he has been ringing the bells since his high school days.
“I started as a kid, helping friends operate the bells, and now I continue the tradition. If I am unavailable, my two sons take over,” he said.
Manong Willy does this voluntarily, seeing it as a service to God, with no salary or compensation.
Maintenance and restoration
Given the bells’ age, the church conducts regular maintenance to ensure they function properly. Manong Willy inspects the strings connecting the wooden “piano” to the bells, ensuring they remain in working order.
The church is also conducting fundraising efforts to restore the carillon tower in preparation for its 75th anniversary in 2027. The tower has five levels, including a lounge and gallery, a wooden lever and prayer space, a whispering tunnel with views of the Rosary Stairs, the carillon bells on the fourth floor, and a time chamber with a time capsule on the fifth floor, offering a 360-degree view of Iloilo City.
Inviting the next generation
The church encourages Ilonggos, especially the youth, to visit St. Clement’s Church and experience the bells, particularly during the Christmas season.
“The call of the carillon is a call to worship, a call from God. As we pray, the bells carry our prayers to God,” said Rev. Fr. Puzon./PN
Captions
PIC 1–3
Wilfredo Poblacion, known as Manong Willy, of Barangay Nabitasan, La Paz, Iloilo City, operates the 13 bells at St. Clement’s Church before Sunday Masses and Simbang Gabi.
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Manong Willy demonstrates the musical notes used to play the carillon.
PIC 5–6
Manong Willy shows the strings connecting the wooden “piano” to the 13 bells.
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The 13 bells located on the fourth floor of the carillon tower
PIC 8–9
Views of St. Clement’s Church and its historic tower
