Balangiga bells: Icons of nation’s patrimony, symbol of Filipinos’ hope

The return of the Balangiga bells signifies the long-standing relations between the Philippines and the United States – one that is based on acknowledging our shared histories as former adversaries in war

and eventually, as close allies working together to safeguard our common interests.

This was stressed by the Department of National Defense-Public Affairs Service (DND-PAS) in a statement released Sunday, saying the bells are icons of the nation’s patrimony and the symbol of the Filipinos’ faith and hope.

It added that the return will catalyze historical healing for both the Philippines and the US and will serve as a closure for both countries of a painful chapter in the past that was a grim consequence of war.

“To the people of Balangiga, the bells are an important historical and religious heritage and icons of our nation's patrimony. They symbolize faith and hope for the Filipino people,” the DND said.

“The returning of the bells is not only an act of goodwill from our treaty partner, but more so, a symbol of respect. It is a laudable historic moment, and a milestone in Philippine-US relations that will mark a promising future between our countries,” it added.

The DND-PAS said once returned, the bells which served as grim reminders of violence, hatred, and division, shall toll for all humanity as symbols of peace, hope, and friendship.

“To the American, the bells are war relics and symbols of honoring their dead heroes and patriots.”

“To the Filipinos, the Balangiga ambush was an act of defiance from the oppression they suffered from the Americans, a defense of their dignity and their freedom. The bells, therefore, represented the Filipinos struggle against the Americans and the suffering that they endured, signifying their bravery, courage, and heroism.”

The Balangiga bells are expected to arrive on Tuesday and President Duterte is expected to lead the historic handover from the United States to the Philippines that same day.

Meanwhile, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said that the return of the Balangiga bells to the Philippines is of significant importance, especially to the people of Eastern Samar, who were deprived of the bells for more than a century already.

Noting that those bells were made instruments in defense of the community at that point in our history, Arevalo said, “It is therefore an icon of nationalism, patriotism, and personal sacrificed in the pursuit of freedom.”

“And its return to the people of Eastern Samar, especially at this time of the year, is of immense significance,” Arevalo said.

“The bells will be tolling again this Christmas,” he added.

Arevalosaid that the AFP is elated

over the return of the Balangiga bells which will be received by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana in a simple ceremony on Tuesday.

In an earlier interview, Lorenzana expressed belief that the return of the Balangiga bells will now convince President Duterte to visit the United States.

Lorenzana said Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez is already talking to the Chief Executive to convince him to visit America next year.

“Well, pinag-uusapan... [Its being talk about]. Ambassador Romualdez here he is trying to talk with the President to go there next year,” Lorenzana said at the sidelines of the Pilipinas Conference 2018 forum in Makati City on Friday.

When asked if the president has already expressed his intention of visiting the world's biggest economy and have talks with the leaders there, including President Donald Trump, Lorenzana said: “Meron siyang[He has]... is there but we are still kinukumbinse pa siya ni Ambassador Romualdez [he is still being convince by Ambassador Romualdez].”

Lorenzana also reiterated that President Duterte doesn't hate the Americans, just some of the people there.

“Si Presidente naman sabi niya [The president has stated] “I don't hate the Americans, I just hate some of the people there,” he said.

Lorenzana said the historic bells will be flown in by an American military aircraft at the Villamor Airbase in Pasay City before noon on Tuesday.

Upon arrival, the bells will be briefly viewed by the President and other invited guests to be followed by speeches from Lorenzana, United States Indo-Pacific Command chief Admiral Philip Davidson who will represent US Defense Secretary James Mattis, and US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim.

Lorenzana also reiterated that the return of the historic bellswill finally put a closure to one of the dark pages in the country’s history when these were taken by American soldiers as war booty during the bloody PhilippineAmerican war almost 117 years ago.

“That [return of the bells] will be a closure,” Lorenzana said.

Lorenzana, who was posted as Philippine military attaché in Washington, D.C. for some time, recalled that the first request to bring back the bells to the country was made in 1935 by Eugenio Daza, one the leaders of those who attacked the Americans in the town of Balangiga during the war.

“In 1935 when he (Daza) was still alive, he wrote a letter asking for the return of the bells,” Lorenzana

recalled.

It was only during the time of former President Fidel V. Ramos when the Philippines reiterated its desire to bring the bells back.

“I was in DC, we had been working for the return but nothing happened because there was no involvement of the US government at that time,” he said.

The return of the bells was further stalled in 2012 when some US legislators placed a five-year moratorium on the return of various relics to other countries, including the Balangiga bells.

But when the moratorium lapsed last year, the US State Department intervened, giving the US defense secretary the leeway to work for the return of the bells.

On November 15, Mattis officially announced the return of the historic bells to the Philippines “in consideration of the enduring friendship between the two countries” and its respect of the past as “co-equal brothers in arms.”

“In returning the bells of Balangiga to our ally and our friend, the Philippines, we pick up our generation’s responsibility to deepen the respect between our peoples,” Mattis said.