PH defense, US officials to witness Balangiga bells' arrival
Published Dec 10, 2018 02:30 pm
By Francis Wakefield
The historic Balangiga bells will arrive on Tuesday from the United States in Villamor Airbase, Pasay City, with high-ranking Philippine Defense and United States officials on hand to witness their arrival.
US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis (right), shakes hands with Philippines Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez commemorating the US decision to return the Bells of Balangiga to the Philippines at FE Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming, on Nov 14, 2018. (REUTERS / MANILA BULLETIN)
In a statement, the Department of National Defense-Public Affairs Service (DND-PAS), said the preprogram activities will start at about 10 a.m., which includes arrival, unloading and opening of the crates of the Balangiga bells.
The DND-PAS said the handover ceremony of the bells will then follow at the Philippine Air Force Grandstand also in Villamor Air Base at about 1:30 p.m..
The bells will be flown in by an American military aircraft from the US.
The United States Department of Defense (DOD) will hand over the bells to Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana who will receive the bells on behalf of the DND from US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Yong Kim.
President Duterte is expected to witness the return of the Balangiga bells, which for more than a century, were kept at Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming.
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 Adm. Philip Davidson who will represent US Defense Secretary James Mattis, and Ambassador Kim.
Significance of the return of the bells
In a statement sent by the Department of National Defense-Public Affairs Service (DND-PAS), it stated that the return of the 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.
It added that it 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.
Historical background
The tolling of the Balangiga bells during the Philippine-American war on September 28, 1901, signalled the launch of Filipinos in Balangiga of an ambush against Company C of the 9th Infantry Regiment killing 48 American soldiers and wounding 12.
In retaliation, Gen. Jacob Smith directed his men to turn Balangiga into a "Howling Wilderness". He ordered the killing of all male Filipinos aged 10 years old and above, and the burning of the entire town.
American soldiers then took the three bells from Balangiga as "War Trophies." One of the bells was put at Camp Red Cloud, South Korea while the other two bells were placed in Warren Air Force Base, Cheyene, Wyoming, USA
"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 return of Balangiga Church bells is a sensitive matter, one that has seriously eroded the people-to-people relationship between the Americans and Filipinos.
Previous efforts to recover the bells
§ 1957: Father Horacio Dela Costa wrote to American Military Historian Chip Wards seeking help in the return of the bells that were then in the possession of the US Air Force.
§ 1958: The earlier request was followed up by American Franciscan priests of Guihulngan, Negros Oriental.
§ 1989: The Balangiga Historical Society, through the National Historical Institute and the Department of Foreign Affairs, petitioned the US Government for the return of the town's church bells.
§ 1990: Then Philippine Defense Secetary Fidel V. Ramos and U.S. Defense Secretary and former Wyoming Congressman Dick Cheney commenced negotiations for the bells return.
§ 1998: Fidel Ramos became President and proposed a "One Original, One Replica" sharing formula of the bells to appease both Filipino and American sentiments. Over the years, various organizations worked hard for the return of the bells, including the US-Philippine Society based in the United States led by Henry Howard. The advocacy was shared by several veterans organizations and individuals, Filipinos and Americans alike.
Return of the Balangiga bells 2018
US President Donald Trump signed the U.S. National Defense Authorization Act of 2018, authorizing Defense Secretary James Mattis, to decide on the matter of returning the Balangiga bells to the Philippines.
This finally end more than half a century's worth of initiatives and frustrations on the isssue of returning the Balangiga bells.
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo earlier said 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 rolling again this Christmas," he added.
Arevalo, at the same time, said that the AFP is elated over the return of the Balangiga bells which will be received by no less than Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana in a simple ceremony on Tuesday.
Put closure
Lorenzana also reiterated that the return of the historic bells will 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 Philippine-American war almost 117 years ago.
"That 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.
US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis (right), shakes hands with Philippines Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez commemorating the US decision to return the Bells of Balangiga to the Philippines at FE Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming, on Nov 14, 2018. (REUTERS / MANILA BULLETIN)
In a statement, the Department of National Defense-Public Affairs Service (DND-PAS), said the preprogram activities will start at about 10 a.m., which includes arrival, unloading and opening of the crates of the Balangiga bells.
The DND-PAS said the handover ceremony of the bells will then follow at the Philippine Air Force Grandstand also in Villamor Air Base at about 1:30 p.m..
The bells will be flown in by an American military aircraft from the US.
The United States Department of Defense (DOD) will hand over the bells to Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana who will receive the bells on behalf of the DND from US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Yong Kim.
President Duterte is expected to witness the return of the Balangiga bells, which for more than a century, were kept at Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming.
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 Adm. Philip Davidson who will represent US Defense Secretary James Mattis, and Ambassador Kim.
Significance of the return of the bells
In a statement sent by the Department of National Defense-Public Affairs Service (DND-PAS), it stated that the return of the 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.
It added that it 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.
Historical background
The tolling of the Balangiga bells during the Philippine-American war on September 28, 1901, signalled the launch of Filipinos in Balangiga of an ambush against Company C of the 9th Infantry Regiment killing 48 American soldiers and wounding 12.
In retaliation, Gen. Jacob Smith directed his men to turn Balangiga into a "Howling Wilderness". He ordered the killing of all male Filipinos aged 10 years old and above, and the burning of the entire town.
American soldiers then took the three bells from Balangiga as "War Trophies." One of the bells was put at Camp Red Cloud, South Korea while the other two bells were placed in Warren Air Force Base, Cheyene, Wyoming, USA
"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 return of Balangiga Church bells is a sensitive matter, one that has seriously eroded the people-to-people relationship between the Americans and Filipinos.
Previous efforts to recover the bells
§ 1957: Father Horacio Dela Costa wrote to American Military Historian Chip Wards seeking help in the return of the bells that were then in the possession of the US Air Force.
§ 1958: The earlier request was followed up by American Franciscan priests of Guihulngan, Negros Oriental.
§ 1989: The Balangiga Historical Society, through the National Historical Institute and the Department of Foreign Affairs, petitioned the US Government for the return of the town's church bells.
§ 1990: Then Philippine Defense Secetary Fidel V. Ramos and U.S. Defense Secretary and former Wyoming Congressman Dick Cheney commenced negotiations for the bells return.
§ 1998: Fidel Ramos became President and proposed a "One Original, One Replica" sharing formula of the bells to appease both Filipino and American sentiments. Over the years, various organizations worked hard for the return of the bells, including the US-Philippine Society based in the United States led by Henry Howard. The advocacy was shared by several veterans organizations and individuals, Filipinos and Americans alike.
Return of the Balangiga bells 2018
US President Donald Trump signed the U.S. National Defense Authorization Act of 2018, authorizing Defense Secretary James Mattis, to decide on the matter of returning the Balangiga bells to the Philippines.
This finally end more than half a century's worth of initiatives and frustrations on the isssue of returning the Balangiga bells.
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo earlier said 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 rolling again this Christmas," he added.
Arevalo, at the same time, said that the AFP is elated over the return of the Balangiga bells which will be received by no less than Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana in a simple ceremony on Tuesday.
Put closure
Lorenzana also reiterated that the return of the historic bells will 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 Philippine-American war almost 117 years ago.
"That 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.