Still unreturned after 108 years

Tacloban City (September 28) -- Today, the people of Balangiga, about one and a half hour away from Tacloban, commemorate the 108th Anniversary of the Balangiga Encounter.

As in previous years, hundreds of people are expected to flock to the municipality of Balangiga in order to witness the commemoration rites of the event in which revolutionaries almost wiped out the entire American detachment posted in the area at the time.

The commemoration program which has become a regular undertaking of the municipality of Balangiga and the province of Eastern Samar, will once again be held at the municipal plaza where the P6-million Balangiga Encounter Monument and Memorial Library designed by National Artist Napoleon Abueva now stand as a reminder of the encounter which clearly shows the Filipinos' love for democracy and independence.

As in previous years, the solitary wish is for the bells of Balanginga to be returned to its original and rightful owner, the Philippines. The Bells of Balangiga which are now at the "Trophy Park" of the Warren Airforce Base in Wyoming, belong to the Church for the use of the people of Balangiga.

Indeed, the return of the Balangiga Bells will enhance the relationship between the Philippines and United States as the gesture will be a manifestation that the United States cares for the Filipino heritage.

Years ago, representation was made by the Philippine delegation led by former President Fidel Ramos and Ambassador Raul Rabe and supported by some American legislators, resulting in a compromise position, namely, to have the two bells recast and then give one original and one replica to each country. This is the position that is accepted and supported by the members of the United States Catholic Conference (USCC). The Diocese of Borongan, with much reluctance, agreed to this arrangement.