Balangiga Bells in Okinawa, Japan Stop Before Return to the Philippines
BALANGIGA BELLS – The three historic Balangiga bells made a stop in Okinawa, Japan on the eve of its homecoming.
The Balangiga Bells were three church bells from the San Lorenzo de Martin Church in Balangiga, Eastern Samar.
American took the bells as war trophies during the Philippine-American War in 1901. The two bells were at the Wyoming Airbase while the other one was in their base in South Korea.
Based on a report from ABS-CBN, President Duterte previously mentioned the bells during his 2017 State of the Nation Address. He said that he already demanded the return of the bells because those were part of the national heritage of the country.
The U.S. Embassy spokesperson Molly Koschina eventually affirmed the return of the bells to their home country and placed on the Catholic church.
The U.S. Embassy issued photos of the Balangiga bells showing that it is already packed and ready to be transported back in the Philippines.
Defense secretary Delfin Lorenzana announced that the church bells were expected to arrive in the country by December 11, 2018.
“On December 11, the bells will arrive in Villamor Air Base aboard [United States Air Force] aircraft. We don’t know if it’s a C-130 or another aircraft but 9 a.m,” said Lorenzana.
According to the report, the bells were now at the Okinawa, Japan. The Philippine Ambassador in the US Babe Romualdez disclosed that the bells were currently guarded by the American troops and was kept in wooden crates.
The Filipinos especially the Catholic churches are surely excited for the homecoming of the three Balangiga Bells.
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The bells being in the US were a reflection of the former commitment of the US to the Philippines. The return of the bells is an end-marker, an era-end marker. No more defense…. take care of yourself and have a good life!