War memorial plaza in Balangiga eyed

MANILA, Philippines — A Philippine-American war memorial plaza may be established in Balangiga town in Samar once its bells are returned by the US government, a prominent Eastern Visayas historian said yesterday.

Rolando Borrinaga, secretary of the National Committee on Historical Research of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, said the return of the bells should pave the way for the promotion of peace, reconciliation and understanding among nations.  

“There are already plans in the town of Balangiga to convert its plaza into a Philippine-American War Memorial Plaza, a first of its kind in the country, with corresponding components that could promote peace education in Eastern Visayas based on the history and heritage of the region,” Borrinaga told The STAR.

Borrinaga said the return of the bells will help bring closure to a very controversial issue involving the Philippine-American War, describing it as a key irritant to US-Philippine relations.

He also stressed the role of those who campaigned for the return of the bells.

“Can a law be passed by the verbal statements of a person from a different country? Or does this involve letters and petitions and intense and organized lobbying, from a substantially large constituency writing to their (lawmakers) to support legislation that could effect the transfer of the bells to the Philippines?” he said.

Borrinaga noted the success of campaigners in lobbying for the passage of a law that would allow the transfer of the bells.

“For 20 years before the present law, in cycles of five years, the US Code prohibited the transfer of veteran memorial objects to foreign governments without specific authorization in law,” he said.

“Previous efforts to have the bells returned failed precisely because there was not enough political representation and lobbying efforts to effect the passage of the law,” he added.

Balangiga parish priest Serafin Tybaco earlier said they are planning to put the bells on display inside a museum beside the church.

Tybaco said the museum is part of initial plans of the parish to honor the historical value of the bells.

‘Team effort’

American war Veteran Dennis Wright, a businessman in Pampanga, was reportedly among those who had initiated moves for the bells’ return.

“I want to especially thank our local Angeles City posts of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion, Posts 2485 and Post 123 respectively, for helping lead the way that resulted in national resolutions of support, as well as our entire veteran community worldwide who wrote letters to their elected members of Congress and the Department of Defense,” Wright wrote in a letter that he showed to The STAR. 

Wright also acknowledged the support from the US and Philippine governments, which worked for the bells’ return, adding that “it truly was a great team effort.”

Wright said the ceremonies at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming marked “the beginning of the process to return the bells to the parishioners in Balangiga.” – With Ding Cervantes