After years of petitioning, the historic Balangiga Bells are finally back on Philippine soil. Over a century’s worth of waiting has been leading up to this moment of “healing and closure.”
The bells were historically taken by American soldiers in an attack on the town of Balangiga in 1901. The battle took place during the Philippine-American war. Since then, the Philippine government has been continuously requesting the return of these bells.
This morning, at around 10:30 AM, the Balangiga Bells arrived in the Philippines via US military plane. There to welcome the bells were Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, and Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez, amongst others.
U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim and Philippine Secretary of National Defense Delfin
Lorenzana, accompanied by Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Dr. Joseph Felter and Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel Romualdez walk to see the Balangiga BellsÂ
Aforementioned Government officials stand with the U.S. Air Force C-130 that returned the Balangiga Bells to the Philippines.
U.S. And Philippine Air Force airmen open the crates of the Balangiga Bells
Our first glimpse at the Balangiga Bells as one of them is removed from its crateÂ
This is a historic moment in the making. What are your thoughts on this?Â
