• Marc7 Travels
  • Marc7 Travels Blog Entries
  • Viajerong Pinoy
  • Explore Manila!
  • Contact
  marc7 travels



#GOT65EasternSamar: For Whom The Balangiga Bells Toll

6/30/2022

0 Comments

 
“Give us back those Balangiga bells. They are ours. They belong to the Philippines. They are part of our national heritage. Isauli naman ninyo. Masakit 'yan sa amin.”
 
 - Former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (07.24.2017) -

 
I have been wanting to see the bells since its return in 2018. More than the history that I read and the movie that I saw, the bells symbolize how the sheer political will of a nation’s leader brought back a heritage artifact that redeemed a small town’s pride and honor. That town is Balangiga in Eastern Samar and this is their story and place in our history.
Picture
Balangiga in Eastern Samar is your typical Philippine town that has a colorful story to share.
A typical day in Balangiga.
The story that put Balangiga in the annals of Philippine history is immortalized in the town plaza.
The town sits on the southern coast of Eastern Samar.
​Balangiga is a town of more than 14,000 people on the southern coast of Eastern Samar. It is a typical rural “in-between” spot in the country that most people would pass through during travels. It may not have the usual “touristy sites” for a lot of travelers but this small town played a huge role in Philippine history that, to this day, remains subject to different interpretations. And, it all started with the tolling of the Balangiga Bells.
 
Balanginga Town Plaza: The Story Unfolds
 
Like any other Philippine town, the town plaza sits at the heart of Balangiga. The plaza serves as a venue for local events and activities. It has been a silent witness to the town’s joys and pains from the recent to its distant past.
Picture
The Balangiga Massacre Monument sits at the heart of the town.
The municipal hall of Balangiga sits adjacent to the town plaza.
I found their monument of Jose Rizal quite cool and unique.
The sports / events area of the town plaza.
Beyond its daily buzz, the Balangiga Town Plaza is home to a monument that tells the story that placed the sleepy town in the annals of Philippine history. On the morning of September 28, 1901, villagers made a surprise attack on the Company C of the 9th US Infantry Regiment. The ringing of the bells marked the start of tge attack against the American troops. The attack caused 44 deaths, 22 wounded, and 4 missing in action on the American regiment. The Americans retaliated with General Smith ordering to shoot any Filipino aged 10 years and above and turn Samar into a “howling wilderness”. The church bells of Balangiga were later seized as war trophies.
Picture
The monument that featured the fateful day in Balangiga.
Picture
The monument of Valeriano Abanador who led the attack.
The names of the Filipinos and Americans who fought on that day.
The Balangiga Massacre is considered to be the worst defeat of US Army soldiers since 1876.
The historical marker installed in the town plaza to commemorate the Balangiga Massacre.
​The Balangiga Monument depicts the scene of the attack by the Filipinos on that fateful day. On the side of the monument is a list of names of the Americans and Filipinos who were present during the attack engraved on the wall. Another monument featuring Valeriano Abanador, the police chief during that time and who led the attack, stands adjacent to the monument. The historical marker of the event was also installed on Abanador’s monument. The Balangiga Encounter/Massacre is commemorated every year in Eastern Samar and is considered as the “worst defeat of US Army soldiers since the Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876”.
 
Balangiga Church: In Memoriam
 
At the center of the Balangiga Encounter is the Spanish-period Balangiga Church. The church is also known as the Church of San Lorenzo de Martir as it was dedicated to the Roman martyr in 1854. The church played a significant role in the attack as the tolling of its bells signaled the start of the attack by the irregular Filipino forces against the Americans.
Picture
The Balangiga Church was at the center of the attack as its bells signaled the start of the attack.
The Church of San Lorenzo de Martir stands out as an imposing structure against the rustic vibe of the town. The church facade is like a fortress that exudes strength and built. The wave design on the top stands out and it was my first time to notice such design on a Spanish-period church. The belfry stands adjacent to the church and dominates the skyline of the town.
Picture
The Church of San Lorenzo de Martir is a Spanish-period church.
Picture
The simple and yet elegant altar of the church.
Unlike most Spanish-period churches in the country, the interior of the church has a modern touch. Solid rock walls were replaced with concrete pillars and grilled side walls giving the church a more airy and refreshing feel. The simple altar is complements the whole ambiance of the church.
Picture
The memorial honoring those who died on that fateful day.
Picture
The repository of human bones believed to be the victims.
The memorial for the Balangiga Massacre victims found inside the church compound.
The names of those who were involved in the Balangiga Massacre are written at the foot of the belfry.
These were the human bones excavated from the church yard are believed to be that of the victims of the massacre.
​The side of the church, behind the church’s belfry, is a memorial for those who died during the Balangiga Encounter. A small plot where small white crosses were installed to remember those who died on that fateful day. A common grave where human bone fragments are interred and displayed was also installed. These bones were unearthed on the churchyard and is believed to be the bones of unnamed individuals who died on that day.
 
Balangiga Bells: The Long Way Home
 
The Balangiga Church had 3 bells that were minted in different years. The oldest bell was casted in 1853 and bears the Franciscan Coat of Arms. The second bell was casted in 1889 while the smallest bell was casted in 1895. The tolling of the smallest bell that signaled the start of the attack and all three bells were later on, in retaliation by the Americans, were confiscated as war trophies.
Picture
The return of the Balangiga Bells is significant as it was a symbol of the Filipinos patriotism and courage.
The Balangiga Bells were sequestered by the Americans as war trophies after their retaliation for their loss.
It was under the term of former President Rodrigo Duterte that the Balangiga Bells were returned to its rightful place.
The bells were rung in Balangiga on the first day of the Simbang Gabi in 2018. It took 117 years, since that fateful day, that the town heard the tolling of the Balangiga Bells.
​On the hands of the Americans, one of the church bells was in South Korea and the other two were in Wyoming. The bells were finally repatriated to the Philippines in December 11, 2018. Finally in December 15 of that same year, the bells were finally installed in Balangiga and was rung at dawn the next day to signal the start of the Simbang Gabi. It took decades of lobbying and a Duterte presidency to finally bring back the bells to its rightful place bringing back the pride and glory of the town of Balangiga.
 
 
​POST TRAVEL NOTES
I have been wanting to see the Balangiga Bells since its return to Philippine soil. It is a legacy that it was during the time of the PRRD’s administration that it was repatriated as we took a stand to return what is rightfully ours. The bells are more than just a century-old artifact. It is a symbol of the bravery of Balangiga townsfolk as they fought for their freedom against the Americans. It embodies the pride and glory of a town that took a stand against oppression.
Picture
Time to explore a beautiful destination that is off the radar, for most travelers.
The town of Balangiga is not the usual tourist destination that draws visitors because of its natural beauty or attractions. In fact, it is the opposite. It is a simple town that exudes the rustic and provincial ambiance. But beyond the attractions that we often look for, Balangiga offers a narrative that evokes a sense of pride and courage as a Filipino. As you hear the bells of Balangiga tolling, always remember the story by Filipinos for Filipinos.
 
 
#MahalinNatinAngPilipinas
#SamaSamangBabangonMuli

 
Getting there: To get to the town of Balangiga, you can take a plane to Tacloban City from any major hub in the Philippines. You can then take a jeep or a trike from the airport to Van-vans Downtown Tacloban Teminal where you can take a van to Guiuan. You can ask the driver to drop you off at Balangiga. Travel time from Tacloban to Balangiga is around 3 hours.

Follow me on Instagram:
​@marc7del
Picture
Like and follow my FB Travel Page:
marc7travels
Picture
Subscribe to my Youtube Travel Channel:
​#ByahengOffTheGrid
Picture
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Home
    @viajerongpinoy
    #EXPLORemanila

    Marc del Rosario

    I believe in education, entrepreneurship, and caring for the environment.

    Picture

    Archives

    March 2023
    January 2023
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    August 2014
    May 2014
    February 2014
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    March 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    April 2012
    January 2012
    October 2011
    March 2011
    January 2011
    July 2010
    January 2010
    August 2009

    RSS Feed