As it happens: the bells been returned
(and expect "attention-seekers" in a time of solemnity)
(and expect "attention-seekers" in a time of solemnity)
Cheers greeted the formal return of the three historic church bells of Balangiga after decades of being displayed as war booty by its former colonizer.
"After 117 years, the bells of Balangiga will be coming home. This morning the Government of the United States announced it would be returning the historic bells to the Philippines," the Department of Foreign Affairs says.
And from there, it hath been considered by some (especially Dr. Rolando Borrinaga) as a closure to the Philippine-American war.
"After 117 years, the bells of Balangiga will be coming home. This morning the Government of the United States announced it would be returning the historic bells to the Philippines," the Department of Foreign Affairs says.
And from there, it hath been considered by some (especially Dr. Rolando Borrinaga) as a closure to the Philippine-American war.
Captured as war booty during the formerly-known as the "Philippine Insurrection", these bells were displayed from in American military bases: one was in South Korea, while the other two were at the state of Wyoming in the United States of America. These bells, other than treated as a war booty by its looters, represented a memorial of their victory against the Filipinos, if not a harsh reminder that looting was (and probably is) a part of the battlefield.
And from that grim reminder, as any other tragedy happened in that decades-old relation between Americans and Filipinos, somehow a reason to create tension; that alongside crass racism, interest-driven exploitation, and despite means to make Filipinos forget history, the tragic events at Balangiga and others during that "insurrection" aren't been forgotten nor disregarded.
But for a concerned, no matter how people are aware of the battle what more of the bells, is that the bells shouldn't be remain in the hands of a looter. For since 1957 when Fr. Horacio de la Costa requesting the American authorities to return the bells to its rightful owners, of former President Ramos's attempt for its 1998 Centennial celebrations, up to the recent campaigns led by former American veterans and even members of the catholic church, these events that calls for the return of the Balangiga bells end realised despite initial reluctance or debate- what more that these bells also being restored in its then-working condition after decades displayed in the military base.
But for a concerned, no matter how people are aware of the battle what more of the bells, is that the bells shouldn't be remain in the hands of a looter. For since 1957 when Fr. Horacio de la Costa requesting the American authorities to return the bells to its rightful owners, of former President Ramos's attempt for its 1998 Centennial celebrations, up to the recent campaigns led by former American veterans and even members of the catholic church, these events that calls for the return of the Balangiga bells end realised despite initial reluctance or debate- what more that these bells also being restored in its then-working condition after decades displayed in the military base.
And as expected, Duterte's fanatics would claim that their idol president was the man behind that said return.
That from its pages, comments, and even a video featuring Duterte "strongly" speaking from the congressional rostrum about the need to return the bells, they stressed through and through their dear leader as its forefront bearing its "political will" despite the fact that those from the United States dealt with its return, what more of the Balangiga residents and concerned individuals themselves.
Otherwise, this person, as well as others concerned may expect a "shitstorm" of sorts coming from these fanatics telling that the return was brought by Duterte himself, that the church isn't actively been involved, if not "better for the Americans to keep the bells instead".
Nonetheless, despite the hoaxes being churned by fanatics, a GMA News report issued last December 10, US embassy spokesperson Molly Koscina saidth the bells were returned “not due to any particular event or statement.”
“There are a number of presidents, a number of secretaries [of Defense], a number of US and Philippine ambassadors who worked for the return of the Balangiga bells. It was decades worth of work and protest from the veterans, and the legal issues that came with it,” said Koscina.
Meanwhile, amidst the patriotic fervour over the return of the stolen bells, politicians like Juan Miguel Zubiri issued a Senate Bill that urges the government to place the bells in the National Museum "for the appreciation and education of the general public."
That bill, which emphasises having those returned bells as museum pieces, rather meant to be treated as curiosity "to give chance to many Filipinos to see for themselves this religious artifact and be reminded of the role it played in one of the bloodiest chapters of the Philippine-American War...and will give every Filipino from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao an opportunity to get a glimpse of an important piece of a nation's history."
Quite appealing to history isn't it? But to place those bells in the museum, no matter how the basis it would be, is quite an attempt to wrest from those who supposeth to be its keeper such as the Church by telling that the state is also assumes as a guarantor of heritage; and despite commentators would also babble statements "separation of Church and State", of their idol Duterte's angst against the Church, of pedophiles amongst the clergymen, and the likes trying to justify government's "will to possess", any effort aimed at such a transfer is a disrespectful mingling of History and the right of the faithful, such as those of a Balangiga resident, to their cultural property.
Just as the concerned do not wanted to transfer most of the Jose Rizal's family mementoes from Calamba to Manila, it is just enough to express opposition in placing the bells in a museum what more of being justified as a "historical piece." Right is the diocese of Borongan in telling that the bells as at first, sacramentals meant for spiritual purpose: and in a country whose predominant religion consists of Christians of Roman Catholic type, would say that these once-war booty should return to its proper venue and to its proper purpose as opposed to those whose drivel is of political relevance (such as that lawmaker Zubiri) guised as reminding about culture/or History. "They are also sacred artifacts that call to prayer and worship. But they especially call them to the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, the highest form of prayer and worship for Catholics. Therefore, they belong in the Church, not in a Museum."
Otherwise, it is like any other religious sacramentals been brought and displayed like those from Villa Escudero or from the National Museum itself which is also having displays of religious figures and even a retablo from an old church; in fairness to that Villa Escudero, it tries to replicate religious festivities such as those of a religious procession, even it is obviously, devoid of spiritual meaning let alone a cultural shell.
And thankfully, in a time when anything historical is been sold to the highest bidder, no one ever think of auctioning the bells and tell the world how significant they were as basis to be sold.
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Personally, the return of the bells shouldn't been politicised especially by those whose reason is to make relevance assuming they're into historical sentiment. Much better if they just remain aloof and focused on their circlejerking substantiated by their supporters brewing of exaggerations and of half-truths.
Let alone these bells be end returned solemnly and set in its proper place: a church belfry, and again with its sacred and intended purpose: bells meant to ring for the flock, and for the world to come- if not to ring again, this time against the problems the country and its people hath to endure.