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US returns historic San Pedro bell


The historic San Pedro bell is finally home and displayed at the Bauang Church in La Union on Monday, more than a hundred years after it was taken by American soldiers as a war booty during the Philippine-American War.

The residents of Bauang welcomed the bell's return in fiesta fashion complete with colorful banderitas and musical performances by a band.

A Holy Mass commenced the unveling ceremony.

 

The 400-year-old Spanish bell was taken away by American soldiers under the supervision of General Thomas Barry sometime in 1901 during the Philippine-American rar.

In a report by the Philippine News Agency, Bauang Information Officer Myrna Romero said the bell was almost destroyed during the revolution that time. 

An alloy of gold, silver, and copper, the San Pedro Bell and other bells were seized by Americans to prevent guerrillas from melting them down to make guns and other war ammunition. 

The four-feet 800-kilogram bell was transferred to Barry’s alma mater, the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. For years, it was unhung and unrung until it was rediscovered in 1959 during the chapel expansion. From then on, it found home at the West Point’s Most Holy Trinity Catholic Chapel.

But with efforts by American veteran Dennis Wright, the West Point Academy granted requests to bring the San Pedro Bell back to the Philippines. 

The bell arrived at the Church of Saints Peter and Paul on Sunday evening.

Wright’s initial mission is to bring the famous Balangiga bells of Samar back home.

But during his research he stumbled upon the story and existence of San Pedro Bell. He sought help from West Point Alumni in retrieving the bell. Former President Fidel Ramos also supported Wright in his mission.

Wright's efforts to retrievve the Balingaga bells continue. —report from Sandra Aguinaldo/Kiersnerr Gerwin Tacadena/ALG, GMA News

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