Zubiri appeals to clergy, diocese of Borongan to lend one Balangiga bell to National Museum

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri appealed Thursday to the bishop and clergy of the Diocese of Borongan, Samar to lend one of the Balangiga bells to the National Museum even for a short period of time.

Zubiri made the statement after the diocese expressed opposition to Senate Resolution 965 urging the government to share with Filipinos one of the Balangiga bells by placing it at the National Museum "for the appreciation and education of the public especially the youth."  

The Diocese of Borongan deemed any effort to transfer the bell/s as a "disrespectful mangling of history and the right of the Catholic faithful of Balangiga to their private property."

"The Balangiga encounter at which the bells played a role happened in Balangiga. It is only right that they be returned to Balangiga and stay in Balangiga," it added.

Zubiri said he will not force his will on the people.

"If they don’t agree so be it. How arrogant naman are they to say that this is disrespecting the history of our country, actually we are just asking to lend it with the Filipino people, so that we will know the history of the country," he said.

He said the stay of one of the Balangiga bells at the National Museum would only be temporary.

"Temporary lang naman, we already had won, it's already a moral victory for our people," he said.

The Balangiga bells finally returned to the Philippines on Tuesday after 117 years. 

They were taken by American soldiers in 1901 as a war trophy.

The senator said he wanted the people, especially students, who cannot go to Eastern Samar to know and appreciate history.

"Papahiram lang naman para mas maraming estudyante ang makakakita ng bells. Di naman lahat nakakapunta sa Samar. I would like to visit the bells but not every family can visit. If they don't want it, so be it. Wala namang problema sa akin ‘yan. kung ayaw n’yo eh di ‘wag," he said.

Still, Zubiri said the diocese should rethink their stand.

"Maybe in the kindness of their hearts maybe they can lend it to the National Museum," he said.

Asked how long the bell should be lent, the senator said it is up to the  people.

It was not stated in Zubiri's resolution how long the bell would stay at the National Museum. — RSJ, GMA News