Balangiga bells now on display for viewing at Philippine Air Force Museum

Now that the historic Bells of Balangiga have been returned to the Philippines, the public may now see the century-old war booty at the Philippine Air Force Museum in Pasay City starting Wednesday.

Public may see the Balangiga bells starting tomorrow. They are now on display at the Philippine Air Force Museum, Villamor Air Base. No entrance fee but base rules must be followed. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/vvBeWeEXMV

— sandra aguinaldo (@sandraguinaldo) December 11, 2018

Balangiga Bells na nakalagak sa Air Force Museum, ipinakita na sa publiko. | via Mao dela Cruz pic.twitter.com/7rbtqJrRa7

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) December 11, 2018

The museum was initially scheduled to open at 8 a.m., but a group of students who traveled from Siniloan, Laguna came as early as 6 a.m. to see the historic bells, according to a report on "Dobol B sa News TV" by Mao dela Cruz.

PAF Museum personnel allowed the students to enter the museum earlier than the scheduled time of viewing.

The Balangiga bells are available for public viewing on Thursday and Friday, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., according to the Department National Defense (DND).

On Saturday, the bells are expected to return in Balangiga town in Eastern Samar.

Taken by American soldiers as was booty over a century ago, the Bells of Balangiga  arrived in the Philippines on Tuesday on a US Air Force C-130 from a US base in Okinawa, Japan. 

Aside from the three bells, PAF’s old airplanes and uniforms are among the attractions in the said museum, where admission is free. 

Museum visitors should observe the dress code, which prohibits shorts, slippers and sandos, according to the DND.

They are also advised to refrain from touching the displays, using flash in taking pictures, capturing videos, or bringing food and drinks into the museum. 

Foreigners are required to present identification cards or their passports upon entrance.  —Joviland Rita/KG/LBG/BM, GMA News