From memories of a massacre, Balangiga bells now signal start of Christmas season

Since the homecoming of the three historic bells, St. Lawrence the Martyr Parish has been using one of the bells in its daily dawn masses.

The smallest of the bells is now hanging on a platform while the two other bells are displayed beneath it.

Prof. Rolando Borrinaga, a historian, said using the Balangiga bells for religious purposes after 117 years is important not just for Filipinos but also for American veterans who initially opposed the return of the bells fearing this might denigrate the memory of Americans who fought in Balangiga.

“The greatest fear of the opposing US veterans has always been that the bells will be used to desecrate the memory of those who died here in Balangiga during the Balangiga massacre of September 28, 1901,” Borrinaga said.

“We have now shown to the world that these bells were rung in fact to start the Christmas season here in Balangiga and this mass was projected across the country,” he added.

The nine-day traditional Simbang Gabi or dawn masses began last Sunday, December 16. It will end on the midnight of December 24.

Fr. Serafin “Lentoy” Tybaco, parish priest of St. Lawrence the Martyr Parish, has vowed to use the bells every Sunday and on special occasions.

Since its turnover to the church last Saturday, people have been allowed to touch the bells and have their photos taken with them.

Among them was Patria Espinosa, an 81-year old resident of Balangiga.

“Thank you Lord that I was able to touch this bell. The long wanted bells of balangiga. My knees are trembling with happiness. I feel emotional,” she said.

Filipinos armed with bolos attacked the American soldiers on the morning of September 28, 1901, killing 48 members of the Company C.

However, the American troops retaliated and were ordered to burn the town and kill its people above 10 years old who were capable of bearing arms.

Filipino historians have claimed that the American' retaliation was the actual "massacre" due to the sheer number of casualties when the towns were razed, with figures ranging between 2,000 and as high as 50,000 deaths.

Three bells from the Balangiga Church were then taken by the Americans as war trophies.

However, Borrinaga said that some American veterans may still be hurting and seeing the bells used for religious purpose may somehow reassure them.

“I would like to address a message to Col. David McCraken in Wyoming with whom I’ve been in communication [with] off and on since 2001. Col. McCraken the bells that you feared would be used to desecrate the memory of Company C in Balangiga are being given the honor and respect that they deserve and in fact they have been used to start the Christmas season not only in Balangiga and in the region but also in the entire country because the mass has been project across the country,” Borrinaga said.

Col. David McCracken is the former commander of the F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming.

Borrinaga is part of a group called the Balangiga Research Group that has played a role in the recovery of the bells.

He spent 24 years on research and advocating for the return of the bells.

He authored the book “The Balangiga Conflict Revisited.”

Though the bells are already back in their original home, Borrinaga said his work is not done yet.

“The advocacy continues but it will now evolve into something related to peace, education, reconciliation, friendship in the context of the plan of developing the Balangiga Plaza into a Philippine-US war memorial,” he said. — MDM, GMA News