Century-old bell stolen from Samar church during Lannie onslaught

A century-old bell was stolen from the parish of the Holy Child Iglesia Filipina Independiente in Marabut, Samar during the onslaught of Tropical Depression Lannie.

According to Mariz Umali’s “24 Oras” report on Wednesday, the 126-year-old bell was stolen amid the heavy rains brought about by the tropical depression on Monday.

Fr. Jurene Dajotoy, visiting priest of the Parish of the Holy Child Iglesia Filipina Independiente, said they already reported the missing antique bell to the authorities as they review the CCTV footage.

The parish priest revealed that the bell is older than their church. The year 1895, the bell’s age, was also engraved on it.

“Talagang napakahalaga po [nito] dahil ang kampanaryong ito ang sumisimbolo sa katatagan ng pananampalataya ng mga tao dahil noong nagkaroon ng Yolanda dito eh halos patapos na yung simbahan dito eh nung magkaroon ng ulan eh tinamaan itong Samar eh lugmok talaga itong simbahan namin tapos naitayo naman ulit,” Dajotoy said.

(The bell symbolizes the strength of the people's faith because during the Yolanda onslaught here, the church here was almost finished, however, the strong typhoon hit Samar. Our church really collapsed but it was rebuilt again.)

Since the bell was easily seen and hung in front of the church, authorities have leads on who could have stolen the century-old bell.

“Makonsensya naman kayo na ibalik 'yan, 'yan po ay katumbas ng ating buhay at 'yan ay hindi po pagmamay-ari ng tao 'yan ay pag-aari ng Panginoon,” Dajotoy added.

(Feel guilty and return it, the value of the bell is equivalent to our life and that is not human property, that is the property of God.)

The Samar parish has offered a P10,000 reward to anyone who can return the antique bell to their church. -- Richa Noriega/BAP, GMA News