For future PH generations
TACLOBAN CITY — Eastern Samar Rep. Christopher Sheen Gonzales is seeking the establishment of a permanent Philippine-American War Memorial and Museum in Balangiga, saying the town’s historic role in the 1901 conflict must be preserved and better understood by future generations.
Gonzales made the proposal in a privilege speech before the House of Representatives on Oct. 1, nearly eight years after the historic Balangiga Bells were returned to the Philippines following 117 years in the United States.
He said the return of the bells in 2018 should not mark the end of efforts to preserve and promote Balangiga’s history, particularly the events surrounding the Balangiga Encounter and the subsequent punitive campaign by American forces in Samar.
“Despite the immense importance of Balangiga to our history, attention to the town seems to have diminished after the bells were returned in 2018. Yet the historical importance of Balangiga warrants far greater national and international recognition and appreciation than it has received in recent years,” Gonzales said.
“We need a place where Filipinos, especially young Filipinos, can better understand the Philippine-American War and its significance to our national story. In an age of fleeting headlines and short attention spans, some stories demand reflection. The story of Balangiga is one of them,” he added.
Gonzales said the proposed museum would provide a permanent venue for preserving artifacts, documents, photographs and other historical materials related to the Balangiga Encounter, the Philippine-American War, the military campaign in Samar and the decades-long effort to bring the bells back to the Philippines.
“I therefore propose the establishment of the country’s first Philippine-American War Memorial Museum in the town of Balangiga,” he said.
The Balangiga Encounter took place on Sept. 28, 1901, when Filipino fighters led by Balangiga police chief Capt. Valeriano Abanador attacked Company C of the U.S. 9th Infantry Regiment, which was stationed in the town.
The attack resulted in heavy casualties among the American troops and became one of the most significant episodes of the Philippine-American War.
It was followed by a punitive U.S. military campaign in Samar that caused widespread destruction and loss of lives. The campaign remains one of the most controversial chapters of the war.
Three church bells from Balangiga were taken by U.S. troops following the campaign and brought to the United States as war trophies. They remained there for 117 years despite decades of efforts by Philippine officials, local leaders and advocates in both countries to secure their return.
The bells were finally returned to the Philippines in December 2018 and brought back to Balangiga, where they had originally hung at the San Lorenzo de Martir Church.
Gonzales said the proposed museum would help ensure that the return of the bells would be viewed not only as the conclusion of a long diplomatic effort but also as an opportunity to deepen public understanding of the history surrounding them.
He also noted that the idea of establishing a museum in Balangiga is not new.
As early as 2014, then-U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Dan McKinnon and Capt. Dennis Wright, two American veterans who advocated for the return of the bells, had proposed the establishment of a museum, Gonzales said.
The renewed proposal seeks to give the initiative a permanent institutional framework through the establishment of a Philippine-American War Memorial and Museum.
Gonzales also proposed that the facility feature the life-sized Balangiga Encounter diorama designed by National Artist Napoleon Abueva, which depicts the events surrounding the 1901 encounter.
He said the museum could become an important educational and heritage site for students, researchers, tourists and other visitors seeking to understand the Philippine-American War and its impact on Samar.
Gonzales and House Minority Leader Marcelino “Nonoy” Libanan are also pursuing the rehabilitation of the Balangiga Encounter Monument and Memorial Library as part of broader efforts to preserve the town’s historical sites.
Libanan recently said the two lawmakers had secured P20 million for improvements to the Balangiga town plaza, which could further support the development of the town’s heritage area.
Gonzales called on the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, Department of Education, Department of Tourism and Department of Foreign Affairs to support the proposed memorial and museum.
Sept. 28 has been observed as Balangiga Encounter Day since the enactment of Republic Act No. 6692 in 1989, which declared the date a special non-working holiday in Eastern Samar.
For Gonzales, establishing a permanent museum would help ensure that Balangiga’s history remains part of the country’s national consciousness long after the return of its historic bells.
JOEY A. GABIETA
