Help return Balangiga bells

Dear Ambassador Kristie Kenney,

Two months from today, the 106th anniversary of the Balangiga Encounter, in Balangiga, Eastern Samar will be celebrated on September 28, 2007.

Unfortunately, not one of the two bells displayed in a military camp in Wyoming, USA, has been returned to the belfry of the Catholic Church in Balangiga, Eastern Samar.

As a sculptor and builder of the Balangiga Monument, I had to fabricate a cast bronze bell at the monument’s belfry. Former Congressman Marcelino Libanan of Eastern Samar and now the energetic Commissioner on Immigration, was responsible in making the monument a reality.

During President Fidel Ramos’ term, the belfry of the Church was refurbished to welcome the return of one of the bells which was carted away by the American soldiers as war booty. The encounter on September 28, 1901 claimed the lives of 50 American soldiers and 28 Filipino freedom fighters.

The world is aware that the precious bust of Queen Nefertiti, which used to be in Berlin Museum, has long been returned  to the Cairo National Museum.

Sad and strange as it may seem, the animosity has fueled some of the elderly Filipinos to nurture the fact that the Filipino-American war of 1898-1901 has not really been brought to a final conclusion due to the missing bells.

Hoping that the finest American Ambassador would lend a helping hand in the eventual return of even one out of the two bells.

God bless you Madame Ambassador and sincere good wishes. —  NAPOLEON “BILLY” VELOSO ABUEVA, National Artist for Sculpture