PH-US war memorial museum proposed in Balangiga

TACLOBAN CITY — Congressman Christopher Sheen Gonzales of Eastern Sama is proposing to establish a permanent Philippine-American War Memorial and Museum in Balangiga, eight years after the town’s bells were returned by the United States government.

In a privilege speech, Gonzales said Balangiga’s role in the 1901 Philippine-American War deserves greater recognition and preservation.

“Despite the immense importance of Balangiga to our history, attention to the town seems to have diminished after the bells were returned in 2018,” Gonzales said.

“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 happened on Sept. 28, 1901 when Filipino fighters led by Balangiga police chief Capt. Valeriano Abanador attacked Company C of the US 9^th Infantry Regiment, which was stationed in the town.

The attack caused heavy casualties among American troops and was followed by a punitive US military campaign in Samar that resulted in widespread destruction and loss of lives.

Three church bells from Balangiga were taken by US troops and brought to the United States as war trophies. They were returned to the Philippines in December 2018 after 117 years and brought back to the town, where they originally hung at San Lorenzo de Martir Church.

Gonzales said the museum could house artifacts, documents, photographs and other materials related to the Balangiga Encounter, the Philippine-American War and the campaign to bring the bells home.

Gonzales further proposed displaying the life-sized Balangiga Encounter diorama designed by National Artist Napoleon Abueva.

He said the idea of a museum dates back to 2014, when former US Navy Rear Adm. Dan McKinnon and Capt. Dennis Wright, two American veterans who supported the return of the bells, originally hatched the proposal.

Gonzales and House Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan are also pursuing the rehabilitation of the Balangiga Encounter Monument and Memorial Library. Libanan recently said the two lawmakers secured P20 million for improvements to the Balangiga town plaza.

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 museum.

Sept. 28 has been designated as Balangiga Encounter Day after Republic Act No. 6692 was enacted in 1989, declaring the date a special non-working holiday in Eastern Samar.