The Balangiga bells (Spanish: Campanas de Balangiga; Tagalog: Mga Batingaw ng Balangiga; Waray: Lingganay han Balangiga) are three church bells that were taken by the United States Army from the Church of San Lorenzo de Martir[1] in Balangiga, Eastern Samar, Philippines, as war trophies after reprisals following the Battle of Balangiga in 1901 during the Philippine–American War. One church bell was in the possession of the 9th Infantry Regiment at Camp Red Cloud, their base in South Korea,[2][3] while two others were on a former base of the 11th Infantry Regiment at Francis E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming.[4]
People representing the Catholic Church in the Philippines, the Philippine government, and the residents of Balangiga had sought to recover the bells since the late 1950s, but their efforts were met with frustration for decades. Progress in negotiations was made in 2018, and the bells finally returned to the Philippines on December 11, 2018, after 117 years.[5]
- ^ McKinnon Jr., Daniel W. (2018). "The Bells of San Lorenzo de Martir Desk Guide to Truth" (PDF). Veterans of Foreign Wars Wyoming. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 9, 2018. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
- ^ "Voluntary Return of One Balangiga Bell by US Seen". Archived from the original on May 17, 2011. Retrieved March 20, 2008.
- ^ Borrinaga, Rolando. "Solving the Balangiga bell puzzle". Archived from the original on October 22, 2009. Retrieved March 19, 2008.
- ^ Medroso, Leonardo Y. "The Bells of Balangiga: An Appeal for Support". Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines. Archived from the original on June 3, 2010. Retrieved March 19, 2008.
- ^ "Balangiga Bells back in Philippines after 117 years". ABS-CBN News. December 11, 2018.