United States Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson flew to Eastern Samar on Tuesday just to see the historic Balangiga bells, describing it as something that witnessed “the entire arc of history” of the two countries.
Carlson was accompanied on the trip by Col Edward Evans, deemed the most senior American defense official in the Philippines.
“These bells have witnessed the entire arc of history between our countries—from the painful conflict of the early 1900s when we were adversaries to the moment four years ago when they were finally returned to the Filipino people with whom we now stand as friends, partners, and allies,” Carlson stressed.
“The return of the bells reflects the strong bonds and mutual respect between our two nations and our peoples. These bells are more than just historical objects. They represent the quest for identity, sovereignty, and freedom,” she added. Carlson met with Balangiga Mayor Dana Flynch de Lira and parish priests Fr. Serafin Tybaco and Fr. Manuel Lunario.
The Balangiga bells were the three church bells taken by US Army soldiers from the Church of San Lorenzo de Martir in Balangiga as war trophies in retaliation to the Balangiga massacre in 1901 during the Philippine–American War.
The bells were returned by the US in 2018, marking a milestone in the US-Philippines bilateral relations. Former US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim participated during the turnover ceremony after the Philippine Air Force airlifted the bells to the town of Guiuan and transported them by land to Balangiga.