Sen. Edgardo Angara expected to grace Balangiga Encounter Day

TACLOBAN CITY – Senator Edgardo Angara is the expected guest to grace the 111th year commemoration of the Balangiga Encounter Day in Balangiga, Eastern Samar.

Balangiga Tourism Officer Fe Campanero, in a phone interview, said that among those they are expecting to be part of Senator Angara’s message is on the possible return of the Balangiga Bells that was looted by the American troops after they surged the town to avenge the death of about 50 American troops from the hands of Filipinos who were against American forces in 1901 during Philippine-American War.

The bells were considered by the military forces of the United States as their booties.

Campanero added that aside from mentioning efforts on the possible return of the Balangiga, they are also expecting for
the senator to talk about programs and project that can be implemented and benefited by their constituents through the local and national level implementation.

Town mayor Viscuso de Lira, who will lead the ceremony at their town plaza, is to head their welcoming of their guest according to Campanero which she added that their mayor just like other residents of Balangiga that in due time the bells will be returned to their town and for the US to consider it as not war trophy.

For several years now, numerous efforts had been made to ask for the return of the bells which are believed to be in the possession of the 9th Infantry Regiment at Camp Red Cloud based in South Korea while two others are on a former base of the 11th Infantry Regiment at F.E. Warren Air Force in Wyoming, USA.

Just last year House Resolution 112, “Resolution Expressing the Sense of the House of Representatives Calling for the Return by the United States Government of the Three (3) Bells of Balangiga and other Artifacts Taken from the Province of Samar as War Booty during the Philippine-American War” was authored by Eastern Samar Lone District Representative Ben Evardone.

Campanero added that aside from Senator Angara, they are also expecting and had sent invitation for Eastern Samar Governor Conrado Nicart Jr and Congressman Evardone to grace the event.

Aside from the commemorative program on September 28, other activities in relation to the Balangiga Encounter commemoration are the bloodletting activity on September 25 and the opening of Job Fair and Agri-Fair and Exhibit on September 26. (ROEL AMAZONA)

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Posted by lsde on Sep 22 2012. Filed under Second Story. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.