(News Feature) After 115 years, long lost San Pedro bell finally back home

From the Philippine News Agency (May 23): (News Feature) After 115 years, long lost San Pedro bell finally back home

After 115 years since it was taken by American soldiers in 1901 during the Filipino-American War, the San Pedro bell of the Saints Peter and Paul Church here was finally reinstalled Monday after it was returned back to the Philippines from its location at West Point Military Academy in New York, USA.

“After more than a century, we are so glad that we now have the opportunity to once again hear the call of San Pedro to our church services,” said Fr. Ronald Chan, the parish priest, in his remarks during the unveiling and ceremonial rites.

The bell was installed in front the church, left side of the main door.

Most Reverend Rodolfo Beltran, Bishop of the Diocese of San Fernando, La Union, officiated the mass during the ceremonial rites attended by representatives from the U.S. Embassy in Manila, U.S. war veterans, the West Point Association of the Philippines, parishioners, local officials and residents.

“I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to the U.S. military for the return of the bell, the voice of God,” said Beltran, who made the ceremonial ringing of the bell after it was unveiled in its old location.

Bauang Mayor Martin De Guzman thanked all those who facilitated the return of the bell especially retired U.S. Navy Captain Dennis Wright who discovered the existence of the bell through research work.

“This (bell) is very important to us. It is our long lost treasure. The return of the bell would strengthen our faith and further unite us here in our town,” De Guzman said.

The bell was transported from the West Point Community in New York, USA on April 30 and arrived in the Philippines, at Clark Pampanga, on May 17.

Before the bell’s shipment, a ceremony and mass at West Point’s Most Holy Trinity Catholic Chapel were conducted attended by Philippine consulate officials and representatives of the United States government.

For his part, Capt. Dennis Wright said he first learned of the bell’s existence three years ago through research work to effect the return of the Ballangiga bells.

“It was through this research that we learned of another bell (San Pedro) from the Philippines that was located at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point New York. We learned that it was taken in 1901. However, the circumstances surrounding the removal of the bell and its journey to the U.S. remain lost in history,” Wright said.

Wright said that he, along with a group of American veterans, rediscovered the bell and found out that it belonged to the Church of Saints Peter and Paul here.

The veterans then worked with Fr. Chan and Mayor De Guzman to formally request for the bell to be returned to the church.

In January 26, 2016, Lt. General Robert Caslen Jr., the 59th Superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy, honored the request and agreed to return the bell as a gesture of goodwill and in recognition of America’s enduring friendship with the Philippines.

It was learned that the bell was taken by American soldiers under General Thomas Barry in 1901, during the Philippine-American war. He (Barry) gave it to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, which hung it outside the academy's chapel.

Historical records show that in 1883, Gobernadorcillo Mariano Balancio, who became Mayor of Bauang, and Lt. DD. Hilario Calica, gave the bell to Father Mariano Garcia, who was then parish priest of San Pedro from November 1872 to July 25, 1876.

The bell was almost destroyed during the Philippine revolution but the advance of American forces prevented it and other bells in the Philippines from being melted down and made into guns and other war ammunition.

The bell is made from alloy of gold silver and copper.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=10&sid=&nid=10&rid=887837