[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 27 (Tuesday, February 10, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E237]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             THE BELLS OF BALANGIGA: IT IS TIME TO GO HOME

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BOB FILNER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 10, 2009

  Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I recently re-introduced my bill, H. Con. 
Res. 30, which urges the President to authorize the transfer of 
ownership to the Philippines of the bells taken in 1901 from the town 
of Balangiga in the Philippines. The bells are currently displayed at 
F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
  In the 108 years since the taking of the bells occurred, the citizens 
of the United States and the Philippines have shared many historic and 
political ties. The Philippines was a staunch ally of the United States 
during World War II. Brave Filipino soldiers were drafted into service 
by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, fought side-by-side with American 
soldiers, and were instrumental in the successful outcome of World War 
II. Filipino soldiers also fought along side our soldiers on the 
battlefields of Korea and Vietnam.
  Since the independence of the Philippines in 1946, the U.S.-
Philippine relationship has been largely one of friendship and 
cooperation. The Philippines is a republic patterned basically on our 
own system of government. The Philippines is a valuable trading partner 
of the U.S. and an ally in the war against terrorism. Approximately 2.9 
million Americans are of Filipino descent and close to 250,000 United 
States citizens reside in the Philippines. The acts of conflict that 
surrounded the taking of the bells of Balangiga are not consistent with 
the friendship that is currently an integral part of the relationship 
between our two nations.
  The Republic of the Philippines has repeatedly requested the return 
of the bells. They are an important symbol to the Filipino people, who 
wish to have them re-installed in the belfry of the Balangiga Church. I 
believe that it is time to resolve this situation in order to solidify 
the bonds between our two nations. My resolution would honor and 
promote the positive relationship our counties enjoy.
  As the years pass, I am confident that relations between our two 
nations will grow even stronger. To that end, the United States 
Government which has final disposition over the bells of Balangiga 
should transfer ownership of the bells to the people of the Philippines 
as a measure of good will and co-operation.

                          ____________________