Stolen bells and ‘special relations’

Today (Monday) the United States celebrates its Independence Day. For many years, we used to mark Philippine Independence on the same day as well. It was on July 4, 1946 that the United States withdrew sovereignty over the Philippines in accordance with the provisions of the Tydings-McDuffy Act. (The Tydings-McDuffy Act authored by Maryland Senator Millard Tydings and Alabama Representative John McDuffy provided for Philippine Independence from the US after a transition period of 10 years from the establishment of the Commonwealth.)

But while there were no problems as regards to political independence, the Americans were reluctant to let go of certain economic benefits provided by the Philippine market. In return for substantial assistance needed for reconstruction and the rebuilding of a devastated nation, they demanded parity for American citizens and corporations that would allow them the same rights as Filipinos in the exploitation of natural resources as well as the operation of certain public utilities even after independence. The US was also allowed to maintain a number of bases on Philippine soil for mutual defense purposes. Parity rights and the bases agreement were the hallmarks of “special relations” with the former colonial ruler. Today we still use “special relations” or similar terms in describing the association between the two countries.

July 4, 1946 was a bright Thursday morning. The Luneta Park was filled with close to a million people gathered to celebrate the inauguration of the Third Philippine Republic. Earlier, Manuel A. Roxas had been sworn into office as the last president of the Philippine Commonwealth.

“…So Help us God” by the Malaya brothers Eduardo and Jonathan provides us with a brief picture of the historical event that took place 65 years ago. (Incidentally, Ed Malaya, former spokesperson of the Department of Foreign Affairs, is now our ambassador to Malaysia, replacing Vic Lecaros.)

“Government officials and foreign dignitaries were seated in a ship-shaped grandstand located 20 meters from the Jose Rizal monument. Guests included Sen. Millard Tydings, Rep. Jasper Bell, US Postmaster General Hannegan and former Governor General Francis Burton Harrison who earlier championed the “Filipinization” of the government along with delegations from 21 foreign governments. Gen. Douglas MacArthur arrived in the company of his air commander Gen. George Kenney. Despite MacArthur’s presence, the American delegation was not as high level as that which graced the inauguration of the Commonwealth a decade earlier.

“When the presidential motorcade arrived, the crowd broke out in spontaneous applause. On board with the president, were his spouse Trinidad, son Gerardo (father of Transportation Secretary Mar Roxas), and Mrs. Aurora Aragon-Quezon, the late president’s widow who supported Roxas’s campaign for the presidency.”

After speeches by Sen. Tydings and Gen. MacArthur, Paul McNutt, the last US high commissioner and incoming US ambassador to the new Republic, delivered a farewell speech and concluded his remarks by reading the proclamation from President Harry Truman recognizing Philippine independence.

“The Stars and Stripes was lowered by McNutt and the Philippine tri-color raised by Roxas to fly supreme symbolizing the rebirth of the Philippine Republic. As the two national anthems were played, howitzers boomed a 21-gun salute. American, Australian, Portuguese and Thai naval warships fired their guns as US Army fighter planes made an impressive fly-by salute. The sight of the Philippine flag flying unfettered and unshadowed moved many to tears.”

In 1962, some 16 years later, President Diosdado Macapagal decided for nationalist reasons to move Independence Day from July 4 to June 12. It was on June 12, 1898 that Emilio Aguinaldo read the Declaration of Independence from the balcony of his family home in Kawit, Cavite. The ceremony attended by about a hundred people included a retired American officer, Col. L. M. Johnson, who somehow also signed the declaration. Adm. George Dewey, the victor of the Battle of Manila Bay, had been invited to the rites but ignored the whole business, reporting to Washington that “I never dreamed that these guys wanted independence.”

Apparently President Macapagal had other reasons for his actions. In his book “In Our Image,” Stanley Karnow says that Macapagal told him, “When I was in the diplomatic corps (the president was once posted at the Philippine Embassy in Washington), I noticed that nobody came to our receptions on the Fourth of July, but went to the American celebration instead. So to compete, I decided we needed a different holiday.”

In addition to the change of date, the government also decided to declare July 4th as Philippine-American Friendship Day. Perhaps we should have friendship days with all other nations; not just one.

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Last week, the House of Representatives passed a resolution calling on the United States to return three church bells stolen by US forces from Balangiga, Samar, during the Philippine-American War. The measure approved in plenary and signed by Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr. was introduced by Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño. He said, “The Filipino people regard the bells not as tools or spoils of war, but as historic and religious treasures made for the people of Samar that have become a significant part of Philippine heritage….” Two bells are now kept at Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming, with the third stored at the headquarters of the 9th Infantry Regiment in Korea.

During my last visit to the United States in May, I came across an article in the USA Today. It carried a picture of Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli signing acceptance papers in Washington, DC, during a repatriation ceremony for stolen ancient treasures recovered by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

There can be no doubt that the Bells of Balangiga were stolen during the war. Enemy guns, ammunition and equipment are captured in a conflict; church bells are stolen.

It is time for the United States to return stolen property. If they can do it for Panama, why not a similar gesture of goodwill and sincerity to mark Philippine-American Friendship Day?