by PIA
Two church bells considered as a
Philippine-American war artifact were turned over today to the National Museum.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario turned over to Director Jeremy Burns of the National Muesum the two church bells reportedly taken from Meycauyan Church in Bulacan in 1899.
A news release from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said that on October 8, 2011, Sisters of Mercy Midwest Community USA president Sister Judith Frikker, RSM, handed over the bells to Philippine Consul General to Chicago Leo M. Herrera-Lim.
An inscription attached to the wooden block of the bells reads, "Taken from the Church at MEYCAUAYAN, Luczon (sic) Islands after bombardment by Utah Battery March 29, 1899. By P.O. Thomas, Co. A Batallion of Engineers."
The
news release described the artifact as approximately 10 inches on each side and about 3.5 inches in width and estimated to weigh five pounds.
In July 2011, archivist Monte Kniffen of the Sisters of Mercy in Omaha, Nebraska found the artifact from a set of properties that were originally in the possession of the Sisters of Mercy convent in Red Bluff, California.
It is unknown who gave the bells to the said convent, but Kniffen said that perhaps a small museum or a family could have turned it over to the convent after noting that they were church bells.
Also present during the turn over ceremony were Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Assistant Secretary for American Affairs Patricia Ann V. Paez, Philippine Consul General to Chicago Leo M. Herrera-Lim, DFA Spokesperson Raul S. Hernandez, National Museum Technical Advisor for Museum Development Dr. Ana Maria Theresa P. Labrador, National Museum Board of Trustees Member and eminent historian Fr. Rene B. Javellana, S.J. and National Museum Head of Cultural Properties Division Angel P. Bautista.
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