Angeles mayor wants ‘Balangiga’ in history subjects

ANGELES CITY -- Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan issued on Monday, July 31, Executive Order No. 33, directing all schools to include in history subjects “the importance of the Balangiga Bells and its significance to the country struggle for national independence and patrimony.”

The order came in the light of the statement made by President Rodrigo Duterte during his State of the Nation Address (Sona) last week where he called on the United States of America to return the Balangiga Bells to the country.

“This is in support of the call of President Duterte and for us to raise the awareness of our youth and students to the historical value of the Balangiga Bells,” Pamintuan said.

Pamintuan, who is one of Duterte’s closest allies, is also the national president of the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) and chairman of the Central Luzon Regional Development Council (RDC).

In his executive order, the Angeles City chief executive directed “all schools in Angeles City to include in all history subjects the importance of the Balangiga Bells and its significance to country's struggle for national independence and patrimony.”

Pamintuan also stated that “The City Superintendent of the Department of Education shall ensure that this order is implemented in all public schools in the City of Angeles. The administrators of private schools are enjoined to include the story of Balangiga and its bells in all its history subjects.” (PR)