Balangiga Encounter Library

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The Balangiga Massacre: Getting Even

by Victor Nebrida
© 1997 by Victor Nebrida and PHGLA
All rights reserved

Photos ©Gloria B. Sommer 
All rights reserved

 -I would like to thank the local town government and the division of tourism of Balangiga E.Samar for permitting me to photograph and post these photos on my blog. :)

'Balangiga has hundred years of history. Legend has it that the town derived its name from a jackfruit without the edible part known in local dialect as “balanga”. The word evolved into Balangiga and Spanish chronicles variably referred to it as Balangigan or Balanguigan' -http://www.balangiga.tk/.

'Conflicting records from both American and Filipino historians have confused the issue. Demands for the return of the bells of the church at Balangiga, taken by the Americans as war booty and collectively known as the Balangiga bells, remain an outstanding issue of contention related to the war.' From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Balangiga Website

'General Smith's "grand strategy" on Samar involved the use of widespread destruction to force the inhabitants to cease supporting the guerrillas and turn to the Americans from fear and starvation. He used his troops in sweeps of the interior in search for guerrilla bands and in attempts to capture Lukban, but did nothing to prevent contact between the guerrilla and the townspeople. American columns marched all over the island destroying habitations and draft animals. ' © 1997 by Victor Nebrida and PHGLA All rights reserved