12 Questions
Who was the American commander responsible for the massacre of Filipinos?
General Jack Smith
What was taken by the American soldiers as trophies after the massacre?
Three church bells
What was the result of General Jack Smith's actions on the island of Samar?
The island was turned into a 'howling wilderness'
What was the date of the Filipino attack on the American soldiers?
September 28, 1901
What was the term used by historian Teodoro Agoncillo to describe the burning of the whole town of Samar?
The Balangiga Massacre
What happened to General Jack Smith as a result of his actions?
He was court-martialed
What was the event that led to the burning of Samar?
The massacre of 48 US soldiers in 1901
What was thesignal for the attack on the US soldiers?
The tolling of the Balangiga church bells
What was the result of General Jack Smith's order to 'kill every one over the age of ten and make the island a howling wilderness'?
The Americans killed 2,500 Filipino soldiers and 50,000 civilians
Who designed the Balangiga Encounter Monument?
Napoleon Abueva
What was the worst defeat encountered by the US Army during the Filipino-American War?
The attack on the US soldiers by Filipino bolo fighters
When was the Balangiga Encounter Monument built?
2003
Study Notes
The Balangiga Massacre
- In 1901, Filipino bolo fighters, allegedly augmented by guerrillas, attacked and killed about 48 members of the US 9th infantry in the town of Balangiga, Samar, during the Filipino-American War.
- The attack was signaled by the ringing of the Balangiga church bells.
- This event is considered the worst defeat encountered by the US Army during the Filipino-American War.
American Retaliation
- General Jack Smith ordered the burning of Samar, resulting in the killing of 2,500 Filipino soldiers and 50,000 civilians in a series of retaliations.
- Smith's order was to "kill everyone over the age of ten and make the island a howling wilderness."
Aftermath
- The incident led to the court-martial of General Jack Smith.
- The press dubbed Smith with names such as "Hell-Roaring Jack Smith," "The Monster," and "Howling Jake."
- The Balangiga Encounter Monument was built in 2003 to commemorate the heroism of local freedom fighters in Samar.
Return of the Church Bells
- American soldiers took three church bells as trophies after the massacre.
- The bells were returned to the Philippines in 2018, a triumph for the Filipino people.
- Republic Act 6692 declares September 28 of every year as Balangiga Encounter Day, a special non-working holiday in the province of East Samar.
Test your knowledge about the Balangiga Encounter Monument, a memorial to the heroism of local freedom fighters in Samar, and the historical events surrounding it. Learn about the significance of the monument and its importance in Philippine history. Understand the context of the Balangiga massacre and its impact on the country.
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