Balangiga | Honor and Sacrifice

Balangiga | Honor and Sacrifice is a documentary film that will provide the definitive explanation of how and why things went horribly wrong in Balangiga, on the island of Samar, in 1901 as American troops were occupying the town during the latter stages of the Philippine-American War.  The townsfolk (not the rebels) rose up against the Americans, attacked them, killing 48 and causing Company C to abandon the town.  Days later the Americans came back in force, burned the town, in the process taking as war booty three bells from the church, before going on to burn virtually every town on the large, 120 mile long island.  The war would end; America and the Philippines would become longtime allies -- but the bells, taken by the Americans, would remain in American custody for 117 years, and the uprising that precipitated the taking of the bells would remain a divisive, open wound. Was it a righteous, justified,  heroic uprising or an unjustified sneak attack?

In  December 2018, the bells finally came home to Balangiga. With the bells home at last, now, for the first time, there is a unique opportunity Filipinos, Americans, and others, working together,  to take a serious, unbiased look at what happened, and why.  The film is authored by a  team that includes Filipino professor Rolando Borrinaga, and British author and historian Bob Couttie -- the acknowledged two top experts on the subject. By providing the deeper truth of this divisive event,  the film will foster  a new level of understanding and acceptance of a painful moment in history. 

WE HAVE ALREADY STARTED BUT NEED YOUR HELP TO FINISH

We have already begun the film, using our own funds and you can see a sample of the style, quality, and substance of our work by viewing our brief introductory proposal documentary.

Please watch our proposal video now. The 5 minute mini-documentary explains what this is all about much better than just words on a page

 THANK YOU!!!

Here's more info . . . .

EVERYONE WHO DONATES GETS A MENTION IN THE CREDITS!
Because we want to be sure and say THANK YOU!

HOW WE'LL USE THE FUNDS

We are up and running on this with our own funds.  To be specific, But to complete the film we need your help to defray the cost of putting  a small "backpack documentary" team on the ground in Balangiga, Eastern Samar, for crucial location filming.  The donations will help cover travel and food/lodging on the ground in Balangiga.

WHY THIS PROJECT MATTERS

The filmmakers are one American, one Filipino, and one Brit who care deeply about this issue. This is a personal passion project for all of us. In the film we will tell the true, complete story of what happened in 1901, why it happened, and why the return of he Balangiga Bells to Samar has created a unique opportunity for a moment of healing and renewal between two countries with a complicated relationship.  Filipinos have been frustrated for 117 years waiting for the bells to come back; today there are some in America who are frustrated and worry that the return of he bells will dishonor the American war dead. We believe this film, done with honor and respect for both sides, can help bridge he gap and promoted understanding and acceptance on both sides.

YOUR SUPPORT IS CRUCIAL

Your support will mean everything to us. We have launched this with our own funds and a lot of sweat, and we will keep sweating -- we just ask some help in fueling our labor.  We have gotten this project up on its feet by ourselves, but we need your help to make it great, and help us see it through to the finish line. 

WHO ARE WE?

There are three authors of this film

Rolando Borrinaga, the Philippines' most distinguished scholar on the Balangiga Massacre, author of The Balangiga Conflict Revisited.

Bob Couttie, British author and historian author of Hang the Dogs, The Tragic True Story of the Balangiga Massacre of 1901. 

Michael D. Sellers, author of Warriors of Samar,  a professional filmmaker with 20 feature films as writer, producer, and/or director -- and married to Lorena Llevado Sellers, of Lawaan, Eastern Samar, the town adjacent to Balangiga who menfolk (her ancestors) participated in the uprising.

We are working together to ensure that the story we tell is factual, unbiased, and properly respectful of all parties in a difficult situation.  Thanks again for your support!