President Rodrigo Roa Duterte graces the 116th Commemoration of Balangiga Encounter Day at the municipality’s auditorium in Eastern Samar.
The commemoration serves as an avenue for the locals to re-enact and portray the gallantry of their forebears who fought against the American soldiers, the Company C of the 9th United States (US) Infantry Regiment, in an attack on September 28, 1901.
The tolling of the Balangiga bells signaled the attack which brought casualties on the American side. These bells, taken as war booties by the American soldiers, are now at the Camp Red Cloud, U.S. Base in South Korea, and at the former base of the 11th Infantry Regiment at F.E. Warren Air Force Base at Cheyenne, Wyoming in U.S.A
In his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 24, 2017, President Duterte called on the return of the bells which he regarded as part of the country's national heritage.