Sibalom: The 184-year-old Spanish-era twin bells at the Parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Sibalom, Antique, which have remained hidden from public view for years, have now been unveiled as tourist attractions. After a blessing ceremony on February 5, the historic bells are now prominently displayed in front of the parish in Barangay Ega±a.

According to Philippines News Agency, Jonathan de Gracia, a member of the Sibalom Municipal Council on Tourism and History, mentioned in an interview that the bells have piqued the interest of cultural heritage enthusiasts who wish to study them. These bells have been recognized as important cultural properties by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, alongside support from the provincial government, Department of Education, University of the Philippines-Visayas, and the Office of Senator Loren Legarda. Their historical significance was affirmed during the 2021-2022 cultural mapping inventory, primarily due to their age and the era they represent.

As designated important cultural properties, the bells are prohibited from being moved outside of Antique or sold. The bells, which bear an inscription indicating they were made on February 5, 1842, were commissioned by Spanish priest Fr. Julian Nu±ez, who served in Sibalom from 1839 to 1851. The creation of these copper bells was overseen by Sibalom Gobernadorcillo Agustin Baladjay and his successor Tomasito Ve±egas.

De Gracia noted that the copper used for the bells likely came from a local source, as there was a copper mine in Barangay Carawisan and Bongbongan in Sibalom during the 1840s. The larger of the two bells stands at approximately 91.44 centimeters tall, with the second bell being slightly smaller.

Historical records reveal that shortly after the bells were completed in 1843, Agustin Baladjay led a revolt against the Spanish colonizers, driven by the unbearable forced labor and other abuses inflicted upon the local population.