Malolos bell to ring again

MANILA, Philippines - For the opening of the year-long celebration of the golden jubilee of the Diocese of Malolos, the refurbished century-old bell of the Basilica Minore of Malolos City will ring again after 25 years.

The bell weighs more than 400 kilograms and was manufactured in Spain in 1809. It last rang more than 25 years ago, or before the silver jubilee celebrations of the diocese in 1987.

The 50th Jubilee celebration will start on March 10.

A carillon tower is also set to rise in front of the Basilica Minore just before the end of the year-long golden jubilee celebration.

Fr. Pablo Legazpi, director of the Basilica Minore, said that construction of the tower will soon begin.

Composed of a set of melodic bells, Legazpi said that it can play church and even local music.

“Once constructed, all we need is to program the music into the computer and it will be played by the carillon bells,” he said.

The carillon tower will be erected at the plaza fronting the Basilica Minore, formerly known as the Malolos Cathedral. It also served as the Palacio Presidencial during the time of the late President Emilio Aguinaldo of the First Philippine Republic in 1899.

“By March 10 and 11, you will hear the ringing of our old bell again,” said the priest, who is leading the preparations for Basilica Minore.

Legazpi said that three other bells on the church’s belfry have been replaced and will be on display in different locations within Malolos.

The Immaculate Conception bell will be on display at the Mater Dei bookstore within the church plaza; the St. Joseph bell at the St. Joseph Garden of the diocese’s Pastoral Center; and the St. Agnes bell in the diocesan museum at the Barasoain church.