Gregorio Hilario del Pilar y Sempio (; ; November 14, 1875 – December 2, 1899) was a
Filipino
Filipino may refer to:
* Something from or related to the Philippines
** Filipino language, standardized variety of 'Tagalog', the national language and one of the official languages of the Philippines.
** Filipinos, people who are citizens of th ...
general of the
Philippine Revolutionary Army
The Philippine Revolutionary Army, later renamed Philippine Republican Army (Philippine Spanish, Spanish: ''Ejército Revolucionario Filipino''; Tagalog language, Tagalog: ''Panghimagsikang Hukbong Katihan ng Pilipinas''), was the official arme ...
during the
Philippine–American War
The Philippine–American War or Filipino–American War ( es, Guerra filipina-estadounidense, tl, Digmaang Pilipino–Amerikano), previously referred to as the Philippine Insurrection or the Tagalog Insurgency by the United States, was an arm ...
.
As one of the youngest generals in the Revolutionary Army, he was known for the successful assault on the Spanish barracks in the municipality of
Paombong
Paombong, officially the Municipality of Paombong ( tgl, Bayan ng Paombong), is a 3rd class municipality of the Philippines, municipality in the Philippine Province, province of Bulacan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a popul ...
, his victory on the first phase
Battle of Quingua
The Battle of Quingua ( fil, Labanan sa Quingua, es, Batalla de Quingua) was fought on April 23, 1899, in Quingua — now Plaridel, Bulacan, Philippines, during the Philippine–American War (1899–1902). The engagement was a two-part battl ...
and his last stand at the
Battle of Tirad Pass
The Battle of Tirad Pass ( es, Batalla de Paso Tirad; tgl, Labanan sa Pasong Tirad; ilo, Gubat ti Paso), sometimes referred to as the "Philippine Thermopylae", was a battle in the Philippine–American War fought on December 2, 1899, in north ...
during the Philippine–American War. Because of his youth, he became known as the "Boy General".
He was also known as a ladies man and was described by
National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin
Nicomedes "Nick" Marquez Joaquin (; May 4, 1917 – April 29, 2004) was a Filipino writer and journalist best known for his short stories and novels in the English language. He also wrote using the pen name Quijano de Manila. Joaquin was conferr ...
as the "
Byron
George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron (22 January 1788 – 19 April 1824), known simply as Lord Byron, was an English romantic poet and peer. He was one of the leading figures of the Romantic movement, and has been regarded as among the ...
of Bulacan".
Early life and education
![Gregoriojf](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/73/Gregoriojf.JPG)
Born on November 14, 1875 to Fernando H. del Pilar and Felipa Sempio of
Bulacan, Bulacan
Bulakan, officially the Municipality of Bulakan ( tgl, Bayan ng Bulakan), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 81,232 people.
It is north of Manila.
Bula ...
, the fifth among six siblings. His siblings were María de la Paz del Pilar (b.1865), Andrea del Pilar (b. 1866), Pablo H. del Pilar (b. 1869), Julian H. del Pilar (b. 1872), and Jacinto H. del Pilar (b. 1878).
He was part of the del Pilar family (more properly Hilario del Pilar; Hilario was the original surname before the
Claveria naming reforms and was contracted to "H.") of the ''
principalia'', whose members included his uncles, lawyer-turned-propagandist
Marcelo H. del Pilar
Marcelo Hilario del Pilar y Gatmaitán (; ; August 30, 1850July 4, 1896), commonly known as Marcelo H. del Pilar and also known by his pen name Pláridel,.''Filipinos in History: Volume II'', National Historical Institute, 1990, p. 101 was a ...
, editor-in-chief of ''
Diariong Tagalog
''Diariong Tagalog'' (lit. Newspaper Tagalog) was a patriotic newspaper in Tagalog and Spanish published during the Spanish occupation of the Philippines. It was founded by Marcelo H. del Pilar, Basilio Teodoro Morán, and Pascual H. Poblete in 1 ...
'' and ''
La Solidaridad'', as well as the priest Toribio H. del Pilar, who was exiled in
Guam
Guam (; ch, Guåhan ) is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States in the Micronesia subregion of the western Pacific Ocean. It is the westernmost point and territory of the United States (reckoned from the geographic cent ...
for his alleged involvement in the 1872
Cavite Mutiny
The Cavite mutiny ( es, El Motín de Cavite) of 1872 was an uprising of Filipino military personnel of Fort San Felipe, the Spanish arsenal in Cavite, Philippine Islands (then also known as part of the Spanish East Indies) on 20 January 1872. ...
. The del Pilar clan was distantly related to the Gatmaitans. Although ''principalia'', Gregorio del Pilar's branch was relatively poor. It was said that del Pilar had to hawk meat pies as a child to survive.
As a child, he completed his primary education under
Maestros Monico Estrella and Romualdo Sempio before being sent to study in Manila.
He was enrolled at the
Ateneo Municipal de Manila
, mottoeng = Light in the Lord
, type = Private, research, non-profit, coeducational basic and higher education institution
, established = December 10, 1859
, religious_affiliation = Roman Catholic (Jesuits)
, academic_af ...
at the age of 15, where he was rated good in Latin, Greek, Spanish and French, middling in philosophy, and excellent in arithmetic and algebra.
During his studies in the Ateneo, he stayed in the house of his paternal aunt, Hilaria H. del Pilar, and her husband, the propagandist
Deodato Arellano
Deodato Arellano y de la Cruz (July 26, 1844 – October 7, 1899) was a Filipino propagandist and the first president of the Katipunan, which was founded at his home in Azcarraga Street ( Claro M. Recto Avenue today), Manila. He was first to be ...
. He helped his uncle distribute revolutionary pamphlets and other materials. There was one incident in
Malolos
Malolos, officially the City of Malolos ( fil, Lungsod ng Malolos), is a 1st class component city and capital of the province of Bulacan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 261,189 people.
It is the capital city ...
, where del Pilar stole copies of the book ''Cuesteones de sumo interes'' from the parish priest, Father Felipe García, who had a habit of distributing counter-revolutionary materials after mass. These books were set to be distributed after the mass. Del Pilar removed the book covers and pasted the pamphlets inside before distributing them after.
Del Pilar finished his bachelor of arts in March 1896 and had intended to enroll at the School of Arts and Trades and study to become a ''maestro de obras'';
however when the
revolution
In political science, a revolution (Latin: ''revolutio'', "a turn around") is a fundamental and relatively sudden change in political power and political organization which occurs when the population revolts against the government, typically due ...
broke out in August of that year his plans of further study were thwarted. Del Pilar quickly went home to Bulacan and enlisted himself for military service under Colonel Vicente Enríquez.
Philippine Revolution
At the onset of the revolution, and in response to reports of "successive triumphs" in Cavite, some 3,000 revolutionary forces marched to seize the town of
Paombong, Bulacan
Paombong, officially the Municipality of Paombong ( tgl, Bayan ng Paombong), is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 55,696 people.
Dubbed as the "Vinegar Capita ...
, forming a military government. Del Pilar was among those who marched towards Paombong, although there are also rumors of him being present during the
Cry of Balintawak
The Cry of Pugad Lawin ( tgl, Sigaw ng Pugad Lawin, es, Grito de Pugad Lawin) was the beginning of the Philippine Revolution against the Spanish Empire.
In late August 1896, members of the ''Katipunan'' led by Andrés Bonifacio revolted s ...
.
Del Pilar was eventually assigned to the forces of Eusébio Roque (also known as ''Maestrong Sébio'') in ''
Kakarong de Sili'', a fort near the town of
Pandi. On New Year's day, 1897, del Pilar participated in the defense of Kakarong de Sili, managing to escape with only nine others before the Spanish overran the fort. He recounts in his diary:
His courage and bravery in that action won him recognition and a promotion to the rank of lieutenant. He eventually left Roque's unit - Roque was sold out to the Spanish by his own soldiers and executed in February 1897, and del Pilar began to make his way to
Imus, Cavite, reaching as far as
Montalban in February. He eventually returned to Bulacan and joined Adriano Gatmaitán's army, being promoted to captain in the process.
As captain, del Pilar managed feats of bravery. He once managed to single-handedly ambush a priest and his escort of ''cazadores'' from
Mambog on their way to Malolos. He shot one of the cazadores which prompted the rest to flee.
The event is termed as "pinagtambangan," according to the marker that can be found on Malolos Bridge.
This act netted him several
Mauser rifles and four sacks of coins, which he distributed to his troops. He decreed that married men be given 50 pesos each, unmarried ones 25 pesos, and the remaining money be sent to Manila to buy a blanket and a cloak for each soldier.
![Philippine_revolution_flag_gregoriodelpilar](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ce/Philippine_revolution_flag_gregoriodelpilar.svg)
On September 3, 1897, del Pilar executed an attack on the Spanish garrison in the town of
Paombong
Paombong, officially the Municipality of Paombong ( tgl, Bayan ng Paombong), is a 3rd class municipality of the Philippines, municipality in the Philippine Province, province of Bulacan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a popul ...
. He and ten other men slipped into town in the night and fell upon the ''cazadores'' in the basement of the convent during Sunday mass. Del Pilar himself was stationed in the plaza, firing at the second story of the convent to prevent any men from approaching from the windows. They were eventually able to capture 14 Mauser rifles. Other versions of the raid vary, however. Some tellings talk about how del Pilar and his men slipped into town dressed as women, while other versions have them disguised as ''cazadores''.
Del Pilar's success in Paombong caught the attention of
Emilio Aguinaldo, who promoted the captain to a lieutenant colonel, eventually earning his trust and being let into his inner circle of confidants.
Artemio Ricarte
Artemio Ricarte y García (October 20, 1866 – July 31, 1945) was a Filipino general during the Philippine Revolution and the Philippine–American War. He is regarded as the ''Father of the Philippine Army'', and the first Chief of Staff ...
noted that Del Pilar's feat in Paombong “exalted him to the horns of the moon."
Del Pilar celebrated his promotion to lieutenant colonel by creating a distinctive flag for himself and his battalion: a
tricolor with a blue triangle at the
hoist, red stripe on top and black at the bottom, taking cues from the
Cuban flag
The national flag of Cuba ( es, link=yes, Bandera de Cuba) consists of five alternating stripes (three blue and two white) and a red equilateral triangle at the hoist, within which is a white five-pointed star. It was designed in 1849 and offici ...
. He first unfurled this flag during his participation in the Battle of Pasong Balite (modern-day
Polo, Bulacan) in 1897.
Due to his closeness to Aguinaldo, del Pilar became one of the signatories of the provisional constitution of the
Republic of Biak-na-Bato
Republic of Biak-na-Bato is a designation referring to the second revolutionary republican government led by Emilio Aguinaldo during the Philippine Revolution, That government referred to itself as Republic of the Philippines ( es, República d ...
in November 1897. When negotiations with the Spanish took place in the which concluded with the signing of the
Pact of Biak-na-Bato
The Pact of Biak-na-Bato, signed on December 15, 1897, created a truce between Spanish colonial Governor-General Fernando Primo de Rivera and the revolutionary leader Emilio Aguinaldo to end the Philippine Revolution. Aguinaldo and his fellow rev ...
, Aguinaldo took del Pilar with him to exile in
Hong Kong
Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China ( abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delt ...
.
Second phase and the Philippine–American War
The exiles in Hong Kong organized a Supreme Council, electing del Pilar to a position second only to
Tomás Mascardo
Tomás Echenique Mascardo (born Tomás Mascardo y Echenique; October 9, 1871 – July 7, 1932) was a Filipino general during the Philippine Revolution and Philippine–American War. He joined the fight against the Spaniards at the beginning of ...
. Aguinaldo's confidence in del Pilar grew such that he wrote the following about him:
When Aguinaldo was supposed to go to Europe, he took only del Pilar and Colonel José Leyba with him. The trip ended in Singapore, where Aguinaldo conferred with
American
American(s) may refer to:
* American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America"
** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America
** American ancestry, pe ...
consul
Consul (abbrev. ''cos.''; Latin plural ''consules'') was the title of one of the two chief magistrates of the Roman Republic, and subsequently also an important title under the Roman Empire. The title was used in other European city-states throu ...
E. Spencer Pratt, learning of the American declaration of war against Spain. Spurred by this, Aguinaldo and the other exiles decided to return to the Philippines to restart the revolution.
![Ghdelpilarjf](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/Ghdelpilarjf.JPG)
After the Americans defeated the Spanish in the
Battle of Manila Bay
The Battle of Manila Bay ( fil, Labanan sa Look ng Maynila; es, Batalla de Bahía de Manila), also known as the Battle of Cavite, took place on 1 May 1898, during the Spanish–American War. The American Asiatic Squadron under Commodore ...
, Aguinaldo, del Pilar, and other exiled leaders returned to the Philippines. Aguinaldo named del Pilar Dictator of
Bulacan
Bulacan, officially the Province of Bulacan ( tl, Lalawigan ng Bulacan), is a province in the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is the city of Malolos. Bulacan was established on August 15, 1578, and part of the Me ...
and
Nueva Ecija
Nueva Ecija, officially the Province of Nueva Ecija ( tgl, Lalawigan ng Nueva Ecija , also ; ilo, Probinsia ti Nueva Ecija; pag, Luyag/Probinsia na Nueva Ecija; Kapampangan: ''Lalawigan/Probinsia ning Nueva Ecija''), is a landlocked province ...
provinces, an honor Aguinaldo would not confer to anybody else.
On del Pilar's return to the Philippines, he set out to liberating his home province of Bulacan, eventually accepting Spanish surrender on June 24, 1898. Del Pilar was then called to relieve the wounded General Pantaleon García and continue operations in
Caloocan
Caloocan, officially the City of Caloocan ( fil, Lungsod ng Caloocan; ), is a 1st class highly urbanized city in Metropolitan Manila, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 1,661,584 people making it the fourth-most ...
, ultimately succeeded on August 13, 1898. The
Revolutionary Congress was then inaugurated on September 15, 1898 and del Pilar became in charge of the military parade. He was promoted to brigadier-general after this event.
When the
Philippine–American War
The Philippine–American War or Filipino–American War ( es, Guerra filipina-estadounidense, tl, Digmaang Pilipino–Amerikano), previously referred to as the Philippine Insurrection or the Tagalog Insurgency by the United States, was an arm ...
broke out in February 1899, following the
cession
The act of cession is the assignment of property to another entity. In international law it commonly refers to land transferred by treaty. Ballentine's Law Dictionary defines cession as "a surrender; a giving up; a relinquishment of jurisdictio ...
of the Philippines by Spain to the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
in the
Treaty of Paris of 1898
The Treaty of Peace between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Spain, commonly known as the Treaty of Paris of 1898 ( fil, Kasunduan sa Paris ng 1898; es, Tratado de París de 1898), was a treaty signed by Spain and the United Stat ...
, del Pilar fought alongside General
Antonio Luna
Antonio Narciso Luna de San Pedro y Novicio Ancheta (; October 29, 1866 – June 5, 1899) was a Filipino army general who fought in the Philippine–American War before his assassination in 1899.
Regarded as one of the fiercest generals of hi ...
in Manila, suffering heavy casualties.
Del Pilar's relationships with his fellow generals were contentious at best. General
José Alejandrino
José Cándido Alejandrino y Magdangal (December 1, 1870 – June 1, 1951) was a Philippine Republican Army general during the Philippine Revolution and the Philippine–American War.
He was also a senator of the Twelfth Senatorial District of ...
wrote of del Pilar:
![Battle_of_Quingua_(Plaridel,_Bulacan)_historical_marker](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3a/Battle_of_Quingua_%28Plaridel%2C_Bulacan%29_historical_marker.jpg)
Another story between Luna and del Pilar have the two riding together on the front, with Luna so absorbed in what he was saying that he did not notice they were moving into a danger zone. Del Pilar did notice but did not back off because Luna had not. After Manila, del Pilar and his troops moved to Bulacan. Major General
Venancio Concepción
Venancio Concepción was a Filipino general under the leadership of President Emilio Aguinaldo. He fought battles in Iloilo and Central Luzon. However, President Aguinaldo, just hours after Antonio Luna's death on June 5, 1899, relieved Luna's off ...
was placed under his command but the two did not get along. After the fall of
Baliuag
Baliwag or Baliuag, officially the City of Baliwag ( fil, Lungsod ng Baliwag), is a component city in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 168,470 people.
Baliuag was founded in 1732 by Augu ...
each blamed the other. Concepción was eventually moved under the command of Luna in Pampanga. Del Pilar, for his part, led his troops to a victory over Major
Franklin Bell in the first phase of the
Battle of Quingua
The Battle of Quingua ( fil, Labanan sa Quingua, es, Batalla de Quingua) was fought on April 23, 1899, in Quingua — now Plaridel, Bulacan, Philippines, during the Philippine–American War (1899–1902). The engagement was a two-part battl ...
(modern-day
Plaridel, Bulacan
Plaridel, officially the Municipality of Plaridel ( tgl, Bayan ng Plaridel), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 114,432 people.
With the expansion of Metro ...
) on April 23, 1899. During the battle, his forces repelled a cavalry charge and killed American Colonel
John M. Stotsenburg,. The Americans were, however, reinforced during the second phase of the Battle and the Filipino forces were forced to retreat. Del Pilar then participated in the
Battle of Calumpit
The Battle of Calumpit ( Filipino: ''Labanan sa Quingua''), alternately known as the Battles of Bagbag and Pampanga Rivers, was fought from April 25–27, 1899, in Calumpit, Bulacan, during the Philippine–American War. Taking place after the ...
alongside General Luna. Luna, however, had left the battle to punish General
Tomás Mascardo
Tomás Echenique Mascardo (born Tomás Mascardo y Echenique; October 9, 1871 – July 7, 1932) was a Filipino general during the Philippine Revolution and Philippine–American War. He joined the fight against the Spaniards at the beginning of ...
for insubordination, leaving del Pilar with the defense of the Bagbag river. On Luna's return, the Americans had already succeeded in penetrating the Filipino lines and they were forced to retreat.
On June 4, 1899, del Pilar joined Aguinaldo in
San Isidro, Nueva Ecija
San Isidro, officially the Municipality of San Isidro,( tgl, Bayan ng San Isidro), is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 54,372 people.
The municipality is bo ...
and received orders to capture
Antonio Luna
Antonio Narciso Luna de San Pedro y Novicio Ancheta (; October 29, 1866 – June 5, 1899) was a Filipino army general who fought in the Philippine–American War before his assassination in 1899.
Regarded as one of the fiercest generals of hi ...
, dead or alive, on charges of high treason. It is said that had Luna not come down himself to
Cabanatuan
Cabanatuan, officially the City of Cabanatuan ( fil, Lungsod ng Cabanatuan; ilo, Siudad ti Cabanatuan), is a 1st class component city in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 327,325 peop ...
and assassinated by the Kawit Batallion from his headquarters in
Bayambang
Bayambang, officially the Municipality of Bayambang ( pag, Baley na Bayambang; ilo, Ili ti Bayambang; tgl, Bayan ng Bayambang), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Pangasinan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census it has a popul ...
that del Pilar would have gone down as Luna's killer.
Del Pilar and Aguinaldo then descended upon General Concepcion's headquarters in
Pampanga
Pampanga, officially the Province of Pampanga ( pam, Lalawigan ning Pampanga; tl, Lalawigan ng Pampanga ), is a province in the Central Luzon region of the Philippines. Lying on the northern shore of Manila Bay, Pampanga is bordered by Tarlac ...
to relieve him of his position, as he was suspected to be partisan to the assassinated general. Troops surrounded Concepcion's headquarters and sentries were replaced by the presidential guards. Concepción was then relieved of his command on suspicions of a conspiracy being plotted against Aguinaldo.
Del Pilar was then tasked with taking possession of Luna's old headquarters in Bayambang, and of liquidating Luna's former aides-de-camp, Manuel and José Bernal. He arrived in Bayambang on June 7 and managed to capture a younger Bernal brother, Angel, who was arrested and maltreated. Manuel Bernal was captured a few days later, located in the house of the Nable José family. Remedios or Dolores, daughters of the family, was said to be one of del Pilar's last loves.
Manuel was tortured in the presence of his younger brother Angel by del Pilar and his brother Julian del Pilar for a week before he was killed. José Bernal was captured soon after, taken to
Angeles, Pampanga
, anthem = Himno ning Angeles (Angeles Hymn)
, subdivision_type3 = District
, subdivision_name3 =
, established_title = Settled
, established_date = 1796
, established_title1 = Chartere ...
and murdered by soldiers thereafter.
After this, del Pilar was given command in
Pangasinan, where he stayed for five months from June to November 1899. He was also posted in Pangasinan to defend against a possible mutiny from Ilocanos outraged with Luna's assassination, as well as to defend against the
Guardia de Honor The ''Guardia de Honor de Maria'' or simply Guardia de Honor ("Honor Guard of the Virgin Mary" or "Honor Guard") was a Philippine peasant organization most active during the Philippine–American War. Starting out as a '' cofradia'' founded by the ...
, a
millenarian cult fashioned after the
Katipunan
The Katipunan, officially known as the Kataastaasan, Kagalanggalangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan or Kataastaasan Kagalang-galang na Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (KKK; en, Supreme and Honorable Association of the Children of the Nation ...
.
During this time, the American forces were unusually quiet but the revolutionary government failed to capitalize on this opportunity. Del Pilar himself, was engaged in a number of love affairs.
In a letter sent to a relative in Bulacan, he asked for the finest of riding boots, while he ordered the best horses in Dagupan to show off his horsemanship.
By November, Tarlac had fallen to the Americans and Aguinaldo was moving northward towards
Bayambang
Bayambang, officially the Municipality of Bayambang ( pag, Baley na Bayambang; ilo, Ili ti Bayambang; tgl, Bayan ng Bayambang), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Pangasinan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census it has a popul ...
. From Bayambang, the fleeing government led an expedition to
Santa Barbara. Del Pilar, at the time, had 2,000 troops: 1,000 in the del Pilar Brigade, 350 in the Joven column, 400 in the Kawit Battalion, 100 in the Corps of Lancers, and two vanguard companies.
del Pilar led the expedition northward towards Ilocos. During this time he carried a briefcase containing a girl's letter and a lock of hair, from one of his loves in Bulacan.
Tirad Pass and death
![Gregmalolosjf](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b9/Gregmalolosjf.JPG)
In November 1899, Aguinaldo's party had reached the town of
Concepción and climbed the peak of
Mount Tirad. Del Pilar ordered three lines of trenches be dug up on the pass and had the "pick of all the men that can be spared" on orders from Aguinaldo.
While Aguinaldo and the rest were in
Cervantes, Ilocos Sur
Cervantes, officially the Municipality of Cervantes ( ilo, Ili ti Cervantes; fil, Bayan ng Cervantes), is a 4th class municipality in the province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 19,449 people.
...
, Del Pilar rode to the
rearguard
A rearguard is a part of a military force that protects it from attack from the rear, either during an advance or withdrawal. The term can also be used to describe forces protecting lines, such as communication lines, behind an army. Even more ...
to ensure the safety of the retreat. Word had come that the Americans were advancing on
Tirad Pass
Mount Tirad is a mountain peak near Cervantes, Ilocos Sur, Philippines. It ranks as the 3rd highest mountain in Ilocos Sur and the 446th highest mountain in the Philippines.
Tirad Pass on the mountain holds a significant place in Philippine hist ...
in an effort to cut off Aguinaldo from the
Tinio Brigade situated on the
Abra River.
The U.S. Army 33rd Infantry Regiment, under Major
Peyton C. March
General Peyton Conway March (December 27, 1864April 13, 1955) was a senior officer of the United States Army. He served in the Philippines, on the Mexican border, and World War I. March was the ninth Chief of Staff from 1918 to 1921, accomplish ...
took Concepción on December 1 and began to scale Tirad Pass the next day. Although they had difficulty in attacking the Filipino position, they saw an opening with the aid of a
Tingguian Igorot named
Januario Galut Januario Galut was a Tingguian Igorot who led the 33rd Infantry Regiment of United States Volunteers under Major Peyton March so that they could surround and defeat 60 Filipinos led by General Gregorio del Pilar in the Battle of Tirad Pass.
After ...
.
The Americans then devised a plan to flank the entrenched defenders from the village of Lingay at the foot of the pass, and from the peak.
The combined attack surprised the defenders and the engagement barely lasted six hours. Del Pilar was killed in the skirmish from a shot in the neck, killing him instantly. Of the 60 defenders, only eight remained. After the battle, Del Pilar's belongings were taken by the Americans as war trophies, including a handkerchief embroidered with the name Dolores, a locket with a picture of a girl, and his diary. His last entry was:
Reports of Del Pilar's death varied. Two newsmen, John McCutcheon and Richard Henry Little, and a local newspaper called ''The Manila Freedom'' reported accounts which captured the imaginations of American and Filipino readers. McCutcheon and Little both reported how del Pilar was the last to fall; how he continually urged his men during the battle to fight on, appealing to their sense of love for their native land; how he refused to turn away on his white horse until all the men had retreated; and his death when a sharpshooter got the better of him. ''The Manila Freedom'' wrote this of Del Pilar:
Filipino accounts of Del Pilar's death corroborate each other and are less glamorous. Del Pilar's ''aide-de-camp'', Vicente Enríquez, writes:
Lieutenant Telesforo Carrasco also recounted:
Del Pilar's body lay unburied for days, exposed to the elements. While retracing the trail, an American officer, Lt. Dennis P. Quinlan, gave the body a traditional U.S. military burial. Upon Del Pilar's tombstone, Quinlan inscribed, "An Officer and a Gentleman".
In 1930, Del Pilar's body was exhumed and was identified by dental records.
Personal life
Del Pilar was known for his various relationships during the war. He was reported to have courted almost half a dozen girls, including Neneng Rodrigo, the daughter of Bulacan's civil governor, who has his first love; a sister of Col. José Leyba; a woman named Poleng, and Felicidad Aguinaldo, the sister of Emilio Aguinaldo. It has been asserted that a woman named Remedios Nable José, a daughter of Don Mariano Nable José from Dagupan, was del Pilar's last love. It was said that Nable José and del Pilar were almost married, but Nable José rejected del Pilar's advances, partly due to his reputation as a playboy.
Though Nable José’s claim is based solely on an interview of her, there still remained a glaring lack of third-party sources to verify her story. Some are still speculating that her sister, Dolores, was the general's actual last love as there were numbers of third-party resources name her as the one. First, John McCutcheon, the war correspondent that was with the American troops at Tirad Pass. In an article published by the ''Boston Evening Transcript'', McCutcheon details that Gregorio del Pilar and Dolores Nable José were set to be married around mid-November 1899. However, Aguinaldo's order of a hasty retreat in early November caused the wedding to be postponed, and ultimately, to be canceled altogether.
He also mentions the handkerchief found on del Pilar's body to be embroidered with Dolores’ name, and that a number of the letters retrieved from his person were from her.
There is good reason to believe in the authenticity of McCutcheon's account. For one, McCutcheon knew del Pilar previously, having interviewed him multiple times throughout the war.
For another, he was with the soldiers that looted del Pilar's body, and would have actually seen the spoils himself. He also released more articles that consistently named Dolores, where she could be mentioned. Had he been mistaken, he would have corrected himself in a later article, but the reports did not change.
Second, Isaac Cruz Jr.’s biography of Gregorio del Pilar, ''General Gregorio H. Del Pilar: Idol of the Revolution'', includes statements from Tirad Pass survivors that he was able to interview before they passed on.
Lt. José Enríquez recounted that Maj. March showed them some of the del Pilar's belongings in his possession, and asked explicitly for Dolores Nable José. Additionally, Captain Isidro Wenceslao mentioned that Dolores was in del Pilar's thoughts during his last meeting with Aguinaldo.
Aside from being two of the only survivors from the Tirad Pass, both men were particularly close to del Pilar. Enríquez was the younger brother of Vicente Enríquez and Anacleto Enríquez, who were del Pilar's ''
aide-de-camp'' and
supporter respectively. The children of both families were neighbors and childhood friends.
Meanwhile, Isidro Wenceslao was part of the famed "Seven Musketeers of Pitpitan", a group of young men led by del Pilar that initially joined Maestrong Sebio's forces at Kakarong de Sili.
If anyone had been privy to the thoughts and feelings of del Pilar, especially in matters so important to him as love, it would be these men. Third, “Nandaragupan : the story of a coastal city and Dagupan Bangus” names Dolores Nable José as the Dagupan belle that del Pilar fell in love with during his stay in Pangasinan. After del Pilar's death, Dolores seems to have disappeared from the records, as there is no mention of her in the 1916 court case where her other siblings and father appear.
Despite all this, del Pilar's love life still remains a mystery to all historians.
Memorials
![PF-15 and SARV-002 CARAT 2013](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/83/PF-15_and_SARV-002_CARAT_2013.jpg)
*
Fort Del Pilar, home of the
Philippine Military Academy
The Philippine Military Academy ( fil, Akademiyang Militar ng Pilipinas / es, Academia Militar de Filipinas) also referred to by its acronym PMA is the premier military academy for Filipinos aspiring for a commission as a military officer of ...
in
Baguio
Baguio ( ,
), officially the City of Baguio ( ilo, Siudad ti Baguio; fil, Lungsod ng Baguio), is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Philippines. It is known as the "Summer Capital of the Philippines", ...
, is named after him.
* In 1944, the Japanese-sponsored Philippine republic of President
Jose P. Laurel
José Paciano Laurel y García (; March 9, 1891 – November 6, 1959) was a Filipino people, Filipino politician, lawyer, and judge, who served as the president of the Japanese-occupied Second Philippine Republic, a puppet state during World W ...
issued the Tirad Pass Medal commemorating the battle and del Pilar's sacrifice. A bust of General del Pilar occupies the center of the obverse (front) side of the medal. The Tirad Pass Medal was the only award issued to recognize service to the Laurel government during the Japanese occupation.
* In 1955, the town of
Concepcion, Ilocos Sur, where the Battle of Tirad Pass took place, was renamed Gregorio del Pilar in his honor.
* In 2011, the newest vessel of the
Philippine Navy,
BRP ''Gregorio del Pilar'', was named after him. The ship is a patrol frigate.
In popular culture
* Portrayed by
José Padilla Jr. in the postwar film ''Hen. Gregorio del Pilar'' (1949), opposite Tessie Quintana.
* His life was shown in the Philippine television news show ''
Case Unclosed
''Case Unclosed'' is a Philippine television documentary show broadcast by GMA Network. Originally hosted by Kara David, it premiered on October 2, 2008, replacing '' 100% Pinoy!''. Arnold Clavio served as the final host. The show concluded on ...
'' as its 13th episode.
* Portrayed by
Romnick Sarmenta
Romeo Nicolas Sarmenta Tejedor (born April 28, 1972 in Quezon City, Philippines), known professionally as Romnick Sarmenta, is a Filipino actor best remembered as the five-year-old boy who played the role of Peping in the TV series ''Gulong ng ...
in the film ''
Tirad Pass: The Last Stand of Gen. Gregorio del Pilar'' (1996).
* Portrayed by
Dingdong Dantes
Jose Sixto Raphael Gonzalez Dantes III (born August 2, 1980), professionally known as Dingdong Dantes (), is a Filipino actor, television presenter, dancer, commercial model and film producer who is currently working as an employment contract, ...
in the official
Lupang Hinirang music video produced by
GMA Network
GMA Network (Global Media Arts or simply GMA) is a Philippine free-to-air television and radio network. It is the flagship property of publicly traded GMA Network, Inc. Its first broadcast on television was on October 29, 1961. GMA Network (f ...
released in 2010.
* Portrayed by
Felix Roco
Teodoro Felix Artadi Roco (born 12 April 1989 in Cebu), professionally known as Felix Roco, is a Filipino actor.
Biography
The son of local cinema legend Bembol Roco, 21-year-old Felix Roco made a mark with his internationally acclaimed performa ...
in the film ''
El Presidente'' (2012).
* Portrayed by
Paulo Avelino
Michael Paulo Lingbanan Avelino (born May 13, 1988) is a Filipino actor, singer, model and a movie producer. Regarded as the "Prince of Philippine Teleserye", he is best known in television series such as '' Walang Hanggan'' (2012), ''Bridges of ...
in the films ''
Heneral Luna
''Heneral Luna'' () is a 2015 Filipino historical biopic film depicting General Antonio Luna's leadership of the Philippine Revolutionary Army during the Philippine–American War. Directed by Jerrold Tarog and produced by Artikulo Uno Productio ...
'' (2015) and its sequel, ''
Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral'' (2018).
*The final chapter of novel
Po-on written by
National Artist for Literature F. Sionil Jose
F is the sixth letter of the Latin alphabet.
F may also refer to:
Science and technology Mathematics
* F or f, the number 15 in hexadecimal and higher positional systems
* ''p'F'q'', the hypergeometric function
* F-distribution, a cont ...
describes del Pilar's final evening and the Battle of Tirad Pass from the point of view of Eustaquio Samson, a fictional character. Samson is an Ilocano farmer forced to flee his hometown after suffering abuse from a Spanish friar. Having been the confidante of Apolinario Mabini in Rosales town and now acting as his messenger, Samson is cold-shouldered by del Pilar when Samson tells him he lost Mabini's letter; and further suspected of being an enemy spy when Samson claims he was beaten unconscious by the Americans at Candon but somehow woke up alive and abandoned amongst the dead villagers. Samson describes del Pilar as vain, arrogant, and full of youthful folly. He nevertheless joins the Tagalog defenders of the Pass in honor of the "
Honorable Cripple" and out of patriotic duty.
See also
*
Gregorio del Pilar class frigate,
Philippine Navy
*
BRP ''Gregorio del Pilar'',
Philippine Navy frigate
A frigate () is a type of warship. In different eras, the roles and capabilities of ships classified as frigates have varied somewhat.
The name frigate in the 17th to early 18th centuries was given to any full-rigged ship built for speed and ...
References
Notes
Citations
*
Further reading
*
* Amparo Nable Jose v. Mariano Nable Jose (http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri1916/dec1916/gr_l-7397_1916.html)
History of Dagupan
*
An observer in the Philippines; or, Life in our new possessions by John Devins (1905) Original Boston Evening Transcript
Government Electoral Almanac* “Feeding Manila in Peace and War, 1850-1945” by Daniel F. Doeppers (2016)
* “General Gregorio H. Del Pilar: Idol of the Revolution” by Isaac Cruz Jr. (1985)
* “Nandaragupan : the story of a coastal city and Dagupan Bangus” by Jesus Victor Vistro and Crispina Reyes (2005)
External links
General Gregorio Del Pilar - Philippine Military Academy*
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pilar, Gregorio del
1875 births
1899 deaths
Ateneo de Manila University alumni
Deaths by firearm in the Philippines
Filipino generals
Paramilitary Filipinos
People from Bulacan
Military personnel killed in the Philippine–American War
People of the Philippine Revolution