Gregorio del Pilar
- For the municipality in the Philippines, see Gregorio del Pilar, Ilocos Sur.
Gregorio del Pilar (November 14, 1875—December 2, 1899) was the youngest and the most picturesque general in the Philippine Revolutionary Forces during the Philippine Revolution and the Philippine-American War. He was called the "boy general" because of his youth.
He was born on November 14, 1875 to Fernando H. del Pilar and Felipa Sempio of San Jose, Bulacan. He was the nephew of propagandist Marcelo H. del Pilar and Toribio del Pilar, who was exiled to Guam for his involvement in the 1872 Cavite Mutiny.
"Goyong", as he was casually known, enrolled at the Ateneo Municipal de
Manila where he finished his Bachelor’s degree in 1896, at the age of 20. When the
Philippine Revolution against Spanish rule broke
out in August under the leadership of Andres Bonifacio, Del Pilar decided to join the
movement. He distinguished himself as a field commander while fighting Spanish garrisons in
He then joined General Emilio Aguinaldo, who had gained control of the movement, in Hong Kong after the Truce at Biak-na-Bato. Upon resuming control of the Philippine Revolution, Gen. Aguinaldo appointed Del Pilar to lead the revolutionary forces in Bulacan and Nueva Ecija. On June 1, Del Pilar landed in Bulacan with rifles purchased in Hong Kong, quickly laying siege on the Spanish forces in the province. When the Spaniards surrendered to Del Pilar, he brought his troops to Caloocan and Manila to support the other troops battling the Spaniards there.
When the Philippine-American War broke-out on February 1899, he led his troops to a short victory over Major Franklin Bell in the Battle of Quingua on April 23, 1899, in which his forces repelled a cavalry charge, and killed the highly decorated Colonel John M. Stotsenburg (Clark Air Base was originally named Fort Stotsenburg).
The 24 year-old "boy general" led a 60-man Filipino rearguard in the Battle of Tirad Pass against the "Texas Regiment", the 33rd Infantry Regiment of the United States Volunteers. It was a delaying action to cover Aguinaldo's retreat. The over five-hour standoff resulted in his death by a shot to the neck (at the height or end of the fighting, depending on eyewitness accounts). Del Pilar's body was looted by the victorious Americans.
Del Pilar's body lay exposed for days without a burial. While re-tracking the trail, an American officer, Lt. Dennis P. Quinlan, gave the body a traditional U.S. military burial. Upon his tombstone, Lt. Quinlan inscribed, "an Officer and a Gentleman".
Trivia
- Fort Del Pilar, home of the Philippine Military Academy, situated in Baguio, is named after him.
- In 1930, his body was exhumed, and he was identified by the gold tooth and braces that were installed while exiled in Hong Kong.
- In 1955, the Municipality of Concepcion in Ilocos Sur was renamed in honor of Gregorio del Pilar.
Further reading
- Zaide, Gregorio F. (1984). Philippine History and Government. National Bookstore Printing Press.
| Preceded by Newly established |
1898–1899 |
Succeeded by Isidro Torres |
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