The Hero of Tirad Pass

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THE HERO OF TIRAD PASS
In the pantheon of Filipino heroes, General Gregorio del Pillar stands out as the fabulous ‘boy’ general of the Philippine
Revolution and the Philippine-American War. Educated, audacious and idealistic, his total commitment to national
independence at a very tender age, and his military exploits culminating in the tragic defense of Tirad Pass, make him
the most endearing figure of Philippine History.

Born on November 14, 1875 in San Jose, Bulacan, he was educated at the Ateneo Municipal de Manila and earned his
Bachelor’s degree at the age of 20. When the rebellion against Spain intensified in August 1896, the young Del Pilar,
imbued with patriotism, eagerly joined the revolutionary forces of Andres Bonifacio. In his baptism of fire at the Battle
of Kakarong de Sili in Pandi, Bulacan, Del Pilar distinguished himself for his daring attack and prodigious leadership.

One of the co-signers of the Truce of Biak na Bato, he was exiled in Hongkong together with General Emilio Aguinaldo.
At the resumption of hostilities against Spain, Del Pilar commanded all revolutionary forces in the provinces of Bulacan
and Nueva Ecija. After his well-executed siege of Bulacan leading to the surrender of the Spanish provincial troops on
June 30, 1898, he was promoted to general at the age of 22, becoming the youngest general ever in the Philippine
military.

Shortly after the Philippine-American war broke out in early 1899 Del Pilar successfully led the attack on the 4th US
Cavalry in the Battle of Quingua (now Plaridel, Bulacan) where the commander of the reinforcing 1st Nebraska Volunteer
Infantry, Colonel John M. Stotsenburg was killed. His proven leadership and gallantry in combat made him the singular
choice to protect the President of the revolutionary government, General Emilio Aguinaldo.

It was at Tirad Pass, Aguinaldo’s passageway to the Cordillera mountains, where the boy general organized 60
handpicked men, to block the pursuing 500-strong U.S. 33rd Infantry Volunteers. In a brutal combat lasting for 5 hours
on December 2, 1899, 52 Filipino soldiers were killed including Del Pilar, who was felled by a sniper’s bullet. Recovered
from his pockets was a handkerchief bearing his girlfriend’s monogram, and a personal diary with this historic last
entry written the night before the battle: “The General has given me the pick of all the men that can be spared and ordered me to defend the Pass. I realize what a terrible task has been given me. And yet I feel that this is the most glorious moment of my life. What I do is done for my beloved country. No sacrifice can be too great.” The site of the country’s premier training institution for
military officers, known as the Philippine Military Academy, is named Fort del Pilar in his honor, as the enduring
symbol of courage, loyalty and youthful idealism.