Gregorio Hilario Del Pilar y Sempio | |
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Brigadier General Gregorio del Pilar circa 1899
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Birth name | Gregorio del Pilar y Sempio |
Nickname(s) | "Goyong" "Boy General" |
Born |
Bulacan, Bulacan, Captaincy General of the Philippines |
November 14, 1875
Died | December 2, 1899 Tirad Pass, Ilocos Sur, Philippine Islands |
(aged 24)
Allegiance |
First Philippine Republic Republic of Biak-na-Bato Katipunan Kakarong Republic |
Service/branch | Philippine Revolutionary Army |
Years of service | 1896–1899 |
Rank | Brigadier General |
Commands held | Commanding Gen. Aguinaldo's Rearguard |
Battles/wars |
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Relations | Fernando H. del Pilar (Father) Felipa Sempio (Mother) Marcelo H. del Pilar (Uncle) Toribio H. del Pilar (Uncle) |
Gregorio Hilario del Pilar y Sempio (November 14, 1875 – December 2, 1899) was one of the youngest generals in the Philippine Revolutionary Forces during the Philippine Revolution and the Philippine–American War. He is most known for his successful assault on the Spanish barracks of Cazadores in the municipality of Paombong, his victory on the first phase Battle of Quingua and his last stand at the Battle of Tirad Pass. during the Philippine-American war. Because of his youth, he became known as the "Boy General".
Born on November 14, 1875 to Fernando H. del Pilar and Felipa Sempio of Bulacan, Bulacan, the fifth among six siblings. He was the nephew of propagandist Marcelo H. del Pilar and Toribio H. del Pilar, who was exiled in Guam for his involvement in the 1872 Cavite Mutiny.
"Goyong", as he was casually known, studied at the Ateneo Municipal de Manila, where he received 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 joined the insurgency. He distinguished himself as a field commander while fighting Spanish garrisons in Bulacan.
On December 28, 1896, he participated in an attack in Kakarong de Sili—Pandi, Bulacan on a town inimical to the Katipunan. On January 1, 1897, he was among the defenders when a Spanish counterattack retook the town, receiving a slight wound when a bullet grazed his forehead. His courage and bravery in that action won him recognition and a promotion to the rank of Lieutenant. In August 1897, then a Captain, he met with Emilio Aguinaldo in his Biak-na-bato headquarters and proposed an attack on a Spanish garrison in Paombong, Bulacan. Aguinaldo approved his plan and the attack was successfully carried out with the capture of 14 Mauser rifles. Shortly thereafter, Aguinaldo raised him to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. After the Pact of Biak-na-Bato, he went into exile in Hong Kong with Aguinaldo and other revolutionary leaders.