Gregorio del Pilar, Ilocos Sur
| Gregorio del Pilar | ||
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| Municipality | ||
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 Map of Ilocos Sur showing the location of Gregorio del Pilar |
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 Gregorio del Pilar
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| Coordinates: 17°08′N 120°37′E / 17.13°N 120.62°ECoordinates: 17°08′N 120°37′E / 17.13°N 120.62°E | ||
| Country | Philippines | |
| Region | Ilocos (Region I) | |
| Province | Ilocos Sur | |
| District | 2nd District | |
| Barangays | 7 | |
| Government | ||
| • Mayor | Luz C. Villalobos | |
| • Vice Mayor | Henry Sidingan Gallardo | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 41.66 km2 (16.09 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 1,200 m (3,900 ft) | |
| Population (2015 census) | ||
| • Total | 4,875 | |
| • Density | 120/km2 (300/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | PST (UTC+8) | |
| ZIP code | 2720 | |
| IDD : area code | +63 (0)77 | |
| Income class | 5th class | |
| Website | www |
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Gregorio del Pilar is a fifth class municipality in the province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 4,875 people.
Formerly named Concepcion (in honor of its patron saint, Nuestra Senora de Concepcion), it was renamed after general Gregorio del Pilar by virtue of Republic Act No. 1246 on June 10, 1955. It was sponsored by Congressman Ricardo Gacula. The municipality was the site of the Battle of Tirad Pass where General Pilar fought to the death against the Americans.
The town lies among the western hills of the Cordilleras in the interior east of the province of Ilocos Sur. It is bounded in the north by the town of San Emilio, Quirino in the east, Sigay in the south and Salcedo in the west. Its 7 barangays and sitios are connected to another by winding foot trails and seasonal rugged roads. the town is likewise endowed with natural scenery and wonders such as the payoh or rice terraces, the distinctive Mt. Tirad peak and pristine waterfalls. There are also trails crisscrossing Tirad pass – the so-called Spanish trail which were built through polo y servicio or forced labor during the Hispanic times.
Gregorio del Pilar is politically subdivided into 7 barangays.
Gregorio del Pilar is politically subdivided into 5 sitioss.
In the 2015 census, the population of Gregorio del Pilar was 4,875 people, with a density of 120 inhabitants per square kilometre or 310 inhabitants per square mile.
The inhabitants are Igorots, but belong to the Bag-o ethno-linguistic group. This mixture of Ilocano and Igorot intermarriages speak the Kankanaey language but can speak and understand the dialects of their neighboring towns. Many have already acquired college education and some serve the government and private institutions.
On December 2, 1899, American forces, who slept and rested during the night on newly harvested rice fields just below the Tirad Pass, got up and prepared for an assault of the Filipino forces fortification under the Command of General Gregorio del Pilar. On the narrow trail of Tirad Pass, the Filipino soldiers watched as their enemies began to move up the trail. On around a few hundreds yards above the pass, General Gregorio del Pilar with his staff and accompanied by two civilians from Sitio Mabatano, stood up and took his spy glass and scan it the surroundings area. He spotted the American forces as they were starting to move. But as he watched, he noticed that the American forces broke formations and instead sent a messenger on horse back with a white banner on his band. As the messenger was coming near the fortification of Filipino forces, the sound of gun was heard and the messenger fell. The American forces divided themselves into three separate groups. One group followed the trail towards the pass.
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Wikipedia