BULAKAN, Bulacan—Young and romantic at his teenage years and early twenties, Gen. Gregorio Del Pilar, the youngest general during the Spanish and American revolution and one of the finest heroes of our country seemed to have perfected the art of love in between the battle he fought and won until he fell bloodied and lost his breath in the hands of American soldiers in the infamous Battle of Tirad Pass in Ilocos Sur province 126 years ago.
Found tucked in his body after he was killed in the Battle of Tirad Pass on Dec. 2, 1899 together with his last accounts of the tragic death they were about to face was a locket with a hair strand and a handkerchief with the embroidered name of her girlfriend Dolores Nable Jose on it and her several letters to him, according to historian Jose P. Santos in his book “Sino si Heneral Gregorio del Pilar,” (Who is General Gregorio del Pilar).
Kabesera Inc., the history, heritage and cultural group of the town kick-off on Friday, Valentine’s Day its ten-month Feb. 14-Nov. 14 series of activities and programs in celebration of the 150th birth anniversary of Del Pilar.
Born on Nov. 14, 1875, in this town, Del Pilar, fondly referred to as “Hen. Goyo,” is one of our country’s greatest heroes and son of Bulakan town and the province of Bulacan.
Atty. Gamma Santos, president of Kabesera, led her members in posting in their social media accounts the logo of the 150th birth anniversary of the hero designed by their member, artist Edgar Santiago which signaled the start of the 10 months activities.
Del Pilar is known as the youngest revolutionary general of the Philippine Spanish and American Revolution and the most trusted immediate subordinate of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo. He was his aide de camp. He died in the Tirad Pass Battle at the age of 24.
A copy of the 1936 edition of Santos’ book obtained from the National Library is one of the collections of Kabesera.
Del Pilar’s love story
The scene of the recovery of the love collection materials in Del Pilar’s body is a love story often told in war movies, where soldiers fighting in faraway battles cherish the letters and important mementos of their loved ones–wife, girlfriend, parent and children and keep them in their clothes.
Santos’ book delved into Del Pilar’s strong fascination with beautiful women. He showed a high inclination to stage harana to win their hearts, among them, Neneng Rodrigo, daughter of the first civil governor of Bulacan, Fidela Sempio, whom he was shy to pursue and the sisters of Col. Leyra and Gen. Emilio Agionaldo.
In command of a 60-men brigade “Brigada Del Pilar,” from Bulakan, they trooped to Pangasinan mid 1889, a few months before the Battle of Tirad pass took place upon the order of Gen. Emilio Aguinldo to prevent the American forces from taking control of the northern parts of Luzon. It was during this time when he met sisters Remedios Nable Jose and Dolores in Dagupan.
According to the accounts of national artist, biographer and historian Carlos Qurino based on his personal interview with Remedios that was published in Philippines Free Press magazine on December 4, 1965, entitled, “Remembering Del Pilar, The Gallant General’s Sweetheart Recalls the ‘Very Romantic’ Young Man Who Died in Battle 66 years Ago This Week,” it was Remedios that was the first love interest of Del Pilar but whom his relationship did not bosom after she rejected his marriage proposal in fear that the gallant combatant young leader will only break her heart. Remedios had heard the news of Del Pilar’s fondness for girls and that he left a sweetheart in his home province. According to Remedios, Del Pilar had someone in her heart, a lovely beautiful woman in Polo, Bulacan that was preventing her from allowing herself to really genuinely fall for the hero.
Del Pilar’s attention then switched to Dolores, younger sister of Remedios. Santos said in his book that Del Pilar was set to marry Dolores after the Battle of Tirad Pass.
Remedios said her sister’s hair strand and handkerchief was found in Del Pilar’s body because he asked for them from Dolores.
“Because he asked Dolores for a keepsake that evening before he left Dagupan to join President Emilio Aguinaldo in Santa Barbara, Pangasinan,” says Remedios. “This I shall always keep next to my heart,” he vowed.
Remedios, then 83 years old recalled that Del Pilar was a very romantic man.
According to the article, the dashing Del Pilar in his military uniform even professed his love to her before the stars. “One evening, he pointed to a particularly bright star and asked me to always look at it always, after he had left our town, because he would be doing the same and thinking of me. That star, he said, would be ours, and ours alone!,” Remedios was quoted.
While she entertained him, the reciprocation of her love was not the same. She never shows up in their supposed wedding. She recalled how a member of Brigada Del Pilar came to her and informed her that the young general was fuming and mad that she did not fulfil her words to him of marrying him. “That fickle minded woman,” Remedios recalled the hero murmured.
But, letters of Remedios to Del Pilar were also among those tucked in the body of the young general.
“Nakataya ang buhay ko sa makapal na kaaway, ngunit malugod akong mamatay sa pagtatanggol sa aking inang bayan,” (My life is in danger because of the great number of the enemy, but I am glad to die defending my country), Del Pilar made as his final account in the Battle of Tirad Pass.
Del Pilar wore his three medals on his neck when he was killed. American soldiers also found in his pocket a $20 dollar gold coin, according to Santos’ book.
Del Pilar’s battles, roots and beginnings
The hero of Tirad Pass who died at the age of 24 also successfully led the battle in Paombong, Bulacan on a Sunday in 1897 where he and his 10 men armed with bolos and knives disguised as churchgoers slain Spanish troops inside a convent. He was then 22. The ring of the church bell for the start of the mass signaled the preparation for the attack. This was among the most gallant victories of the youngest general.
He was given the rank of brigadier general on September 26, 1898 by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo. He was also given other tasks and became part of delegations in Hongkong and other places.
In June 24, 1898, he freed his home town Bulakan from Spanish troops through a 20 days battle, where after the victory of his troops, the people grandiosely welcomed and greeted him. “Those elderly who cannot go down their stairs just cried out of their joy and happiness,” Santos said in the book.
Del Pilar also was the formidable leader in the Battle of Quingua (now Plaridel town) on April 23, 1899 where Colonel John M. Stotsenburg, leader of American troops was killed.
Del Pilar was given a colonel rank by Aguinaldo when he was 19 years old.
He is the son of Don Fernando H. del Pilar, brother of Marcelo H. Del Pilar and Felipa Sempio. He is the nephew of Donya Hilaria del Pilar, wife of Deodato Arellano, the first president of the Katipunan. It was with his aunt Hilaria where he grew up. He was the fourth of their brood. His brother, Julian also became a colonel in his brigade.
According to the book, Santos, studies Bachelor of Arts degree in Ateneo de Manila University and had joined the Katipunan, took oath before Andres Bonifacio even before he graduated.
Known as Aguinaldo’s dependable aide de camp, Aguinaldo described Del Pilar in Santos’ book as a real revolutionary hero and that he deserved to be admired by the Filipino people.
Perfecto Teodoro Martin, former president of Kabesera who have other collections about the young revolutionary hero, together with the group’s chairman, Fortunato Dela Pena and their members are pushing for the establishment of Del Pilar museum in the town.
Santos told NEWSCORE on Saturday that part of the 10-month activities for Del Pilar among others is a musical play, an art and Punique exhibit in collaboration with Bulakan Artists Circle, launching of another book about Del Pilar including lecture forums more research and giving recognition to all the 60 members of Brigada Del Pilar who have remained as unsung heroes today.
