November 14, 1875 to December 2, 1899Gregorio del Pilar was one of the youngest generals to serve the Philippine Revolution.
Del Pilar was born on November 14, 1875 in San Jose, Bulacan. He was the youngest of the five children of Fernando H. del Pilar and Felipa Sempio. His father was the brother of Marcelo H. del Pilar, one of the prime movers of the Propaganda Movement.
He had his early education from a Maestro Monico. He later went to the school of Pedro Serrano Laktaw, writer and Tagalog lexicographer. After completing the elementary course, del Pilar peddled rice cakes and serves as a house boy for his aunt Hilaria del Pilar (who married Deodato Arellano, one of the founders of Katipunan) so he could continue his studies at the Ateneo. He finished his Bachelor of Arts in 1896.
When his uncle Marcelo fled to Spain to escape arrest for his subversive activities, the young del Pilar helped Deodato in distributing propaganda materials.
Del Pilar was 21 years old when he joined the Katipunan, soon after Philippine Revolution broke out in 1896. On January 1, 1897, he fought in the Battle of Kakarong de sili, where he displayed great courage. On the same year, he was one of the signer of the Pact of Biak-na-Bato. He joined General Emilio Aguinaldo in exile to Hong Kong.
During the Filipino-American war, Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed del Pilar as Dictator of Bulacan and Nueva Ecija. In 1899, del Pilar now a general and the right-hand man of Gen. Aguinaldo, was made Military Governor of Pangasinan. Towards the end of the year, del Pilar and sixty soldiers were sent to secure Tirad Pass from the American soldiers so that Aguinaldo and his men could retreat safely to the north.
On the morning of December 2, 1899, the American captured Tirad Pass after killing General Gregorio del Pilar.
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