Gregorio del Pilar, the “boy general” of the Philippine revolution, was killed with 52 of his 60 men while defending Mount Tirad Pass in Ilocos Sur against the American army on 2 December 1899. The last entry of the diary found on his body contained a premonition of his death.
The General [Aguinaldo] has given me a platoon of available men and has ordered me to defend this pass. I am aware of what a difficult task has been given to me. Nevertheless, I feel that this is the most glorious moment of my life. There is no greater sacrifice.
Accompanying the American army was Richard Henry Little of the Chicago Tribune, who recorded Del Pilar’s death (and the shameful looting of his body by American soldiers):
It was a battle above the clouds. I saw the most youthful and the bravest of Filipino generals trying vainly to line-up his soldiers to stave off the advance of the American troops who pursued him, with the purpose of covering Aguinaldo’s retreat. I saw him talking to his soldiers from trench to trench, inspiring pride in themselves, to ponder over their valor and love of country … Later we saw from below one of our soldiers turn around, climb the top of a rock, and aim his rifle at General del Pilar. We held our breath not knowing whether or not to pray to God that the soldier hit or miss his mark. Afterwards we heard a shot and the youthful del Pilar fell ….We took his Memoirs, his letters, all his papers. And Sullivan look his pants, and Snider his shoes, and the sergeant one of his silver spurs, and a lieutenant the other other spur, and another soldier some of his buttons. I also took some buttons; his neck was still drenched with blood ….
And a soldier showed us a silk handkerchief. It was also Del Pilar’s …. Over the left was embroidered the name of his girl friend. I saw another soldier of ours, seated on a rock, examining in his hands a golden locket taken from the General, containing a strand of a woman’s hair. A crow perched atop his feet, another hovered over his head. And I thought we had stripped del Pilar of everything; but no, I was mistaken: his glory, his glory as a soldier remained
.
So far so mythic, but, this being the enchanted 7,000 islands, nothing is ever quite as it seems. In his classic debunking book, A Question of Heroes, Nick Joaquin pours scorn on Little’s florid prose (“a classic, but surely not of journalism”). According to two eyewitness accounts from the Philippine side, Del Pilar was killed early on in the battle as he climbed a hilltop to discern the enemy. There was no urging of the troops.
More fundamentally, Joaquin derides the battle of Tirad as evidence, not just of Filipino courage (which is undeniable), but of national incompetence:
Our improvidence always forces us in the end to improvise, when it’s too late to improvise. We will not plan ahead, we just muddle through, and then at the last we send men to die for our blunders … A few more Tirads and we’ll be the most heroic people in extinction.
Joaquin also reflects on the fatal divisions on the Filipino side, and a national inability to lay down personal jealousies and rivalries in support of the larger cause—a failing that we can see when we open the newspaper to this day. In this Joaquin is supported by General Verancio Conception (who no doubt had his own axe to grind):
The supremacy to which those who belonged to the first revolution, with few exceptions feel they have a right, and above all the cavitismo fused with egoism and the thirst for authority which they reveal in all actions, undeterred by the groans of the nation that must pay for their arrogance … For these deans and owners of the Philippine revolution, there are no ideas but their own, no discipline other than to obey Aguinaldo …
Joaquin’s analysis is itself slightly overwritten, as is his style, but it is still an elegant and penetrating essay. Above all, it refuses to accept the handed-down and cleaned up Hollywoodesque version of the young Del Pilar’s death, relating the battle of Tirad pass more to the divisions among the Philippine forces and to certain cracks in the national psyche.
Still, Gregorio del Pilar is still a hero to my way of thinking. The battle of Tirad Pass may have been “a monstrous botch”, as Joaquin says, but that sharpens rather than belittles the valour of the 52 men who perished. Courage in pursuit of a practical goal is worthy of our admiration, but dying for a futile cause is a purer form of heroism, it has no meaning beyond its own splendour. In my own country’s history, schoolboys are moved less by prosaic warriors such as Henry V, hammer of the French at Agincourt or Montgomery, the victor of el Alamein, than of the men of the Light Brigade who perished as a result of another military blunder in the Crimean War. Like the heroes of Tennyson’s famous poem, the Tirad 60 and their young leader will always be heroes of their country. Their glory will never fade.
Half a league, half a league,
Half a league onward,
All in the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
`Forward, the Light Brigade!
Charge for the guns!' he said:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
`Forward, the Light Brigade!'
Was there a man dismay'd?
Not tho' the soldier knew
Some one had blunder'd:
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do and die:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
...
When can their glory fade?
O the wild charge they made!
All the world wonder'd.
Honour the charge they made!
Honour the Light Brigade,
Noble six hundred!
Alfred, Lord Tennyson
Sources: Virgilio S. Almario, et al, eds, 100 Events that Shaped the Philippines, National Centennial Commission, Manila, 1989. Nick Joaquin, A Question of Heroes, Anvil, Manila, 2005.
If it is true that del Pilar was killed early in the battle, then this makes the soldiers under him all the more heroic, having made their stand out of their own volition.
Posted by: cvj | September 10, 2006 at 10:05 AM
Hi cvj -- That's true, if it was of their own volition.
Here is Adjutant Telesoforo Carrasco's account of what happened after del Pilar's death (from Joaquin's essay):
... at that moment he was hit by a bullet in the neck that caused instant death. On seeing that the general was dead, the soldiers jumped up as if to flee, but I aimed the carbine at them saying I would blow the skull off the brains of the first to run, whereupon they resumed firing ... "
This, of course, makes Carrasco out to be the hero of the piece, so we have to wary of such an uncorroborated account. Probably at that stage the soldiers had little choice.
I'm very interested in the the common soldiers of the revolution (like those at Tarad) and would be interested to know whether you or any other readers know of any sources that might document who they were. Were they perhaps servants of the illustrados, who somehow were cajoled to join their masters' cause? Or were they "ordinary" Filipinos fired up by nascent nationalism? If, instead of endlessly debating the Aguinaldos, Mabinis and Bonifacios of the revolution, historians were to look at the foot soldiers who died for them, we might have a deeper understanding of what the revolt against Spain and America was all about. But perhaps someone has done this and I am unaware of it.
Posted by: torn | September 11, 2006 at 03:55 AM
torn, thanks for the clarification. you're right that we would learn a lot from by getting the foot soldier's viewpoint. i also am not aware that such accounts exist.
Posted by: cvj | September 11, 2006 at 01:29 PM
Once read "Swatting the Spanish Flies" by M.V. Hamada in which she questions the validity of some of our Filipino heroes (and may be echoing N. Joaquin's sentiments as well).
Nonetheless, accounts from the "common soldiers of the revolution," as you said, would cast a new light (on my search for personal edification also).
Posted by: eric aka senor enrique | September 11, 2006 at 04:02 PM
After his youngest and bravest general had just made the supreme sacrifice to cover his retreat, how could Aguinaldo have surrendered? And why did he never win a single election for the rest of his life after that?
If del Pilar's valour is to mean anything, it must be rescued from the history of that person which he himself sought to.
Posted by: DJB | September 13, 2006 at 08:35 PM
Thanks for bringing our forgotten heroes back into our lives. Your last paragraph and the poem that followed made my hair stand.
Posted by: gail | September 14, 2006 at 07:01 PM
Actually, in the Hollywood Version, Del Pilar fights to the death, taking dozens of attackers until he runs out of ammo. Then, just like Chamberlain did at Gettysburg, the boy general orders, "Fix bayonets!"
They charge downhill into the center of the enemy's line. A hail of gunfire cuts them to pieces. Oh what a glorious death it is! Dramatic music starts to play in the background as the American soldiers loot his body.
Would you rather see that in a movie? Or do you want the boring truth where he gets killed by a sniper right away?
Posted by: Jologs | September 15, 2006 at 01:25 AM
Perhaps the only cause worth fighting for is a lost cause.
I've never seen a picture of Tirad Pass. Does anyone know what it looks like? What municipality in Ilocos Sur is it in?
Posted by: Howie | September 16, 2006 at 06:58 AM
Gail -- I think it's worth checking out Nick Joaquin's book for another perspective on the heroes of the revolution. I am not saying I agree with all of it, but he makes some telling points. My main beef with the book is that it is not footnoted at all, making it very hard to check his sources.
Jologs -- Ha ha, yes actual events rarely live up to the movies. I hear the kung fu version is even more dramatic ...
Howie -- If you put Tirad Pass into Google images there are some pictures there. I believe there is a commemoration at the pass every 2 December. I find visiting old battlefields such a weird experience though -- I can never relate these peaceful and "normal" places to the events that took place there. Still, I suppose in Manila we live in a battlefield ...
Posted by: torn | September 16, 2006 at 05:05 PM
DJB -- I agree. Aguinaldo's was a very strange and complex life. What I can't get my head around is that he actually lived into the Beatles era! That's quite extraordinary to me.
Posted by: torn | September 16, 2006 at 05:09 PM
Gen Gregorio del Pilar is my favorite Philippine General!
Posted by: The 3rd Column | September 19, 2006 at 07:47 AM
national artist, and my favorite filipino writer, f. sionil jose used the tirad pass event as the dramatic ending of his novel, "po-on" (or "dusk" in the american published version of the book). it's a very touching and patriotic use of a historical event in fiction. it shows that filipinos, despite all our shortcomings, have a history and character to be proud of.
Posted by: chris | September 19, 2006 at 07:48 PM
Yo Brit I totally agree with you when you said "DJB -- I agree. Aguinaldo's was a very strange and complex life. What I can't get my head around is that he actually lived into the Beatles era! That's quite extraordinary to me."
What boggles me more is why nobody bothered to interview him all those decades and put down his official version of the revolution story. My theory is that he was too ashamed of actions he took (like PUSSY-ASS SURRENDERING!) to talk about them ever again. What'd you think?
Posted by: PoliticallyWrogn | September 25, 2006 at 12:16 PM
wow thats to much info about gregorio, im glad that i run here to find info about him.
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Posted by: Mark Vane | June 22, 2007 at 06:10 AM
hmmmm.... to those who think aguinaldo surrendered....
HE WAS CAPTURED... on march 23,1902 by colonel (now general) frederick funston and his troops.
the reason why he never won a single election was...
WHAT HAD HAPPENED DURING HIS TIME... man if you were in his place and you're in a chasing game with the enemy... what would you do asside from surrendering...? he was trying to escape!!!
Posted by: Secrecy | September 30, 2007 at 09:17 AM
In a play presented some three years ago at the CCP by the Tanghalan Pilipino, del Pilar was portrayed as no better than a thug - same as the present-day bodyguards of politicians who suggest to their bosses, "Boss, patayin na lang natin yan" in reference to doing away with their bosses' rivals or enemies.
The production and presentation was not really any good but the historical revelations (allusions) were well-supported by references in the printed program, which I unfortunately have misplaced.
I wonder if you have any more information on del Pilar. There are so many conflicting perspectives about him that it's hard to really differentiate the reality from the fiction that surrounds the man.
I do tend to believe that he was not what the American newsman who sent in a glowing report about the battle wrote of him. That early in American history, military officers were already practicing extensive PR to promote themselves and enhance their image.
Posted by: ricsoler | December 29, 2007 at 06:41 PM
del pilar was a hero and a soldier. He obeyed orders pure and simple. To say otherwise is just wrong. The writer of that play at ccp should be stoned to death. He needs to research more. He was probably talking about the period of the "purging of the Lunista". Antonio Luna was organizing an army of mostly Ilocanos and meztisos to grab the leadership from aguinaldo. This was a fact. It was also documented by luna's supporter gen. Alejandrino. Plain and simple it was treason and sedition. Even today the penalty is death. Del pilar is a officer of the republic. What was he to do? He was ordered to arrest known partisans of Luna, torture people to extract info, which we also do today. And he is a "Berdugo"? Give me a break. He enlisted in the katipunan as a teen, even the Americans were terrified of him, and he sacrificed his LIFE for his country. What more can man do to be considered a hero?
Posted by: yendorsg | April 03, 2008 at 11:03 AM
aguinaldo was interviewed several times during his lifetime. He wrote a book also, memoirs of the revolution, his account of the first phase of the war. The part about del pilar and his death in tirad pass, he contradicted what del pilar wrote in his diary which was confiscated by the soldiers of major peyton c march (the us officer that led the army that killed del pilar and eventually rose to the rank of chief of staff of the army in 20s). Del pilar wrote that he was ordered to defend the pass. Aguinaldo would later claim that del pilar volunteered to stay. Del pilar was in the pass for almost a week preparing the defense, digging trenches. Who to believe, that we will never know. Why would aguinaldo sacrifice his most trusted general? His aide de camp even when he went to hongkong and Singapore? Aguinaldo describe del pilar as the only man he could trust. Did he ordered him to a certain death or del pilar is that loyal to his "el presidente"?
Posted by: yensorsg | April 03, 2008 at 11:27 AM
I'm sure the play at the CCP was a nice cultural event complete with cocktails and the air of manicured pedigree among the attendees. I'm quite sure that it was a lot of fun to watch, but in our time of ease, convenience, and stage plays written with a sensitivity borne out of never having been to a real war, I guess its easy to dismiss the hardened soldiers of the Katipunan as nothing more than uncultured thugs. But then again, what can you expect from soldiers whose work it is to kill people for a living with no pay, no benefits, and no retirement plan? Often, character is formed by the adversity of the life that one finds himself in, but it doesn't mean that they are any less honorable and principled than us armchair critics.
Posted by: Myles Delfin | July 15, 2008 at 03:29 AM
emilio aguinaldo,misled his soldiers.it was because of him a lot of lives were lost.he was a traitor from the time he and his company.....pio del pilar,mariano noriel,ignacio paua,agapito bonzon,lazaro makapagal and his soldiers in cabanatuan who killed general antonio luna and andres bonifacio...these animals should never be considered as heroes but a shame to the filipino race!!!!!!hope their souls burned in hell!!!!!!
Posted by: duane | October 16, 2008 at 05:35 PM
I adore all Heroes,who gave their lives for their belief and for the country. No one can replace them.
Posted by: web design manila | January 19, 2011 at 06:16 PM
It was such a shame that Del Pilar had to die for Aguinaldo. For sure, he was doing his duty as commander of the rear guard, but then I don't think that a man at the verge of death would ever lie. There is a strong possibility that Aguinaldo indeed ordered Del Pilar to stay behind. The Tirad 60 were merely sacrificial lambs, for Aguinaldo thought that once he reached Palanan it would be nearly impossible for the Americans to capture him. Hence it was imperative to put more distance between them. Sadly the Tirad 60 had to die for Aguinaldo to reach Palanan with tail tucked between his legs.
I also find the reference to Luna as a strong reminder on Aguinaldo's order to execute Bonifacio. The tide of cavitismo was still high even in those times. Aguinaldo could not bear the possibility that he would be dislodged from the seat of power he wrongfully wrested from Bonifacio. Hence he decided to eliminate Luna once and for all, otherwise he would be facing the Ilocanos and the Americans at the same time.
And mind you, the day following Aguinaldo's capture, he called upon the forces of the First Republic to surrender. Now, what about Del Pilar's sacrifice?
This explains why Filipino politics runs the way it does now. Selfishness overrides every other consideration. And I think the reason why Aguinaldo was allowed to live long enough was for him to suffer the tortures of his memory, from Bonifacio to Mabini to Del Pilar.
Alas Del Pilar. You chose the wrong man to serve.
Posted by: Aris Olaer | July 07, 2011 at 02:07 AM
To blame Aguinaldo for losing the war against the United States is just plain stupid and ignorant!!! Im tired of reading all these morons that the war was losed because he ordered the execution of Luna, who was supposed to be a "Great" general! PLEASE do some research and study the facts!
A. Are you telling me that the Filipinos at that time can actually defeat America, whose the most powerful country in the world at that time? With its modern army, long range artilleries, machine guns, krag & springfield rifles, a modern navy with battleships and gunboats? If your answer is yes, you are freaking dreaming!
B. The filipinos were not united. Not everyone supported the revolution, esp the illustrados.
C. Antonio Luna DID NOT win a single battle. How great a general is that? He was a mere civilian that presented himself to Aguinaldo with a letter of recommendation from the Hongkong junta. He was promoted by President Aguinaldo 3 times, until he became the 3rd highest officer in the Phil army, behind only to Emilio & Baldomero Aguinaldo. Aguinaldo was so impressed of Luna even though he knew during the Spanish revolution, Luna actually testified against Rizal, Adriano and other Filipino illustrados of Manila that resulted in their execution! Research it, its a FACT!
Luna was so hated by the other Fil officers because of his brutality (he slapped people left and right, he disarmed a whole company of soldiers IN THE MIDDLE OF A BATTLE (battle of La Loma), he whipped a train load of passengers who were mostly family of soldiers in front of Aguinaldo and his cabinet!). And despite this Aguinaldo still promoted him to General of the Army, the highest ranking, over any generals who was with him from the start like Del Pilar, Mascardo, Malvar, Pio del Pilar, Geronimo, Tinio, to name a few...
General Alejandrino who was a close friend of Luna wrote in his book that Luna wanted to grab the presidency from Aguinaldo . He even have the balls to write the list of his potential cabinet members once he became president at the la independencia, which he was the editor. Plain and simple, that is treason & sedition!!!
There are so many intrigues surrounding Aguinaldo, but the death of Luna was so bizzare! When Aguinaldo was interviewed about it, he answered it very simply...."if i wanted Luna dead, do u think im stupid enough to have him killed at my headquarters? It was so easy for me to order a soldier to shoot him in the middle of the battle. No, i did not send him a telegraph, nor i ordered his death..."
YOU BE THE JUDGE....
Posted by: Rodney Gammad | July 09, 2011 at 02:46 PM
To blame Aguinaldo for losing the war against the United States is just plain stupid and ignorant!!! Im tired of reading all these morons that the war was losed because he ordered the execution of Luna, who was supposed to be a "Great" general! PLEASE do some research and study the facts!
A. Are you telling me that the Filipinos at that time can actually defeat America, whose the most powerful country in the world at that time? With its modern army, long range artilleries, machine guns, krag & springfield rifles, a modern navy with battleships and gunboats? If your answer is yes, you are freaking dreaming!
B. The filipinos were not united. Not everyone supported the revolution, esp the illustrados.
C. Antonio Luna DID NOT win a single battle. How great a general is that? He was a mere civilian that presented himself to Aguinaldo with a letter of recommendation from the Hongkong junta. He was promoted by President Aguinaldo 3 times, until he became the 3rd highest officer in the Phil army, behind only to Emilio & Baldomero Aguinaldo. Aguinaldo was so impressed of Luna even though he knew during the Spanish revolution, Luna actually testified against Rizal, Adriano and other Filipino illustrados of Manila that resulted in their execution! Research it, its a FACT!
Luna was so hated by the other Fil officers because of his brutality (he slapped people left and right, he disarmed a whole company of soldiers IN THE MIDDLE OF A BATTLE (battle of La Loma), he whipped a train load of passengers who were mostly family of soldiers in front of Aguinaldo and his cabinet!). And despite this Aguinaldo still promoted him to General of the Army, the highest ranking, over any generals who was with him from the start like Del Pilar, Mascardo, Malvar, Pio del Pilar, Geronimo, Tinio, to name a few...
General Alejandrino who was a close friend of Luna wrote in his book that Luna wanted to grab the presidency from Aguinaldo . He even have the balls to write the list of his potential cabinet members once he became president at the la independencia, which he was the editor. Plain and simple, that is treason & sedition!!!
There are so many intrigues surrounding Aguinaldo, but the death of Luna was so bizzare! When Aguinaldo was interviewed about it, he answered it very simply...."if i wanted Luna dead, do u think im stupid enough to have him killed at my headquarters? It was so easy for me to order a soldier to shoot him in the middle of the battle. No, i did not send him a telegraph, nor i ordered his death..."
YOU BE THE JUDGE....
Posted by: Rodney Gammad | July 09, 2011 at 02:46 PM