General Gregorio del Pilar, 24 Yrs Old

Gregorio 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 was called the “Boy General” because of his youth.

Born on November 14, 1875 to Fernando H. del Pilar and Felipa Sempio of Bulacan, Bulacan, del Pilar was the nephew of propagandist Marcelo H. del Pilar and Toribio H. del Pilar, who was exiled to Guam for his involvement in the 1872 Cavite Mutiny.

“Goyo”, as he was casually known, studied at the Ateneo de Manila University, 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.

He later joined General Emilio Aguinaldo, who had gained control of the movement, in Hong Kong after the truce at Biak-na-Bato. During the Spanish American War, Aguinaldo returned to the Philippines and established the government of the First Philippine Republic. He appointed del Pilar section leader of the revolutionary forces in Bulacan and Nueva Ecija. On June 1, del Pilar landed in Bulacan with rifles purchased in Hong Kong, quickly laying siege on the Spanish forces in the province. When the Spaniards surrendered to del Pilar, he brought his men to Caloocan, Manila to support the other troops battling the Spaniards there.

When the Philippine-American War broke-out on February 1899, del Pilar led his troops to a short victory over Major Franklin Bell in the first phase of the Battle of Quingua on April 23, 1899, in which his forces repelled a cavalry charge and killed the highly respected Colonel John M. Stotsenburg, after whom Clark Air Base was originally named (Fort Stotsenburg).

On December 2, 1899, del Pilar led 60 Filipino soldiers of Aguinaldo’s rear guard in the Battle of Tirad Pass against the “Texas Regiment”, the 33rd Infantry Regiment of the United States led by Peyton C. March. A delaying action to cover Aguinaldo’s retreat, the five-hour standoff resulted in del Pilar’s death due to a shot to the neck (at the height or end of the fighting, depending on eyewitness accounts). Del Pilar’s body was later despoiled and looted by the victorious Americans soldiers.

Del Pilar’s body lay unburied for days, exposed to the elements. While retracing the trail, an American officer, Lt. Dennis P. Quinlan, gave the body a traditional U.S. military burial. Upon del Pilar’s tombstone, Quinlan inscribed, “An Officer and a Gentleman”.

In 1930, del Pilar’s body was exhumed and was identified by the old tooth and braces he had installed while in exile in Hong Kong.

Hermano Pule, 26 Yrs Old

(1815-1841) was born Apolinario de la Cruz in barrio Pandác, Lucbán, Tayabas (now Quezon), but is better known as Hermano Pule. He led the first major revolt in the Philippines, based on a struggle for religious freedom and independence.

As an infant, Apolinario wanted to become a priest. At the age of 24 in 1839, he attempted to enter a prestigious monastic order in Manila. He was refused because he was considered of a lower social class, an ‘indio’ (native and indigent). Frustrated, he worked in the San Juan de Dios Hospital. During his spare time, he studied the Bible and other religious material. He also listened to church sermons, thus developing his own racially-inspired versions of theology.

In June 1840, without permission of the Holy Father, he founded the Cofradia de San José (Confraternity of St. Joseph) which excluded all Caucasians. The brotherhood fostered a practice of Christian virtues, while excluding brothers and sisters of other races. When Spanish religious authorities became aware of the creation of the organization, it was condemned as heresy and against the teaching of Christ of brotherly love. The brotherhood’s number grew despite its proscription by the Catholic Church.

Authorities, including (Spanish)Governor-General Marcelino Oraa and Roman Catholic Archbishop Jose Segui, regarded the Cofradia as heresy and an abomination of universal Christian values, ordering its dissolution. Despite its religious prohibition, the Cofradia continued to multiply in its numbers.

Feeling an attack on their religious freedom from Catholic authorities, Pule rallied 4,000 followers at Barrio Isabang on the slope of Mount Banahaw and was able to resist an attack by Alcalde-mayor Juan Ortega and his 300 men on October 23, 1841.

However, reinforcements came on November 1st, with Colonel Joaquin Huet who annihilated the Cofradia forces, allegedly massacring hundreds of old men, women and children who joined Pule in Alitao in defying the Catholic leaders of the Church.

Pule fled to Barrio Ibanga but was captured by authorities the following evening, and on November 4, 1841 he was executed by a firing squad at the town of Tayabas.