Gregorio Hilario del Pilar y Sempio (14 November 1875-2 December 1899) was a Filipino general during the Philippine Revolution and the Philippine-American War.
Biography[]
Gregorio Hilario del Pilar y Sempio was born in San Jose, Bulacan, Philippines on 14 November 1875, and he was an excellent student before helping his uncle distribute revolutionary propaganda in the leadup to the Philippine Revolution. On 3 September 1897, during the uprising against the Spanish, he and 10 guerrillas took Paombong from the Spanish Army garrison, and Emilio Aguinaldo - recognizing his abilities - promoted him to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. On 24 June 1898, he surrendered the Spanish surrender in Bulacan. He later fought in the Philippine-American War, defeating the Americans at the Battle of Quingua (during which Colonel John M. Stotsenburg was killed in action) and engaging in a brave last stand at the Battle of Tirad Pass on 2 December 1899. He was shot in the neck and killed, and only 8 of the 60 Filipino defenders survived the battle.