Mga Kuwento ng Tirad Pass at ni Hen. Goyo

"WHEREAS, Gen. Gregorio del Pilar was born on November 14, 1875 in Barangay San Jose, Bulakan, Bulacan;

"WHEREAS, Gen. Gregorio del Pilar was one of the youngest Filipino Generals who sacrificed his life for the cause of freedom and independence during the Philippine revolution.

"WHEREAS, he fought valiantly in the defense of Kakaron, attack of Paombong, liberation of Bulacan and in the Battle of Tirad Pass, where he died on December 2, 1899;

"WHEREAS, the heroism of Gen. Gregorio del Pilar and other Filipinos deserve to be commemorated as a reminder of their love for freedom and democracy...."

-Excerpts from National Historical Institute Resolution No. 02 S. 2009 declaring Gen. Goyo's birthplace as a national historical landmark.

http://www.nhi.gov.ph/files/NHI_res_2_2009.pdf

"Tirad Pass was the site of a battle chronicled by international correspondents at the turn of the century. Part of Tirad Pass National Park, it snakes upwards to just kilometers from the peak of Mt. Tirad and includes the lower zigzag road portion (an earth road with boulders and dry rip rapped shoulders).

"It was here in the summit of the Pass that the platoon of Gen. Gregorio del Pilar made a heroic stand against American troops on the morning of December 2, 1899 to enable the escape of President Emilio Aguinaldo towards the "wilds of Lepanto." In an ultimate expression of patriotism, the Filipino defenders valiantly fought the American troops in a bloody engagement known as the "Battle of Tirad Pass." Fifty-two of the 60 Filipinos including the 24-year old Del Pilar perished in what an American war correspondent dramatically termed as a "battle above the clouds."

"Del Pilar fell and died on a hilly spot where there used to be a makeshift marker placed by the Americans in the general's honor.

From a Manila Bulletin editorial/opinion piece:

"AT Tirad Pass, on December 2, 1899, with only 60 men, the youthful General Gregorio H. del Pilar heroically resisted the forces pursuing President Emilio F. Aguinaldo. Del Pilar was aware of the grave task and responsibility he faced, which he recorded in his diary:

""I realized what a terrible task has been given me by President Aguinaldo. And yet I felt this is the most glorious moment of my life. What I do is done for my beloved country. No sacrifice can be too great."

"Ill-equipped, outnumbered, and outgunned, he and his intrepid men stood their ground. For some anxious hours they blocked the enemy advance. A shot from a Krag-Jorgensen rifle killed Del Pilar...."

102nd Anniversary of the Battle at Tirad Pass and General Gregorio H. Del Pilar's death

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-80462952.html

Different account of Gen. Goyo's death is provided by Col. Vicente Enriquez:

Ang tunay na pangyayari tugon sa ibinigay na testimoniya ni Vicente Enriquez, matapat na kaibigan, kababata sa Bulacan at pinagkakatiwalaan ni Del Pilar, sa mga nagusig sa kaniya ng siya'y mahuli (actual testimony was in Pilipino but translated as is, for the U S army by a Pilipino interpreter)…

"we passed the night in the cabin on the peak. Around dawn (Dec. 2) we heared shooting from Concepcion. At daybreak the general ordered me to go down to the trenches to see what was going on. From the hilltop I saw American troops resting below, their arms stacked up. Our soldiers told me our position was impregnable. We all agreed we are winning the battle. I returned to the peak where I left General Del Pilar, but on the way up I saw him with Lieutenant Telesforo Carrasco & Vicente Morales & the bugler. I told him what I have seen. The general quicken his pace on learning that the Americans could be seen from a certain high point. We arrived on the top of the trenches. Then we went to the hilltop where I was & the moment we got there we heard renewed firing and saw our soldiers giving battle. Our soldiers pointing their hands, warned Del Pilar that the enemy was almost on top of us but could not see nothing save an irregular movement of the cogon grass. So the general ordered a halt to the firing. And erect on the hilltop to see & distinguish the enemy. While he was doing this he was hit by a bullet. The general covered his face with both hands & falling backward & diying instantly. Always handsome & elegant."

http://katonynabanlawkasaysayan.blogspot.com/2008/09/pasong-tirad-lugar-ng-kagitingan-o.html

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