Gregorio Del Pilar

Media

Part of The Young Citizen: The Magazine for Young People

Title: Gregorio Del Pilar
Year: 1936
Rights
Fulltext: .Vowmber, 1.9.UJ 'l'HE YOUNG CITIZEN 285 (Gallery of Na~ional l-leroes) GrG~~!~co ~.:.: PILAR ROM our Gallery of Revolutionary H~F roes, there is one about whom we know so little, for very little has been said or written about him. Except for the never-to-be-forgotten battle of Tila Pass with which his name has been inseparably linked, Gregorio de! Pilar's life is so to say -"a blank page" to a great many of us. With the coming of his birthday which falls on the 14th of November, recounting his many virtues and string of achievements would be but paying a tribute to the "young hero" in the absence of a national holiday to commemorate his natal day. Born on Nov. 14, 1875 exactly fifty-one years ago on his coming birthday, he was lucky in having lived at a time when our country needed most, men. of courage; high sense of loyalty and patriotism such as he) possessed. Coming from a family of heroes, it was no wonder that he should be classed with our best men at a very young age. His father was Fernando H. de! Pi .. Jar, brother of Marcelo H. de! Pilar, another revolutionary hero. His mother was Felipa Sempio. He was brought up by his aunt Doiia Hilaria de! Pilar, the wife of Deodato Arellano the first supreme head of the Katipunan. He obtained his primary education in hi& home town in Bulacan. Later he came to Manila and studied in the Ateneo de Manila, where he obtained his bachelor's degree. Before he graduated from this school he had already joined the Katipunan, taking his oath, before its supreme head Andres Bonifacio. Immediately after receiving his diploma he joined the fotces of the Katipunan. . From that time on, he distinguished himself from the common mass by reason of his ingenuity, bravery, loyalty, and great respect for justice and righteousness. Starting with but a handful of men, whose ~nly weapons were courage and loyalty, they ambushed a group of i::lpanish soldiers from whom they obtained several pistois and guns. That incident marked the beginning of a series of attacks in which he always came out victorious in spite of the great odds against which he was fighting. One of the outstanding achievements to his credit in the earlier part of his career was the capture of Paombong, an account of which was given in his report' to Gen. Mamerto Natividad. With only eleven men with him using his brain to advantage, he was able to capture the town of Paombong within three minutes. It.was his tact and ingenuity that made possible his rapid rise to the position of a Brigadier General in three years. As a soldier he was a model of bravery and loyalty, but as a captor he was loved and admired even by his enemies. He (Contiml(''l 011 page 29'1) .\'011cm.ber, J!JJG THE .YOUNG CITIZEN 293 . [~?ssY PAGE by conducted II gilmo. baldovino~ The Young Citizen Stamp Club GREGORIO DEL PILAR Stamp ~ollecting is an interesting l;obby. It is a hobby that more pE"ople follow than any other hobby. At present, among the most popular stamps are those stamps which picture airplanes. These stamps are known as airmail stamps. Do you know what airmail sr;.mps are for? Regular stamps art issued to pay postage on litters carried bf several kinds of transportation as the trains; automobiles, trucks or ships. Now, airmail stamps are issued to pay postage on letters that aie carried by planes. But there is another purpose in issuing these airmail stamps. W)len aviators did some heroic deeds. stamps are issued to honor them. In the year 1927, Charles Lindbergh bravely flew across the Atlantic Ocean. It was Spain, three years after this flight of the· ""Lone Eagle," that issued a one peseta airmail stamp. This stamp carries the picture of Lindbergh, the plan\? '"Spirit of St. Louis'" and the Statue of Liberty in the harbor of New York. Some airmail stamps show scenl.'."s of a country. An airmail stamn from Greece is an example of the;e stiimps. This stamp Shows a large mail and passenger plane flying over the ancient ruins of. Ath:?ns. It is interesting to coJ.lect "these airmail stamps. These stamps show all kinds of planes. An airmail stamp trorh the country of Latvia shows a plane which was built in 1903 by the Wright Brothers. The \\'right Brothers are the first t~o Americans that built the first sur.cr~sful plane in che ·world. These two brothers art ohen called the Fathers of Fli~ht. WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY? Is your hobby collecting books, stamps, dolls, coins, stones, leaves, fruits, aquarium fishes; making albums, studying nature, music or dancing; making things with your tools or with your needle; taking pictures, drawing or painting? Or do you have some other hobby? Write a letter to The Young.Citizen's Hobby Page teUing about your hobby. Remember, this is your own page-let us mako? it a good one. ' Address your letter to The Young Citizen'B Hobby Page c/o Community Publishel-s, Inc., 405 Padre Faura, Manna. Give! your name, address and age. \Ve. will greaUy appreciate it if you will send us your snapshot and a picture of your hobby. All letters or pictures about your hobby ·will be published and answered in this page. (Cont.inuecl from p:igc 28-5) treated his captives kindly such that .at one time a captive "said, '"I foci as tho I were at home in my captivity." His respect . for justice and u~ righteousness was shown when his elder brother accidentally· ran over an old wom~n "with a bicycle h~ was riding. Upon learning, of t~e incident he ordered his brother to see the old woman and offer an apology or 0 else he would be dis· missed from the service ~nd sent to prison. His elder brother was at that time a· colonel in his brigade. His respect for the rights of others was embodied in his order to his soldiers who were strictly forbidden never to rob. plunder, or violate women. Such were the virtues of this '"young general" and for them we should love, honor, and respect his memory. He died. Dec. 19, 1898 at th< battle of Tila Pass. a hero's death. One of the most beautiful air- On his diary was found this quorr.ail stamps that was issued recent- ration written just before he ditdly is the Trans-Pacific Airmail stamp. This stamp was issued only "I am surrounded by odds that will several months ago. This was is- soon overpower me and my ·braye snt.'d to commemorate the flight of men. but I am content in the the China Clipper chat successfully thought that I die fighting for my crossed che Pacific 9cean. Have you many airnlail stamps in your collection? And Can you name all che planes they picture? The Young Citizen Stamp Club which is the title of this column is the Young Stamp Collectors' own page. Our Stamp Editor will b..! glad to answer any questions you may wish to o:sk regarding stamps. In your letter, please enclose a self. addressed stamped envelope. country. He was certain of his death at that battle but his courage never failed him. Inspired by his loyalcy and devotion to duty, ea.ch of his sixty soldiers faced death as calmly and willingly as thci-r illustrious general. For his bravery GenCl"al March buried him with the military honors that was due his rank. May· our youth follow his unselfish devotion to his country.