One of the most romantic figures in Philippine history and the youngest general in the Revolutionary Army, Gregorio del Pilar was born in San Jose, Bulacan on November 14, 1875.

Gregorio del Pilar is remembered as the "Hero of Tirad Pass." In that historic place, the young general fought and held back the strong invading Americans with only a few back up men in order to give Aguinaldo ample time to escape from the Spanish military. It was a one-sided battle, but Gregorio del Pilar fought bravely. And he paid for this heroism with his life. He was shot and killed on December 2, 1899 after commanding Aguinaldo's rear guard.

Before he died, he wrote, "I am surrounded by fearful odds that will overcome me and my gallant men, but I am pleased to die fighting for my beloved country".

The American victors looted the corpse of the fallen general. They got his pistol, diary and personal papers, boots and silver spurs, coat and pants, a lady's handkerchief with the name "Dolores Jose," his sweetheart, diamond rings, gold watch, shoulder straps, and a gold locket containing a woman's hair.

But a chivalric American officer redeemed his countrymen's vandalism by giving the late hero an honorable burial and engraved the phrase "An Officer and a Gentleman" on his tombstone.