Pío del Pilar

Pío del Pilar (born Pío Isidro y Castañeda; July 11, 1860 – June 21, 1931) was a Filipino revolutionary general. He was one of the lead figures in the Philippine Revolution, and fought major battles in Manila and Cavite.

To safeguard his family and prevent them from harassment, he changed his surname from Isidro to del Pilar.

Early life and education National historical marker installed in Brgy. Pio del Pilar, Makati, in 1983

del Pilar was born Pío Isidro y Castañeda in Barrio Culi-culi, San Pedro de Macati (present-day Makati) on July 11, 1860, to Isaac del Pilar, a farmer from Pasay, and Antonia Castaňeda, an embroider from San Felipe Neri (present-day Mandaluyong). As a child, his parents had him study for two years in the school of Pascual Rodriguez, and for four months under Ramon Renaldo, until he was forced to stop to work in the family farm.

del Pilar married his childhood friend, Juliana Valeriano, at the age of 17. He was barely married for a year before he was drafted in the Spanish Army. He was assigned in Mindanao for a year, In time, however, he switched sides, aligning himself with the Magdalo faction and becoming one of Emilio Aguinaldo's trusted generals. It was del Pilar (along with Gen. Mariano Noriel) that advised Aguinaldo to change the commutation (banishment) to execution of Andres and Procopio Bonifacio.

His last battle was with the Americans, in the town of Morong. He fought bravely but he and his men were defeated and captured. Del Pilar was exiled to Guam along with Apolinario Mabini, Artemio Ricarte, and other patriots, referred to as Irreconcilables by the Americans. He returned to the Philippines after Governor William Howard Taft extended pardons to the revolutionaries. He continued to fight for the cause of the Filipino people by supporting the Jones Bill for Filipinos' preparation for self governance.

He died on June 21, 1931, at the age of 70 due to lingering illness, almost three weeks shy of his 71st birthday.

Legacy A barangay, originally known as Culi-Culi where he was born, four schools in Makati, and an elementary school in Santa Mesa, Manila, are named in his honor. Additionally, a bronze statue dedicated to him is located at the intersection of Makati Avenue and Paseo de Roxas in the Makati Central Business District.

In popular culture Portrayed by Ian Palma in the 2010 film, Ang Paglilitis ni Andres Bonifacio. Portrayed by Emilio Garcia in the 2012 film, El Presidente.