"Heneral Goyo" and the Katipunan

Abstract

LITTLE is known of General Gregorio del Pilar save for his valiant stand with a small force in Tirad Pass against an American platoon of the 33rd Infantry under the command of Major P.C. March. No history of the Revolution would be complete without mention of "Heneral Goyo's supreme sacrifice that prevented the early capture of the first president of the Republic.

The young Del Pilar played an important role in the Katipunan. He was initiated into the society by the revolutionary top brass of Bulacan; Anacleto Enriquez, Doroteo Caragdag, Vicente Enriquez, Manuel Garcia and Ricardo Martin. The initiation ceremony was performed in sitio Kababan of barrio San Nicolas, Bulacan, Bulacan.

At the outbreak of hostilities on August 26, 1896, Andres Bonifacio ordered all units, in the provinces to take to the field . Balangay Uliran of Bulacan, Bulacan, and Balangay Uliran Apoy of Malolos, gathered in Masukol, Malolos. Gen. Isidoro Torres was designated commanding officer of the fused balangays. Three thousand men armed with bamboo lances and with pistols and rifles prepared to face the enemy. The Katipunan engaged the enemy. The Katipunan engaged the enemy at Masukol, then at barrio Bagbag, Calumpit, in the blood-bath of San Rafael, many Katipuneros perished.