Tirad Pass National Shrine
The battle of Tirad Pass is one of the infamous episodes in the Philippine American War. The American troops hunted for President Emilio Aguinaldo who was forced to take his Government from Bulacan, Central Luzon to Northern Luzon to seek refuge at the massive cordillera mountain chain. From Candon, Ilocos Sur, Aguinaldo and his troops went east and crossed the Ilocos range over a high mountain cut passageways to the Cordillera was Tirad Pass. General Gregorio del Pilar, with 60 of his men, was tasked to trail the pursuing American troops and put more distance between them and the fleeing Aguinaldo. He saw the potentials of the terrain of Tirad Pass that could shield the defending Filipino troops. General Gregorio del Pilar was eventually killed with 52 of his men after a long battle when a Filipino betrayed them by revealing to the Americans the secret passage to the mountain top from the rear. The six hour battle standoff against hundred of American soldiers in December 2, 1899 resulted in the death of General Gregorio del Pilar by a shot to the neck. Even after losing his top aide, Aguinaldo continued exhorting his troops to persevere in the struggle. He was able to elude arrest until March 23, 1901 when he was captured in Palanon, Isabela.
