Gregorio del Pilar, Ilocos Sur

Gregorio del Pilar, officially the Municipality of Gregorio del Pilar (Ilocano: Ili ti Gregorio del Pilar; Tagalog: Bayan ng Gregorio del Pilar) is a municipality in the province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 4,472 people.^[3]

Gregorio del Pilar Concepcion
Municipality
Municipality of Gregorio del Pilar
Flag Seal
Map of Ilocos Sur with Gregorio del Pilar highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Gregorio del Pilar Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 17°08′54″N 120°36′40″E
Country	Philippines
Region	Ilocos Region
Province	Ilocos Sur
District	2nd district
Named for	Gregorio del Pilar
Barangays	7 (see Barangays)
Government  [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• mayor of Gregorio del Pilar[*]	Henry S. Gallardo
• Vice Mayor	Rolando P. Onie
• Representative	Kristine Singson-Meehan
• Municipal Council	Members Rogelio B. Bicasan Jr. Ulysses R. Duquing Rico W. Dangtayan Romy C. Bitongan Daniel M. Ciriaco Levi A. Bugtong Alfonso S. Baliling Jacob B. Ciriaco
• Electorate	3,423 voters (2022)
Area [2]
• Total	41.66 km2 (16.09 sq mi)
Elevation	569 m (1,867 ft)
Highest elevation	1,438 m (4,718 ft)
Lowest elevation	95 m (312 ft)
Population  (2020 census)[3]
• Total	4,472
• Density	110/km2 (280/sq mi)
• Households	956
Economy
• Income class	5th municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	15.19 % (2021)[4]
• Revenue	₱ 212 million (2020), 53.43 million (2012), 49.25 million (2013), 39.58 million (2014), 82.64 million (2015), 158 million (2016), 56.02 million (2017), 61.07 million (2019), 370.9 million (2021), 317 million (2022)
• Assets	₱ 702.1 million (2020), 88.47 million (2012), 80.22 million (2013), 58.2 million (2014), 105.6 million (2015), 256.3 million (2016), 279.9 million (2017), 567.5 million (2018), 986.6 million (2021), 1,234 million (2022)
• Expenditure	₱ 72.35 million (2020), 26.96 million (2012), 30.17 million (2013), 28.68 million (2014), 30.97 million (2015), 36.07 million (2016), 43.72 million (2017), 43.53 million (2018), 57.36 million (2019), 87.52 million (2021), 104.6 million (2022)
• Liabilities	₱ 39.2 million (2020), 15.17 million (2012), 20.48 million (2013), 13.87 million (2014), 22.89 million (2015), 26.43 million (2016), 36.55 million (2017), 33.9 million (2018), 31.99 million (2021), 68.28 million (2022)
Service provider
• Electricity	Ilocos Sur Electric Cooperative (ISECO)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	2720
PSGC	012910000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)77
Native languages	Ilocano Tagalog

Formerly named Concepcion (in honor of its patron saint, Nuestra Senora de Concepcion), it was renamed after general Gregorio del Pilar by virtue of Republic Act No. 1246 on June 10, 1955,^[5] sponsored by Congressman Ricardo Gacula. The municipality was the site of the Battle of Tirad Pass where General del Pilar fought to the death against the Americans.

Etymology

The town got its name after general Gregorio del Pilar.

History

Battle of Tirad Pass

Main article: Battle of Tirad Pass

On December 2, 1899, American forces, mostly of the 33rd Volunteer Infantry Regiment under Major Peyton C. March, prepared for an assault of the Filipino forces fortification under the Command of General Gregorio del Pilar. On the narrow trail of Tirad Pass, the Filipino soldiers watched as the enemy began to move up the trail. On around a few hundreds yards above the pass, General Gregorio del Pilar, with his staff and accompanied by two civilians from Sitio Mabatano, spotted the American forces through his spy glass as they were starting to move. But as he watched, he noticed that the American forces broke formation and instead sent a messenger on horse back with a white banner. As the messenger was coming near the fortification of Filipino forces, the sound of a gun was heard and the messenger fell. The American forces divided into three separate groups. One group followed the trail towards the pass.

Another group ascended the hill facing the Filipino soldiers stationed in the pass. The third group, led by a Filipino from the lowlands named Januario Galut, made their way up unnoticed through the old trail which was hastily barricaded by felled trees a few days before the American forces arrived. This old path lead to the place where General del Pilar stood watching. As the American forces dispersed, the general ordered the two civilians, Tucdaden and Abeng to proceed to the trenches and deliver the breakfast of the Filipino soldiers. All of a sudden continuous gunshots were heard continuously and went unabated for several hours. General del Pilar was shot and killed.

Geography

The town lies among the western hills of the Cordilleras in the interior eastern portion of the province of Ilocos Sur. It is bounded in the north by the town of San Emilio, Quirino in the east, Sigay in the south and Salcedo in the west. Its 7 barangays and sitios are connected by winding foot trails and seasonal rugged roads. The town is likewise endowed with natural scenery and wonders such as the payoh or rice terraces, pristine waterfalls, and the distinctive peak of Mount Tirad. There are also trails crisscrossing Tirad Pass, which were built through polo y servicio (forced labor) during the Spanish Period.

Gregorio del Pilar is 86 kilometres (53 mi) from Vigan City and 371 kilometres (231 mi) from Manila.

Barangays

Gregorio del Pilar is politically subdivided into 7 barangays. ^[6] Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

• Alfonso (Tangaoan)
• Bussot
• Concepcion
• Dapdappig (Mabatano)
• Matue-Butarag
• Poblacion Norte
• Poblacion Sur

Sitios

Gregorio del Pilar is politically subdivided into 5 sitios. ^[6]

• Mabatano
• Tangaoan
• Ul-oling
• Tubalina
• Butarag

Climate

Climate data for Gregorio del Pilar, Ilocos Sur
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	28 (82)	29 (84)	30 (86)	31 (88)	30 (86)	29 (84)	28 (82)	28 (82)	28 (82)	29 (84)	29 (84)	28 (82)	29 (84)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	18 (64)	19 (66)	21 (70)	23 (73)	24 (75)	23 (73)	23 (73)	23 (73)	23 (73)	21 (70)	20 (68)	19 (66)	21 (70)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	27 (1.1)	31 (1.2)	40 (1.6)	71 (2.8)	207 (8.1)	237 (9.3)	286 (11.3)	261 (10.3)	261 (10.3)	254 (10.0)	88 (3.5)	46 (1.8)	1,809 (71.3)
Average rainy days	9.4	9.3	12.7	17.0	25.4	26.8	27.4	26.1	25.0	21.0	15.5	10.6	226.2
Source: Meteoblue (modeled/calculated data, not measured locally)[7]

Demographics

Population census of Gregorio del Pilar

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1903 99 —     1918 1,436 +19.52% 1939 2,046 +1.70% 1948 1,819 −1.30% 1960 2,164 +1.46%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1970 2,657 +2.07% 1975 2,950 +2.12% 1980 3,080 +0.87% 1990 3,417 +1.04% 1995 3,940 +2.70%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 2000 4,134 +1.04% 2007 4,308 +0.57% 2010 4,219 −0.76% 2015 4,875 +2.79% 2020 4,472 −1.68%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[8][9][10][11]

In the 2020 census, Gregorio del Pilar had a population of 4,472.^[3] The population density was 110 inhabitants per square kilometre (280/sq mi).

The inhabitants are Igorots, but belong to the Bag-o ethno-linguistic group. This mixture of Ilocano and Igorot intermarriages speak the Kankanaey language but can speak and understand the dialects of their neighboring towns. Many have already acquired college education and some serve the government and private institutions.

Economy

Poverty incidence of Gregorio del Pilar

5 10 15 20 25 30 2006 29.30 2009 26.09 2012 26.57 2015 19.27 2018 9.73 2021 15.19 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]

Government

Local government

Main article: Sangguniang Bayan

Gregorio del Pilar, belonging to the second congressional district of the province of Ilocos Sur, is governed by a mayor designated as its local chief executive and by a municipal council as its legislative body in accordance with the Local Government Code. The mayor, vice mayor, and the councilors are elected directly by the people through an election which is being held every three years.

Elected officials

Members of the Municipal Council
(2022–2025)^[20]

Position	Name
Congressman	Kristine Singson-Meehan
Mayor	Henry S. Gallardo
Vice-Mayor	Rolando P. Onie
Councilors	Rogelio B. Bicasan Jr.
	Romy C. Bitongan
	Ullysses R. Duquing
	Jacob B. Ciriaco
	Rogelio D. Balao
	Levi A. Bugtong
	Alfonso S. Baliling
	Daniel M . Ciriaco

Tourist attractions

• Tirad Pass National Park and Shrine of Gen. Gregorio del Pilar (Barangay Dapdappig)
• Sibol Hot Spring and Swimming area (Barangay Bussot)
• Mt. Tirad Pass Summit and Mt. Peg-an Camping site (Barangay Bussot)
• Tirad Pass Museum and handicraft center (Poblacion Sur)

See also

• List of renamed cities and municipalities in the Philippines

References

1.  Municipality of Gregorio del Pilar | (DILG)
2. "2015 Census of Population, Report No. 3 – Population, Land Area, and Population Density" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. Quezon City, Philippines. August 2016. ISSN 0117-1453. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
3. Census of Population (2020). "Region I (Ilocos Region)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
4. "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. April 2, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
5. "An Act Changing the Name of the Municipality of Concepcion, Province of Ilocos Sur, to Gregorio Del Pilar". LawPH.com. Retrieved April 11, 2011.
6. "Province: Ilocos Sur". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
7. "Gregorio del Pilar: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
8. Census of Population (2015). "Region I (Ilocos Region)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
9. Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region I (Ilocos Region)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
10. Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region I (Ilocos Region)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
11. "Province of Ilocos Sur". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
12. "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
13. "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. November 29, 2005.
14. "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. March 23, 2009.
15. "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. August 3, 2012.
16. "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. May 31, 2016.
17. "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. July 10, 2019.
18. "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. December 15, 2021. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
19. "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. April 2, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
20. "2019 National and Local Elections" (PDF). Commission on Elections. Retrieved March 11, 2022.

External links

• Act renaming the town of Concepcion to Gregorio del Pilar
• Pasyalang Ilocos Sur
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Philippine Census Information
• Local Governance Performance Management System Archived May 2, 2012, at the Wayback Machine