December 28 in diaries

Meet Gregorio H. del Pilar

Featured diary of the day: Gregorio H. del Pilar

Gregorio del Pilar (1875-1899), general in the Philippine Revolution, one of the principal lieutenants of President Aguinaldo. In this entry from the first phase of the Philippine Revolution, he describes action against the Spanish. His diary entries were reproduced by Teodoro M. Kalaw based on sources that seem unobtainable today; as for his diary during the second phase of the Revolution (including the First Republic) we only have an entry reproduced by journalists; the diary itself, taken as war booty, has yet to be located.

December 28th, 1896

Our preparations are over before dawn. A dove is seen flying across the sky. We leave early, and when the sun is up we see San Rafael in the distance. Upon entering the town we fire off our cannons with such force that it leaves me almost deaf.

We did charge some rounds of ammunition as we enter the town. We stop in front of the Court, because of bullets whizzing by. As we expect enemy reinforcements, some of our comrades burn the town. As we turn to the road we hear horrible discharge of artillery. Our enemies themselves are reconnoitering the place, because some think that troops in the convent are members of the Katipunan. Of our men, one die and five are wounded.

I cannot tell how many casualties on the Spanish side; it is said that it reached forty.

Learn more about Gregorio del Pilar and his diary here.

Today in diaries:

1944: Filipinos: Gen. Basilio Valdes, Phil. Army chief of staff; Tomas Confesor, resistance leader; American civilians: Carl E. Rice; Albert Holland; Raymond Leyerly (UST); Natalie Crouter (Baguio).

1941: Filipinos: Gen. Basilio Valdes, Phil. Army chief of staff, Teodoro M. Locsin, journalist, Antonio Molina, lawyer; American civilians: Gladys Savary, Tressa Cates, Herman Beaber, Elizabeth Lautzenhiser, Lucy Hardee Olsen (Manila); (Baguio); Elizabeth Vaughn (Negros); American military: Gen. Lewis Beebe, USAFFE chief of staff; John P. Horan IV, USAFFE commander in Baguio; 1st. Lt. Robert Lunnie, John P. Burns, pilot.

1899: Simeon Villa, Santiago Barcelona, staff of Pres. Aguinaldo; Lt. Edward Avery Bumpus; Ernest Dieball.

1898: Soldiers: Alfred Burton Welch; John Henry Asendorf; John E.T. Milsaps, American Salvation Army missionary.