Statue Of General Pio Del Pilar At Makati Ave Editorial Image

On a small traffic island along Makati Avenue in Manila, a bronze statue of Philippine independence hero Pio Del Pilar furiously brandishes a sword and revolver in the direction of Ayala Tower, where the Philippines Stock Exchange is housed. Though he was born as Pío Castañeda Isidro, he changed his surname to del Pilar to safeguard his family from prosecution. In May 1896, he joined the Katipunan a Philippine revolutionary society founded by anti-Spanish Filipinos in Manila in 1892 and formed the Matagumpay Triumphant chapter, taking the symbolic name Pang-una Leader. del Pilar is well known for leading a group of rebels in the Battle of Binakayan on November 9, 1896 and capturing the town from Spanish authorities. He fought bravely but was defeated during the battle of Morong during the Filipino-American war. He was subsequently exiled to Guam but never swore allegiance to the American flag. Pio del Pilar sucuumbed to illness in 1931 and died in Pasay.