Pilar is a town in Bataan, Central Luzon, the Philippines. It is best known as the location of Mount Samat National Shrine.

Understand

Pilar is one of the oldest towns of Bataan. Spaniards in the galleon landed in a sitio of Balanga and were greeted by the natives. The place was named in honor of the image of the Our Lady of the Pillar, hence the town was called "Pilar".

Pilar is located to the south of Balanga, the capital city of the province. According to the 2015 census, the historic town has 41,823 people.

Get in

To get to Pilar, you must take either of these highways: Bataan Provincial Expressway (or more commonly called Roman Superhighway) and Bataan National Road.

See

Historical sites

• 1 Flaming Sword, Barangay Panilao. This is a landmark depicting a hand holding a flaming sword up in the air, which symbolized the Filipino patriots' courage and gallantry as they face the adversary and threats to their democracy and freedom. The ESPADA was inaugurated on April 8, 1967. 
• 2 Mount Samat National Shrine. Also known as Dambana ng Kagitingan or Shrine of Valour, it is a 92-meter-high War Memorial Cross and a national shrine atop Mount Samat, built to honor and remember the gallantry of the Filipino and American soldiers who fought during World War II. Memorial services are conducted every April 9, which is commemorated nationally as Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valour) and known in the province as the Bataan Day.  

Natural attractions

Road going to Dunsulan Falls

• 3 Dunsulan Falls, Barangay Liyang. This is a waterfall located at the foot of Mount Samat, northeast of the National Shrine.