|
 Antonio
Luna was born to parents Joaquin Luna and Laureana
Novicia on October 29,1868 in Urbiztondo, Binondo,
Manila. He was the younger brother of internationally
famous Filipino painter Juan Luna.
Antonio studied at Ateneo Municipal. He also went to the
University of Santo Tomas where he took up Pharmacy. He
continued his medical education at Universidad Central
de Madrid in Spain. Moreover, he studied War Science in
Germany.
While in Spain, he met Filipino propagandists Dr. Jose
Rizal, Marcelo H. Del Pilar and Graciano Lopez Jaena.
This made him stopped studying medicine. Instead, he
specialized in the study about military science. He also
contributed articles in La Solidaridad.
When he came back to the Philippines, he saw the
ineptitude of the revolutionary forces. Poor training
and lack of discipline was common to the Filipino
soldiers. He joined the armed forces against the
Americans. He trained the Filipino soldiers in
scientific warfare. As a leader, he was a
disciplinarian. This demoralized a lot of Filipino
soldiers. He founded the Philippines' first
Military Academy. |
|
When he was appointed general, he set up the Department
of War in order to unite all provincial units. When
rebellion erupted between the Filipinos and the
Americans, he was appointed Secretary of War and
Commander-in-Chief under the leadership of Gen. Emilio
Aguinaldo.
His first encounter with the American forces happened in
Manila. He later established a stronghold in Bulacan.
He was gunned down in Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija on June
5, 1899. He died at the age of 31.
Antonio also founded and edited the revolutionary
newspaper La Independencia. |
