The Father of the Philippine Military Academy

General Antonio Luna, the younger brother of Juan Luna, was born in Urbistondo, Manila on October 29, 1868. He studied at Ateneo Municipal de Manila where he finished Bachelor of Arts. He was the most excellent student and received the highest grade among those who graduated with him in that course. He studied pharmacy at the University of Santo Tomas and finished the course in Barcelona, Spain. He received his degree of Doctor of Pharmacy at the Universidad Central de Madrid. He studied in France where he became an assistant chemist to the famous chemists, Dr. Tatteaix and Dr. Laffen. In recognition of his brilliance, he was appointed by the Spanish government as a Commissioner and study matters relating to infectious diseases. In Spain, he joined the propaganda movement. He published his writings in the La Solidaridad, using a pen name, “Tagailog”. When he returned to the Philippines, he served in the Spanish government as a chemist. He was suspected to have connections with the revolutionary movement, so he was exiled to Spain in 1897, and was imprisoned at the Carcel Modelo de Madrid. When he was released, he specialized in military tactics in Belgium.

Gen. Antonio Luna was a military genius. He was an expert in any kind of weapon, a master swordsman, and a sharpshooter. When the Philippine-American war broke out, Gen. Aguinaldo appointed him as a general. He founded the Philippine Military Academy to give the Filipino soldiers the proper training in modern warfare, proper discipline, and obedience to superiors. He founded and edited the newspaper, ”La Independencia”, the first issue of which was on September 3, 1898. Because of his expertise in military strategy and warfare, Gen. Aguinaldo made him Director of War. He was one of the 19 members of the committee that drafted the Malolos Constitution which was adopted by the Malolos Congress on Nov. 29, 1898. Gen. Antonio Luna was the best general of the Philippine Army. He was known as the Mainstay of the Revolution. The Americans were surprised at the splendid discipline of the Filipino army confronting them. His valor won the admiration of the Americans. His military knowledge and personal courage won for him the position of Commander in Chief of the Philippine Army. His fast rising rank and fame became a threat feared by others. Like Bonifacio, he was a thorn in the path of the less competent but power greedy and ambitious one. So, his death was plotted. The first attempt to assassinate him failed. In writer Leopoldo R. Serrano’s interview with the survivor of the Battle of Tirad Pass, Captain Isidro Wenceslao said:...I was ordered to shoot Gen. Luna on a train he was supposed to be riding. I remember being ordered to pick out 16 sharpshooters in my company and to arm them with good Mausers. I was ordered also to select for myself the best and newest Mauser in my company. My order was to shoot Gen. Luna on sight, but the train had already left when we arrived".

On June 2, 18 99,Gen. Luna received a telegram signed by Gen. Aguinaldo stating that he was badly needed in Cabanatuan. He immediately obeyed the order of his superior. When he arrived there, Gen. Aguinaldo was in San Isidro. When he was leaving the headquarters, he was treacherously shot by Gen. Aguinaldo’s men. He was murdered in cold blood in front of the church of Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija , in the afternoon of June 5, 1899 . His death was more tragic than those who were felled by the enemy’s bullets because like Bonifacio, he was slain by his own countrymen. His strict, stern , fiery. bad tempered nature was mere alibi to justify an evil scheme for a selfish motive. By Gen. Luna’s death, the Filipino cause suffered an irreparable loss. In his will written while marching to San Fernando,, he expressed a true patriot’s last words: “Should I be killed, enshroud me in a Filipino flag, with the same clothes in which I die and bury me in the soil of my country.”

References: A Brief History of the Philippines, by Leandro H. Fernandez; The Philippines: A Unique Nation, by: Dr. Sonia M. Zaide :Bulwagan ng mga Bayani by: Domingo Ma. Panganiban