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Regarded as one of the fiercest generals of his time, he succeeded Artemio Ricarte as the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
"Bayan o Sarili?"
Antonio Narciso Luna de San Pedro y Novicio Ancheta
Antonio Luna (October 29, 1866–June 5, 1899) was a soldier, chemist, musician, war strategist, journalist, pharmacist, and hot-headed general, a complex man who was, unfortunately, perceived as a threat by the Philippines' ruthless first president Emilio Aguinaldo. As a result, Luna died not on the battlefields of the Philippine-American War, but he was assassinated on the streets of Cabanatuan.
“Luna Sharpshooters” and the “Black Guard”
PHILIPPINES- AMERICAN WAR
: February 4, 1899 – July 2, 1902
On April 21, 1898, the United States declared war against Spain. The causes of the conflict were many, but the immediate ones were America's support of Cuba's ongoing struggle against Spanish rule and the mysterious explosion of the U.S.S. Maine in Havana Harbor.
He created the luna line
With the help of his aide, the Chief of the Army Engineers General Jose Alejandrino, Luna constructed a series of three-layered bamboo trenches which came to be known as the Luna Line.
American soldiers who came upon the trenches were amazed at the constructions, which stretched for several miles from town to town. And even when they finally took the trenches, they still had to contend with the traps—which included bamboo spikes and poisonous snakes—which the wily Filipinos had carefully hidden.
He helped establish the first military academy for Filipinos.
A precursor to today’s Philippine Military Academy, the Academia Militar was Luna’s brainchild.
He planned to build a guerrilla fortress in the Mountain Province.
The defensive lines were just a precursor to Luna’s grand plan: an impenetrable guerrilla fortress in the elevated terrains of the Mountain Province. This fortress would be self-sufficient and serve as the rebels’ base of operations with which to attack Manila and other American-occupied areas.
He was an expert marksman and martial artist.
Of course, Luna was no armchair general who barked orders in the safety of his office. He was an avid student of martial arts and military tactics,
FAQ
Is Luna a doctor?
In 1886 Luna moved to Madrid, where he earned a Licentiate in Pharmacy. He went on to earn a Doctorate in Pharmacy in 1890, and his doctoral examiners said he did extremely well.
What did Antonio Luna do for the Philippines?
General Antonio Luna (29 October 1866 – 5 June 1899) was a Filipino army general, who fought in the Philippine–American War. Regarded as one of the fiercest generals of his time, he succeeded Artemio Ricarte as Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Why is Antonio Luna a hero?
​He was a firebrand of an army commander. He was known for a disciplined and professional demeanor in running military affairs. He was an excellent military strategist. These made him an immensely successful professional soldier but these were not enough to make him a hero
Why was Luna assassinated?
The guard whose insolence to Luna was the main cause of the assassination was, it is said, arrested, tried by court-martial and promptly acquitted. Further advices say that Ney [?], by order of Aguinaldo, purposely insulted Luna and forced a quarrel.