PROJECT IN SS103

PHILIPPINE
HISTORY,
POLITICS,
GOVERNANCE
WITH
CONSTITUTION
: General Antonio Luna
Submitted by: Vencint Karl E. Tacardon BME III-A
Submitted to: Dr. Evelyn J. Grey
INTRODUCTION:
Knowing the past is extremely important for us. It give us insights about how things happen
today. The importance of knowing history reminds us of where it all started and why we are walking
at the present.
Here are some of the benefits we can get from reading history: We get inspired from historical
events for a better and contented life; it serves as a warning for us. We learn from the great mistakes
in the past so as not to repeat and it makes us aware about our past and shared past events.
He was an important factor in the fight against the American forces. After his death, many
Americans in the history also admired him for what he has done in our country including General
Frederick Funston said “he was the ablest and most aggressive leader of the Filipino Republic.”
General James Franklin Bell said “he was the only general the Filipino had.” And by his bravery, Major
General Henry ware Lawton commented to Filipinos that, “they are very fine set of soldiers. Inferior
in every particular equipment and supplies, they are the bravest men I have ever seen… I’m very well
impressed with the Filipinos!” And he is General Antonio Luna.
Antonio Luna was the youngest of the 7 children of Joaquin Luna y Posadas and Lauriana
Novicio y Ancheta. Born on 29 October 1866 in Binondo, Maricina.
Aside from his military skill, Luna was a scientist. Aside from being a scientist, he’s founded the “La
Independencia” with a pen-name “Taga-ilog”. He was recognized as the hot-tempered general who
fought against the United States in the Spanish-American War. His efforts to free the Philippines from
the Americans left a mark on our country.

SUMMARY:

Filipino emigrants mounted the Propaganda Movement including Antonio Luna and wrote
for the La Solidaridad. Under the pen-name “Taga-ilog” he wrote a pieces which deals with Spanish
customs.
On August 1896, the existence of Katipunan got leaked and the Luna brothers were arrested
and jailed in Fort Santiago for participating in the Revolution. Statements concerning the revolution
were used in laying down of death sentence for Jose Rizal.
Months later, his brothers, Jose and Juan were freed but Antonio was still imprisoned. Luna
studied field fortification, guerrilla warfare, and other aspects of military sciences after he was released
on December 1897. The second phase of revolution started on 1898 when Aguinaldo arrived in Cavite.
Upon arriving in Hong Kong, Luna was given a letter of recommendation to Aguinaldo.
During the Philippine-American war, Americans landed their troops in Intramuros. Since
then, Manila was completely surrounded by the revolutionary troops. Luna planned to have joint
occupations of the Walled City but Aguinaldo sent Luna to where he ordered his troops to fire on the
Americans. After the chaos, Luna tried to complain to the American officers about the disorderly
conduct of their soldiers.
Aguinaldo appointed Luna as a chief of War Operations and assigned him a senior rank in
armed forces. Luna organized and disciplined ill-trained troops into real army.
In the election for the President of the Malolos Congress, Antonio Luna was defeated by
Pedro Paterno with a vote of 24-23.Then later Antonio Luna Established a military school at Malolos
known as the “Academia Militar” because in the need of military schools but the academy had to be
suspended when the Philippine-American war issued.
To strengthen the Filipino minds, Luna then decided to publish a newspaper named “La
Independencia” which contains songs, poems, short stories and articles with the ideas of nationhood
and the need to fight the Americans.
When the Treaty of Paris was signed on December 10, 1898, Luna then decided to take military
actions. He designed a strategy to trap the Americans in Manila before they execute a surprise attack.
When most of the Filipinos were at the ball celebrating for the success for delaying the
approval of the Treaty of Paris, Americans made a crucial incident. American soldiers fired on the
Filipino troops. Then the whole Filipino line fired back and the first Filipino-American war happened.
Fighting took place at Marikina, Caloocan, Santa Ana and Paco headed by General Arthur
MacArthur’s forces. As a result, Many Filipino soldiers were killed and severely wounded. Luna carried
his wounded soldiers into safe place and one of his dramatic rescues was that of Commander Jose
Torres Bugallon. He managed to advance towards the Americans but he was hit by a bullet and Luna
had seen him collapse on the side of the road. To save Bugallon, with bravery and courage, Luna then
advance his troops while Americans kept firing towards them. Luna survived and he gave an instant
promotion to encourage Bugallon to live.
Antonio Luna received telegrams instructing him to see Emilio Aguinaldo and ordered him to
go to the new capital at Kabanatuan. Then he left Bayambang, Pangasinan. When he arrived in
Kabanatuan, one soldier asked him where he was going. Luna did not answer but slapped the soldier,
and went upstairs expecting that Emilio was waiting for him. As he went upstairs, he ran into an
officer named Felipe Buencamino whom he had disagreements with him. Both of them exchanged
heated words / arguments then they heard a rifle shot. Luna rushed downstairs to check and he was
assassinated. One soldier used his bolo to hit Luna and wounded him on his head and other soldiers
fired him. He tried to whip his gun but he missed his target. As he lay dying, Luna cried his last words
“Cowards, Assassins” many soldiers stabbed him until he die and that ended the life of or brave
General, Antonio Luna. Reference: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonio_Luna
REACTION / REFLECTION
I might have hated history by memorizing lots of names, dates and numbers but as I read
different stories about our heroes’ efforts to fight for our country, it helped me developed my
appreciation of the Philippine History.
In the life of Antonio Luna, we can see people were full of pride, greediness, lack of
sensitivity, responsibility which leads to holding hatred and even making revenge to thier fellow
neighbours and these are present even today, where we only care for ourselves.
Luna was known to be a hot-headed, high-tempered but brilliant military strategist of
General Aguinaldo. He’s one of the violent generals of his time. I find Antonio Luna as a human: a
person who makes mistakes, full of faults, a person who has dreams, passionate and he’s also
frightened even in death. Through understanding the life of General Luna, we become more conscious
of what is happening in our country. This enables us to understand his historical background of his
struggle and bravery during the Philippine-American War. Antonio Luna was a virtuous general. He
showed his love for his country by risking his life in the fight.

One quote that really hit me while watching the movie was said by the main character
Atonio Luna. He said “Mga Kapatid, mayroon tayong mas malaking kaaway kaysa sa mga Amerikano. Ang
ating sarili.” This quote still applies today. Some elite people might took benefit of their people, some
people may use their names or positions to bend the rules in their favour. And finally realized what it
is exactly that we need to change is ourselves.
CONCLUSION:
Your strengths might be your weaknesses. Just like Antonio Luna, his display of bad temper
might have been his weakness, but he still remained brave for the love of his country- patriotism.
I felt sorry for Aguinaldo- for losing a great man that Luna died without even knowing.
Luna could have avoid being killed in Kabanatuan if Aguinaldo didn’t send a telegram. If only Luna
was aware of what dirty plan Aguinaldo is planning for him. But he obeyed what Aguinaldo ordered
him.
Like Antonio Luna, some people that are usually on your side might not be loyal at all. They
are loyal because they need you. Once their loyal changes, same as their loyalty. It was not the enemy
who killed him it, was his fellow Filipinos who killed him.
I can say that Antonio Luna is truly one of the great leaders of the Filipino people. We need a leader
like Antonio Luna today. Someone who displays a true essence of bravery like him - Antonio Luna.