ANDRES LUNA DE SAN PEDRO (1886-1952) Outstanding Painter and Architect Born in Paris, France, in 1886, Andres Luna

de San Pedro was the son of the famous Filipino painter, Juan Luna, and Paz Pardo de Tavera. He set foot in the Philippines with his father and uncle, the great revolutionary general, Antonio Luna, when he was six to begin an early education. He studied painting under Miguel Zaragosa, and, later, under Ramon Sta. Coloma and Lorenzo Guerrero. He first gained international recognition as a painter in Hanoi, Indo-China (then under the French) in 1902, when he won an honorable mention for his works. In the more famous St. Louis Exposition in the United States, he won a silver medal for one of his paintings. He got another silver medal at the Exposition of the Society of Artists held in Manila in 1908. Luna went to Japan to study ceramics, but got nowhere and returned to Manila and took a correspondence course, instead, in architecture with the International Correspondence School. It awarded him his diploma in 1911. The following year, he left for Europe and studied art in Paris under Charles Gilardi, an artist constructor, and entered the Superior School of Fine Arts. At the same time, he worked in the office of Paulin, a French architect. He also studied mathematics under Prof. Bauduit, and sculpture under the famous Prof. Vermon, the renowned sculptor and winner of a grand prize in Rome. Not content with these, he also attended the Night School de Temple. In 1918, he obtained his architects diploma from the French government. Luna got a job in the office of Emil Bertone, chief architect of the French government, and was admitted to the Salon des Artistes Francais. One of his works here, a design for a school of fine arts in Manila, garnered an award. He was also inducted into the Societe Central des Architects Francais. On his return to Manila, he was made chief architect of the city government. He held the job from 1920 to 1924. Afterwards, he served as president of the Philippine Institute of Architects. He was the first recipient of its gold medal merit award. Luna was one of the earliest practitioners of the modern architectural style and was at ease with the revivalist style. He used both methods with utmost elegance. His works in the revivalist style include the Legarda Elementary School (1922); the Alfonso Zobel house on Roxas and Padre Faura streets; the San Vicente de Paul Chapel (now church) on San Marcelino street, built in 1930; and the Rafael Fernandez house on Arlegui Street which was used by President Aquino as her official residence. Most of the buildings showing his modern style were destroyed during World War II. The Crystal Arcade, a commercial building housing shops and offices, was considered Manilas most modern pre-war building. The Perkins house that Luna built was said to be the most beautiful in the country. It won first prize in the 1925 House Beautiful Contest. Luna was married to Grace V. Mcrae.

He died on January 22, 1952. In 1964, he was posthumously given the Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan Award by the city of Manila. References: Aguilar-Cruz, E. Luna. Manila: Department of Public Information, 1975. CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Art Volumes 2, 3 and 4. Philippines, 1994 Manila: Cultural Center of the