“I WILL DIE FOR YOU”: ANTONIO LUNA’S TRUE LOVE

Writer and Philippine military, born in Binondo (Manila) on October 29, 1869 and died
in Cabanatuan City (province of Nueva Ecija, Luzon) in June 1899, which is considered by the
Philippine historiography a national hero. He noted both for his contribution to the lyrics of the
country as having starred in several facts weapons during the war of independence against the
United States.

Antonio Luna was the seventh son of a humble family, but cultivated. It already showed
from childhood enormous skills for study after graduating from high school at the Ateneo de
Manila with only fifteen years. Then opted for the discipline of pharmacy, he traveled to Spain to
study this discipline at the University of Barcelona, and once got Bachelor's degree he moved to
Madrid where he completed his education with obtaining the degree of doctor (1890). By then he
had already begun to stand out as a writer with the publication of several scientific articles
relating to your medical specialty and hot topics for the newspaper La Independencia, which was
both founder editor, as well as by frequently collaborate in the activities of the circle of filipinos
grouped around the propaganda movement led by José Rizal.

Arrested on charges of being one of the instigators of the revolutionary events of 1896, he
was sentenced by a Spanish Council of war on 7 January 1897, saved at the last moment of the
penalty of death thanks to the intercession of the auditor of the Peña; Instead, the punishment
handed down by the Court was exiled to Spain. Along with sixteen others, Moon went into exile
in February of that same year on Board of the island of Panay steam but soon and thanks to the
intersection of his brother Juan was able to escape to Belgium, where aware of the struggle that
was taking place in his homeland was devoted to prepare in guerrilla tactics.

Back to the Philippines (June 1898) was available to the new revolutionary Government
of Emilio Aguinaldo, who granted him the rank of brigadier general and appointed commander
of the independence army in the race almost immediately initiated against the United States.
Antonio Luna commanded the troops which staged one of the first victorious combat Filipino
weapons, the battle of Las Lomas (February 5, 1899), and subsequently the attempted conquest
of Manila, although this last mission failure forced him to retire and stay on the defensive
thereafter. In May of that same year, he was wounded during a skirmish in Pampanga.

Having been appointed Secretary of war of the revolutionary Government, in spite of

their differences with the leadership dominated by the brothers Aguinaldo were enlarging. They
blamed him too violent methods and use systematically disobey the orders received; However,
this animosity also contained a growing suspicion to the popularity that Luna was beginning to
acquire. Accused by President Aguinaldo of high treason, he was killed on June 5, 1899 while he
was heading a so-called Conference convened by him, in what was apparently a trap set by
troops loyal to the Government. This fact was hidden in part by Philippine official sources, need
of heroes of the cause; not in vain, general Luna was buried with full honors.