Tuesday, June 5, 2012

5 JUNE

Hen. Antonio Luna y Novicio

1899 - Gen. Antonio Luna y Novicio, Commanding General of the Philippine forces fighting the invading imperialist Bald Eagle forces during the Filipino-American War (1899-1914), is dastardly assassinated by bodyguards of President Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy at the stairs of the convent of Cabanatuan in the province of Nueva Ecija; the guilt for the murders (Luna's aide-de-camp has been also killed) would be widely ascribed to Aguinaldo because he summoned Luna to Cabanatuan with a signed telegram calling him to a conference and because during the murder, Aguinaldo's mother looked out the window and asked: "Is he still breathing?"; historian Teodoro Kalaw would  write that Aguinaldo also ordered  his other subordinates including Gen. Gregorio del Pilar to capture Gen. Luna 'dead or alive,' prompting the Bulakeno boy-general to leave for Bamban and Mabalacat to execute the bloody task although the President's bodyguards got to Luna first; the fiery Luna, who studied military science in Europe after being exiled on suspicion of being a Katipunero during the Philippine Revolution against Spain, is perhaps the most capable and efficient military leaders during the Fil-Am War, having been able to turn the Philippine Army into a considerably meritorious, better organized and enthusiastic force; dying at the age of 33, Luna's assassination would merit the comment of American Gen. Robert P. Hughes, saying that“The Filipinos had only one general, and they have killed him.”


Photo credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonio_Luna

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