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