Juan Luna: The first Philippine native-born International Star
When we think of International stars from the Philippines, names like Lea Salonga, Dolly De Leon, Charice Pempengco, Arnel Pineda, and more come to mind. But for someone like me whose hobby is to read and study history, the first to come to mind is one of our national heroes, Juan Luna de San Pedro y Novicio Ancheta, or simply "Juan Luna."
Born on October 23, 1857, as a creole, he was a painter, sculptor, and a political activist during the late 19th century Philippine Revolution. He's most famous for his masterpiece, 'Spoliarium,' and as the brother of General Antonio Luna.
When I heard the news that Juan Luna's painting, "Hymen, oh Hyménée!" also known as "The Holy Grail" of Philippine Art, had been found and would be displayed in the Ayala Museum, I knew I had to see it. Despite a busy schedule, I made the effort, and it was entirely worth it. The painting had won a Bronze Medal at the 1889 Exposition Universelle in Paris, France, catapulting Juan Luna to international fame and admiration. In an era when Filipinos were often seen as 'inferior,' Luna shattered stereotypes, proving that Filipinos could be great artists, earning international pride.
Before its discovery, many Filipino art collectors and historians had no idea what happened to the painting. Some believed it was destroyed during the wartime destruction of Manila or by fire at the hands of Pardo de Tavera's after Luna tragically killed his wife and mother-in-law in 1892.
Seeing the painting at the Ayala Museum's "Splendor" exhibition left me awestruck by its beauty, technique, genius, and intricate details. I stood there for about 20 minutes, pondering what was going through Luna's mind when he created this masterpiece. According to historian Prof. Ambeth Ocampo, "Hymen, oh Hyménée!" marked Luna's transition to becoming a "socially aware" artist. His subsequent works reflected the dark, impoverished, and corrupt society, making it difficult for him to sell paintings and leading to financial hardship.
Juan Luna's life story was filled with greatness, yet also shrouded in darkness and violence. After being acquitted of charges related to the deaths of his wife and mother-in-law, Luna returned to the Philippines. He and his brother Antonio initially did not join the revolution but were later arrested. In 1898, he was appointed by the executive board of the Philippine revolutionary government and played a pivotal role in securing recognition for the Philippine republic in France and Washington D.C. After the tragic death of his brother General Antonio Luna, he returned to the Philippines, but ultimately, he passed away in Hong Kong in 1899.
Studying the tumultuous life of Juan Luna prompts us to question whether he deserves a place among our national heroes. None of our national heroes are perfect; they were human, capable of mistakes and sins, and Juan Luna was no exception. Nevertheless, he provided us with something to be proud of, dismantling racist views about Filipinos. Juan Luna, like our other national heroes, earned his place not because of the mistakes and sins he made but because of his remarkable contributions, helping define what it means to be called a "Filipino" as the first Filipino international star."
