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theurbanhistorian:

Father and Son

Of course, we all know Juan Luna is one of the greatest painters in the turn of the century Philippines. Of course, Juan Luna is the renowned painter of Spoliarium.

Unknown or known to all, he has a son. And his son is also an important figure in Philippine History, especially in the field of Arts, where his father also excelled. But his contribution to the Arts is more felt in Architecture.

Andres Luna de San Pedro is the son of Juan Luna to Paz Pardo de Tavera. Born in Paris, he set foot in the Philippines with his father and uncle, the great Antonio Luna. He was taught painting in Manila’s School of Arts.

He first got attention as a painter in Hanoi where he won special mention. He won silver medal in the St. Louis Exposition and another in a contest held by the Exposition of the Society of Artist in Manila (1908).

He studied Arts in Europe where he got a diploma in 1911 and went on to study Architecture and finished in 1918. Upon his return to Manila, the city government appointed him the chief Architect, a position he held from 1920 to 1924.

If the CCP Complex is a virtual Locsin Compendium, then Escolta is Luna’s territory. Luna designed the Parisian Regina Building, Art deco Perez - Samanillo building and the revivalist Crystal Arcade that was the first office of the Manila Stock Exchange. Only the Crystal Arcade did not survive the war.

Aside from the Escolta Buildings, he also designed the Legarda Elementary School in Sampaloc Manila the Rafael Fernandez house in Arlegui that became the office of President Cory Aquino and the Saint Vincent de Paul Church in San Marcelino.

Andres Luna is Juan Luna’s Son. But instead of being merely Juan Luna’s son, he went on to became a distinguished person on his own.