WM Books

🌹 Happy Women's Month💪👏

I read a prewar article long ago that hailed LAUREANA NOVICIO (1836-1906) as "the greatest mother in Philippine History." Her five sons were all prominent: Juan Luna (painter and later diplomat of the First Republic), Antonio Luna (scientist and later general in the Philippine-American War), Manuel Luna (violin virtuoso), Jose Luna (toxicologist), Joaquin Luna (Senator).
Laureana must have been a strong woman by the looks of her photograph (left) and a portrait by her son Juan (right) now in the National Museum. In October 1906 Joaquin Luna, then Governor of La Union, honored his mother by renaming her birthplace Namacpacan into Luna, La Union.