IN PHOTOS: Early uniforms of the Army of the First Philippine Republic

MANILA, Philippines — The recent biographical film on Gen. Antonio Luna, Jerrold Tarog’s “Heneral Luna,” discussed how the hero standardized the clothing of the members of the Army of the First Philippine Republic during the war, with the approval of then President Emilio Aguinaldo.

As director of war, Luna issued a standardization of Army uniforms designed by his brother, Juan Luna since the uniforms issued by the Army of Aguinaldo’s government were only made from available materials at the time. 

Historian Teodoro Agoncillo said the uniform designs of the Army of the Philippine Revolutionary Government and its Department of War varied depending on whom the soldiers receive their commands.

Due to different uniform designs, Antonio decided to issue standardized uniforms to also represent himself as a chain of command for the Army of the First Republic otherwise called “Ejercito Filipino” according to the book "The Price of Freedom" by Jose Alejandrino.

Under The Decree of Nov. 25, 1898 signed by Aguinaldo, Juan’s uniform designs were officially formalized as told in the book “The Laws of the First Philippine Republic.”

Juan’s designed uniforms were worn by the Army of the First Republic into the Philippine-American War from 1899 to 1901 and beyond, during the guerilla war waged by General Miguel Malvar after the capture of Aguinaldo in 1901.

Prior to Juan’s designed uniforms, early uniforms of the Filipino revolutionaries were inspired by Spanish guayabera and guerrera. Some uniforms were stolen from the captive Spanish soldiers. 

The Army ranks were shown on the cuffs on sleeves of the uniforms also similar to Spanish troops’ uniforms. 

Juan’s uniform design also included ranks, pins, epaulettes and the insignias of the Army to determine their positions.

Here are the early uniforms of the Army of the First Republic revisited, taken from Malacañang.gov.ph: