Juan Luna was the son of Joaquin Luna de San Pedro y Posada and Laurena Novicio y Ancheta. He had four brothers: Manuel, b, 1855, a violin virtuoso; Jose, b. 1861, a physician; Joaquin Damoso, b. 1864, governor, congressman, and senator and Antonio, b. I866, writer and general of the Philippine Revolution Army. On December 7, 1886, Juan married Paz (Chiching) Pardo de Tavera y Gorricho with whom he had two children, Andres Luna San Pedro and Maria de la Paz. Both died at early ages.

The Lunas transferred to Manila in 1861, enabling Juan to finish his high school at the Ateneo de Manila. In 1869, he enrolled at the Escuela Nautica, where after five years of theoretical courses and practical sailing to Asian ports such as HongKon...