Luis, a doctor of medicine served Cebu City as mayor from May 27, 1947 to September 5, 1947. He was succeeded by lawyer Miguel Raffinan on September 6, 1947 and served up to August 15, 1951.
Luis was the son of Harriolfo Espina (son of Edugives Osmeña who married an Espina. Edugives was the daughter of Don Severino Osmeña and Doña Vicenta Rita) and Vicenta Veloso.
Dr. Luis and Concepcion Mejia had the following children: Vicenta (Jose Espeleta), Victor (Virginia Pongos), and Luis Jr.
Dr. Luis was a member of the Provincial Board of Cebu during the incumbency of Manuel Alesna Cuenco who was also a doctor of medicine and a product of the University of Santo Tomas. His appointment as ad interim member of the Provincial Board by President Manuel Acuña Roxas was confirmed by the Commission on Appointments on February 24, 1948.
The sisters of Dr. Luis married members of the Philippine Legislature. His sister, Visitacion, married Vicente Urgello who was elected representative of the old 3rd Congressional District of Cebu composed of Carcar, Minglanilla, Naga, San Fernando, and Talisay during the 4th and 5th Philippine Legislature from 1916 to 1922.
His other sister, Remedios, married Pastor Bayson Noel who was elected in the 7th Philippine Legislature from 1925 to 1928 representing the old 6th Congressional District composed of Aloguinsan, Barili, Dumanjug, Pinamungajan, Toledo, and Ronda. Pastor and Remedios had the following children: Paz (who married Manuel Aquino), Luz (who married Emeterio Alpuerto), Oscar (who married Nemesia Penales), and Eduardo.
The siblings of the mother of Dr. Luis Espina, Vicenta Veloso among others were: Rosario, Leopoldo, Hilarion, Alejandrino, Alejandro, Juan, Severo, Andres, Maria, Socorro, Isabelo, Enrique, Ambrosio, and Simeon.
Jose Veloso the father of Vicenta had the following siblings: Pascual, Domingo (Juana Lopez), Pablo, Mariano, Gliceria Veloso (mother of Governor Arsenio Climaco), Fausta, Filomena, Filomeno, Isabelo, Eulalia, and Francisca.