Melchora Aquino

(January 6, 1812 to March 2, 1919)

            One of our famous heroines in Philippine history was born in Banilad, Caloocan on January 6, 1812, Melchora Aquino is better known as “Tandang Sora” because she was already old when the Philippine Revolution broke out in 1896.  She had a very little education, but had all the good qualities of a literate person.  Very little is known about her parents, some say that they were poor hardworking parents.

            Tandang Sora was tending a small sari-sari (variety) store in Balintawak when Andres Bonifacio and the other katipuneros

staged the First Cry of Balintawak that started the Philippine Revolution.  Her store became a refuge for the sick and wounded katipuneros whom the old lady fed, treated, and encourage with her motherly advice and prayers.  Thus, she was aptly called the “Mother of the Katipunan”.  When the Spaniards learned about her activities, she was arrested, and subsequently, sentenced to be exiled to the Marianas Islands.

            When the Americans took possession of the Philippines in 1898, Tandang Sora, like other exiles returned to the Philippines, poor and aging.  For a time, she lived with her daughter Saturnina.

            She died on March 2, 1919 at the age of 107.

            Ang isa sa mga pinakadakilang bayani sa kasaysayan ng Pilipinas ay ipinanganak sa Banilad, Caloocan noong Enero 6, 1812.  Siya si Melchora Aquino na kilala rin bilang si “Tandang Sora” dahil sa matanda na siya noong sumiklab ang Rebolusyon ng Pilipinas noong 1896.  hindi siya masyadong nakapag-aral ngunit nasa kanya ang katangian ng isang edukado.  Hindi masyadong kilala ang kanyang mga magulang, sabi ng iba na sila daw ay masipag ngunit mahirap lamang ang buhay.

            Si Tandang Sora ay may binabantayan na maliit na tindahan sa Balintawak noong idineklara ni Andres Bonifacio at iba pang Katipunero ang Unang Sigaw ng Balintawak na kung saan nagsimula ang Rebolusyon ng Pilipinas.  Sa kanyang maliit na tindahan ginagamot at pinapakain ang mga nasugatang katipuneros at nagbigay ng lakas ng loob at mga payo bilang isang itinuring na ina.  Dahil ditto tinagurian siyang “Ina ng Katipunan”.  Noong nalaman ng mga Kastila ang mga ginagawa ni Tandang Sora siya ay inaresto at ipinatapon sa Isla ng Marianas.

            Nang pumalit ang mga Amerikano sa pananakop ng Pilipinas noong 1898, si Tandang Sora, gaya ng ibang ipinatapon ay bumalik sa Pilipinas, mahina at may edad na.  Pansamantala siyang tumira sa kanyang anak na si Saturnina.

            Si Tandang Sora ay namatay noong Marso 2, 1919 sa edad na 107.

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Category: Philippine Heroes