06 January, 1812
TODAY IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY
Melchora Aquino was born in Banilad, Caloocan. Melchora is better known as Tandang Sora, because she was already old when the revolution broke out in 1896. She had very little education, but she had all the qualities of a literate person.
Tandang Sora was tending a small sari-sari store in Balintawak, when Bonifacio and other Katipuneros staged the first Cry of Balintawak that started the revolution. Her store became a refuge for sick and wounded Katipuneros whom the old lady fed, treated and encouraged with her motherly advice and prayers. She was aptly called the “Mother of Katipunan.”
Soon, the Spaniards learned about her activities, so they arrested her and she was 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.
On March 2, 1919, she died at the age of 107.
(Ref: Otis report of 1899, page 78 via The development of Philippine politics, Kalaw, Maximo M, pages 170-171,Manila: P.I., Oriental Commercial Company, Inc., 1927; Photo from magandafilipino.com/qualities-that-make-filipinas-stand-out/)
