AQUINO, Melchora

Born in Banilad, Caloocan on January 6, 1812, Melchora Aquino is known as Tandang Sora ("Tandang" is derived from the Tagalog word "matanda" which means "old") in Philippine history because she was already old when the Philippine Revolution broke out in 1896. She had never gone to school and very little is known about her parents save that they were poor and hardworking people.

Tandang Sora was tending a small sarisari ("variety") store in Balintawak when Andres Bonifacio and the other Katipuneros ("Katipuneros" is derived from the Tagalog word "katipunan" which means "organization") staged the First Cry of Balintawak that started the Philippine 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. Thus, she was aptly called the "Mother of the Katipunan". When the Spaniards learned about her activities, she was arrested and deported 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.