Melchora Aquino

Filipino revolutionary heroine who supported the Katipunan during the Philippine Revolution

Melchora Aquino (1812–1919), known as "Tandang Sora" (Elder Sora), is revered as the "Mother of the Philippine Revolution" for her courageous support of the Katipunan, a secret society fighting Spanish colonial rule. At age 84, she provided sanctuary, medical aid, and moral support to revolutionaries, including Andrés Bonifacio, during the 1896 uprising.

Born in Caloocan, Aquino ran a store that became a refuge for injured rebels. Her home served as a meeting place, and she used her resources to feed and nurse fighters. When Spanish authorities discovered her activities, she was arrested and exiled to Guam. Despite torture, she refused to betray the revolutionaries.

After the U.S. took control of the Philippines in 1898, Aquino returned home, where she lived humbly until her death at 107. Her legacy is immortalized in Quezon City’s Tandang Sora National Shrine, and her face has appeared on Philippine currency. Her story symbolizes the resilience of ordinary Filipinos in the fight for freedom.

Aquino’s life underscores the critical role of women in anti-colonial movements. Learn more about her contributions in the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.