Melchora Aquino
| Melchora Aquino de Ramos | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
January 6, 1812 Balintawak, Quezon City, Caloocan, Manila, Captaincy General of the Philippines |
| Died | March 2, 1919 (aged 107) Caloocan, Philippine Islands |
| Nationality | Filipino |
| Other names | Tandang Sorâ |
| Spouse(s) | Fulgencio Ramos |
| Children | 6 |
Melchora Aquino de Ramos (January 6, 1812 – March 2, 1919) was a Filipina revolutionary who became known as "Tandang Sora" ("Elder Sora") because of her age.
She is also known as the "Grand Woman of the Revolution" and the "Mother of Balintawak" for her contributions.
Aquino was born on January 6, 1812 in Balintawak. Aquino, daughter of a peasant couple, Juan and Valentina Aquino, never attended school. However, she was apparently literate at an early age and talented as a singer and performed at local events as well as at Mass for her Church. She was also often chosen for the role of Reyna Elena during the "Santacruzan", a processional pageant commemorating Empress Helen's finding of the Cross of Christ, celebrated in the Philippines in May.
Later in life, she married Fulgencio Ramos, a cabeza de barrio (village chief), and bore six children. Ramos died when their youngest child was seven and she was left as a single parent for their children. Aquino continued her life as an hermana mayor active in celebrating fiestas, baptisms, and weddings. She worked hard in order to give her children an education.
In her native town, Tandang Sora operated a store, which became a refuge for the sick and wounded revolutionaries. She fed, gave medical attention to and encouraged the revolutionaries with motherly advice and prayers. Secret meetings of the Katipuneros (revolutionaries) were also held at her house . Thus she earned the names "Woman of Revolution", "Mother of Balintawak", "Mother of the Philippine Revolution", and Tandang Sora (Tandang is derived from the Tagalog word matandâ, which means old). She and her son, Juan Ramon, were present in the Cry of Balintawak and were witnesses to the tearing up of the cedulas. When the Spaniards learned about her activities and her knowledge to the whereabouts of the Katipuneros, she was interrogated but she refused to divulge any information. She was then arrested by the guardia civil and was deported to Guam, Marianas Islands, where she and a woman named Segunda Puentes were placed under house arrest in the residence of a Don Justo Dungca.
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