THE 36-member Quezon City council on Thursday called on Congress to declare Jan. 6, the birthdate of revolutionary hero Melchora “Tandang Sora” Aquino, as a special non-working holiday in the city.
District 3 Councilor Melencio Castelo authored Resolution 6971-2017, asking the six city representatives to declare Tandang Sora Day as a nonworking holiday, in recognition of her valuable contribution in the country’s fight for freedom.
Born Jan. 6, 1812, Aquino—also known as the Grand Old Lady of the Katipunan—was noted for helping soldiers of the Katipunan during the country’s revolution against Spain. Tandang Sora provided food, clothing and shelter to the Katipuneros.
Charged with aiding the Katipunan, Aquino was arrested by Spanish authorities and jailed at the Bilibid Prison on Aug. 29, 1896.
In complete disregard of her age and gender, the Spanish authorities exiled her to Guam, where she stayed for seven years as a servant.
Aquino returned to the Philippines on Feb. 26, 1903 at the age of 91. She died 16 years later, aged 107.
Every year, the city government, in partnership with the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, commemorates Tandang Sora’s birth anniversary at the heroine’s birthplace on Banlat Road in Barangay Tandang Sora.
A shrine in honor of Tandang Sora’s heroism has already been built by the city government, which NCHP declared as a national shrine.
