Melchora Aquino
Melchora Aquino de Ramos ( born January 6, 1812 in Caloocan, † March 2, 1919 in Quezon City ) was a Filipino revolutionary who in the history of the island nation as Tandang Sora ( " Tandang " is derived from the word Matanda from the language Tagalog meaning old) was known since she was already 84 years old at the outbreak of the Philippine Revolution in 1896.
For her courageous contribution to the history of the Philippines, she won the title Grand Woman of the revolution ( Large Woman of the Revolution) and became a popular hero of their country.
Earlier stage of life
Aquino was born on January 6, 1812 in Caloocan. She was the daughter of Juan and Valentina de Aquino, a family of peasants who never had the opportunity to go to school. Nevertheless, she had received a poor education that enabled her to read and to write. She was also very talented for singing. She performed at local festivities and sang in the church at the Holy Fair.
She married Fulgencio Ramos, a cabeza de barangay ( village head ) and had with him a total of six children. Ramos died when their youngest common child was just seven years old. As a single mother she cared for her children while they grew rice and sugar cane.
Participation in the revolution
Through her son, who was a member of the Katipunan, a secret organization that sought the independence of the Philippines from Spanish colonial rule under the leadership of Andres Bonifacio, Melchiora came with revolutionary forces in contact. When in 1896 the Philippine Revolution broke out in her province, she decided to support the rebels active.
In her home she had a little store that quickly became a refuge for sick and wounded revolutionaries. She fed the wounded, gave them medical treatment and encouraged the revolutionary fighters with her motherly advice and prayers. Her house also the secret meeting of the Katipuneros took place. In this way she earned the title of Mother of the Katipunan ( Mother of the Katipunan ).
When the Spaniards the site and extent of their activities were known, they sent a command to her arrest. On April 29, 1896 it was the support of the activities of the Katipunan indicted and locked despite her advanced age of 84 years in prison Bilibid in Manila. Here she was interrogated, but despite their situation, they held to their convictions and stand firmly to their participation in the revolution and its support of the Katipunan. Shortly afterwards, she tried to flee to Novaliches, but she was taken by civilian guards and taken for further questioning back to jail Bilibid. After some time they deported the Spanish authority on the islands of the Mariana Islands.
After the United States in 1898 took control of the Philippines, Aquino returned in 1903 along with other outcasts of her exile back to the Philippines. Here she lived until her death at the age of 107 years, on March 2, 1919 in the home of her daughter in Quezon City. Her body is buried their own backyard, and the burial place can be visited as a public cemetery under the name Pilipino Himlayang today.
Fame
As a sign of recognition of merit, a district and a street of Quezon City were named after her.
In addition, her profile on the five- centavo coin is shown that was in effect 1967-1992.