Tandang Sora’s birthplace declared a national shrine

THE TANDANG Sora Shrine in Quezon City. EDWIN BACASMAS

The humble birthplace of heroine Melchora Aquino, also known as Tandang Sora, was officially declared a national shrine yesterday by virtue of a resolution of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.

A historical marker citing the woman’s bravery and sacrifices in the Philippine revolution against Spanish colonial rule was unveiled Saturday morning at the site marking the heroine’s birthplace—and eventual tomb—on Banlat Road in the barangay named in her honor.

With the declaration, Quezon City now has two national historical shrines—the one dedicated to Tandang Sora and the Quezon Memorial Shrine, which houses the tomb of President Manuel L. Quezon.

Mayor Herbert Bautista formally received the historical marker from the commission on behalf of the city government, which announced its yearlong celebration of Tandang Sora’s 200th birth anniversary.

Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte, chair of Task Force Tandang Sora, said the declaration was in support of the festivities which began on Jan. 6 with the reburial of the heroine’s remains in Banlat.

“We hope that our people will be one with us in continuing the values and legacy of Tandang Sora, the Grand Old Lady of the Katipunan,” she said.

NHCP Executive Director Ludovico Badoy led the unveiling of the marker, with Bautista, Belmonte, and Tandang Sora’s descendants serving as witnesses.

“Let us continue preserving the ideals and good deeds that Tandang Sora had fought for,” Bautista said as thanked the NHCP for granting the city government’s longtime request to have the Tandang Sora Shrine declared as a national landmark.

The Quezon City council has declared 2012 as Tandang Sora Year, to be marked with a series of projects celebrating her life, including a documentary, a traveling photo exhibit and the Gawad Tandang Sora award for the city’s outstanding women.

Belmonte also announced that the city government will team up with the SM mall chain for the traveling photo exhibit, and with the University of the Philippines’ history department for the documentary.

Born on Jan. 6, 1812, Aquino rose to the pantheon of national heroes as the Mother of the Philippine Revolution of 1896, during which she offered her service to the freedom fighters, sheltering and feeding the tired and wounded despite her old age.

The Spaniards later had her arrested and deported to Guam, where she remained for several years working as a servant. She returned to the country in 1903 and died in 1919 at the age of 107.