Quezon City honored on Saturday (January 6) its heroine, Melchora Aquino, popularly known as Tandang Sora, during ceremonies commemorating her 212th birth anniversary held at the Tandang Sora National Shrine in Barangay Tandang Sora.

Officials led by QC Mayor Joy Belmonte offered flowers at the tomb of the revered nationalist leader known as the “Mother of of the Revolution” against Spanish rule.

Belmonte said Tandang Sora, who was born in the community where her shrine is located, honored the Filipino heroine for dedicating her life and services to support the cause of the Philippine resolution during the Spanish period.

She said Tandang Sora reminded Filipinos that age and gender are not barriers in any endeavor to help one’s country get back freedom and democracy.

Tandang Sora was born and lived in Banlat, now part of Barangay Tandang Sora. Descendants of her family includes former Rep. Annie Susano who represented QC’s District 2.

Tandang Sora, who ran a store after her husband Fulgencio Ramos died, helped Katipuneros fight the Spaniards by giving refuge and treating the wounded.

She also hosted secret meetings of the revolutionaries and was in fact, among those who attended the Cry of Balintawak that marked the Filipinos decisive stance to fight off foreign occupation of their country.

Also known as the Grand Woman of the Revolution, Tandang Sora was arrested by Spanish soldiers at age 84 after they got wind of her activities. Failing to get information about the Katipunan, she was later deported to Guam, where she was placed under house arrest in the residence of a Guam resident.

She was already 91 when the Americans, who wrested Philippines from Spanish rule in 1898, took her back to the Philippines.

The country’s well-loved heroine died on February 19, 1919 at the age of 107. Her remains were first interred at the North Cemetery’s Mausoleum of the Veterans of the Revolution, transferred dlater to Himlayang PIlipino Memorial Park and finally at the Tandang Sora National Shrine.