Commemoration of the Bicentennial Birth Anniversary of Melchora Aquino 01/06/2012

Banlat Road, Quezon City
6 January 2012

In commemoration of the bicentennial birth anniversary of the late Philippine hero Melchora Aquino, President Benigno S. Aquino III graced the celebration and led the re-interment ceremony held at the newly-rehabilitated Tandang Sora Shrine in Banlat Road, Quezon City.

The President honoured the heroic contribution of the Filipina revolutionary, who earned a place in the history when she helped and treated the wounded Katipuneros who fought against Spanish colonization. She was then called the Grand Woman of the 1896 Philippine Revolution. President Aquino hopes that the re-interment of Tandang Sora will serve as a reminder to every Filipino that age and sex should not be hindrances to one's desire to serve the country. He asked everyone to help each other and to be united for the progress of the Philippines.

During the program, President Aquino witnessed the arrival of the motorcade bearing the remains of Tandang Sora. At the re-interment ceremony, the tomb was blessed by Bishop Antonio R. Tobias, DD of Novaliches, and the urn was placed inside the crypt after the firing of the three-volley of musketry and the playing of the military taps, and the removal and turnover of the funeral flag draped over the urn.

The remains of the Katipunan heroine were brought to Quezon City Hall on January 5 after these were exhumed from the Himlayang Pilipino Memorial Park. A funeral ceremony and an overnight vigil at the city hall were also held in honour of the "Mother of Katipunan."

The Quezon City government declared the year 2012 as the Tandang Sora Year under City Ordinance No. SP-2092, S-2011. The commemoration of the bicentennial birth anniversary of Tandang Sora was spearheaded by the Quezon City government, in collaboration with the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP).

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