On Tandang Sora’s 203rd birth anniversary

Were Tandang Sora  alive today, she would be very  pleased by the attention accorded  her by an admiring audience, headed by no less than Chief Justice Maria Lourdes P. A. Sereno who delivered a speech honoring her on her 203rd birth anniversary Tuesday. She’s not in our midst, of course, but her legacy remains for the nation to cherish.

Today’s generation knows little of this woman who played an important role in the Katipuneros’ (Filipino freedom fighters) struggle for independence against the Spaniards during the Philippine Revolution. They will behold, thankfully,  the Tandang Sora National Shrine that stands on Banlat Rd., Barangay Tandang Sora, in Quezon City. The massive, dramatically executed monument  is the third shrine built for  heroes of the city, the other two being those of the late President Manuel Quezon (known as the Quezon Memorial Circle) and the EDSA Revolution.

Her real name was Melchora Aquino de Ramos, who was born to a peasant couple on  Jan. 6, 1812 in Balintawak. She died on March 2, 1919. She was called Tandang Sora or Tandang Guillin  because she was  84 years old when the Philippine Revolution broke out in 1896. The word “tanda” meant old.  Her role in the long struggle for independence earned her the titles of Grand Woman of the Revolution, Mother of Balintawak,  and Mother of the Katipunan.

No one had an inkling that she would become a revolutionary hero. She was talented, singing and performing at local events and at mass for her church, the Iglesia Filipinas Independiente. She reigned as Reyna Elena during the “santacruzan” processional pageant held in the month of May to commemorate Empress Helena’s finding of the cross of Christ.

She married Fulgencio Ramos, a cabeza de barrio (village chief), by whom she had six children. Ramos died when their youngest child was seven. Widowed, Melchora continued being an hermana mayor in fiestas, baptisms and weddings, and worked hard to be able to send her children to school.

Her role in the revolution came in the form of offering her sari-sari store as a hospital for the sick and wounded revolutionaries. Aside from giving food and   medicines to the wounded soldiers, she allowed the katipuneros to  held secret meetings at her house.  

When the Spaniards learned about her activities, they  needled her harshly,  but she refused to divulge any information. She was then arrested by the guardia civil and was deported to Guam, Marianas Islands.

After the United States defeated the Spanish conquistadores in 1898, Tandang Sora, like other exiles, returned to the Philippines  where she stayed until her death on March 2, 1919, at the age of  107. Her remains were then transferred to her own backyard,  which became the site of Himlayang Pilipino Memorial Park in Quezon City.

To honor her, a district and a road were named Aquino. An account in Wikepedia says her  profile was also placed in the Philippines’ five-centavo coin from 1967 until 1992. She is also the first Filipina who appears on a  Philippine peso bank note, in this case, a 100-peso bill from the English Series (1951–1966). Tandang Sora Street in the city of San Francisco, California, United States, is named in her honor.

At the celebration of her 200th birthday, the Quezon City government transferred her  remains from Himlayang Pilipino Memorial Park to the Tandang Sora National Shrine in Banlat. The city government also declared 2012 to be Tandang Sora Year.

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A first in the country is the Quezon City Council’s passage of the first anti-discrimination ordinance that gives recognition to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) community.

Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte spearheaded this historic move. Presiding over a city council meeting, she said, “Pinapatunayan ng Konseho ng Lungsod Quezon ang kakayahan nitong manguna at magsilbing halimbawa sa lahat pang mga konseho sa bansa, na kung gugustuhin, ay kayang kilalanin at bigyang katuparan ang pagsisimula ng pinapangarap nating pagkakapantay-pantay. Sa Quezon City, patas ang lahat!” (The Quezon City Council leads, and shows an example that city councils can follow, by making the dream of equality for all come true.)

Prior to the ordinance’s passage, the Office of the Vice Mayor, in cooperation with Councilor Lena Mayen Juico and Galang Philippines, conducted a series of public consultations on a proposed ordinance. Taken into consideration were recommendations and comments from 700 participants representing barangay officials, members and officers of LGBT groups, advocates,  and civil society organizations. 

City Ordinance No. SP-2357 S-2014, otherwise known as the QC Gender Fair Ordinance, ensures comprehensive non-discrimination policy on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and expression in the workplace, in education, equal access to basic services, and accommodation.

The passage of the ordinance coincides with the United Nations General Assembly Resolution passed on 27 September 2014, “expressing grave concern at acts of violence and discrimination in all regions of the world, committed against individuals because of their sexual orientation and gender identity.”

Vice Mayor Belmonte said,  “The LGBT community has been a significant partner in ensuring the success of Quezon City. While contributing in  various arenas — politics, arts, business, sciences, education, among others – they have long been ignored, their rights unrecognized, and worse, they are often discriminated against. This is the city’s way to protect its citizens by saying no to discrimination.”

The ordinance is silent on recognizing same-sex marriage, but  I believe that event won’t be long in coming.

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Known for her innovativeness and forward-looking policies, Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte, along with the Quezon City Anti-Drug Abuse Advisory Council (QCADAAC) launched the city’s Barkada Kontra Droga (BKD) at the basketball covered court at the Quezon Memorial Circle.

A total of 1,400  youths from  the 142 barangays from District 1 to District 6 participated in the event which also showcased programs of the city government to keep the youth away from negative influences that lead to drugs and substance abuse. 

Speakers from the Scholarship Youth Development Program (SYDP), TESDA QC-Lingkod Bayan Training Center and Sports Development Program were invited to give brief backgrounders on the programs and services for the youth such as the scholarship program, outreach program, Gamit Ko Sagot Ko (school supplies), and Youth Summit. 

Juan Asuncion from the TESDA Training Center discussed the short courses for the youth like barista, housekeeping, household services and small engine repair, among others. Ted Lazaro, OVM executive officer for  sports development program, introduced the different free  training program for such sports as the Muay Thai, Dance Sports and Wushu, and presented actual demonstrations of the three mentioned sports.

District Director Joel Pagdilao of the Quezon City Police District  and lawyer Jacquelyn de Guzman,  the Regional Director of RO-NCR of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, delivered solidarity messages encouraging  the participants to be involved in the campaign against illegal drugs.

Vice Mayor  Belmonte, who is also the  QCADAAC chairperson, administered the BKD oath and challenged the youth to take part in the city’s campaign against illegal drugs.  Youth representatives from District 1 to 6 accepted the challenge.

The city is lucky to have a forward-looking executive like Vice Mayor Belmonte.

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