OMBUDSMAN Conchita Carpio-Morales is this year’s recipient of the Tandang Sora award.
Mayor Herbert Bautista said Morales was chosen as the city’s most outstanding woman who embodies the virtues and ideals of Melchora Aquino, the Grand Woman of the Revolution.
He said the conferment of the award will highlight the commemoration of the 205th birth anniversary of Tandang Sora in ceremonies at the Tandang Sora National Shrine at Banlat Road in Barangay Tandang Sora in Quezon City on Jan. 6.
Past recipients of the award included former Quezon City mayor Adelina Rodriguez, Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, journalist Tina Monzon-Palma, and educator and former senator Helena Benitez.
The city government and National Historical Commission of the Philippines have coordinated efforts in the preparation for this year’s commemorative rites. Bautista will lead city government officials during the ceremony.
Descendants of Tandang Sora are invited to join the celebration, together with other city, schools, police and barangay officials.
Born on Jan. 6, an Epiphany Day, in 1812, Melchora Aquino was named after one of the three wise men.
Despite her old age, Melchora Aquino, better known as Tandang Sora, risked her life by opening her doors to Katipuneros during the revolution against Spain, and provided them with food, clothings and shelter.
She was arrested and exiled to Guam by the Spanish colonial authorities.
Based on historical accounts, Tandang Sora returned to the Philippines on Feb. 26, 1903 at the age of 91. She died on March 2, 1919 at 107.