Quezon City is building a museum dedicated to revolutionary heroine Melchora Aquino ("Tandang Sora"), honoring her role in Philippine independence.
A landmark space for heritage, advocacy, and remembrance, the Tandang Sora Women’s Museum officially opened its doors to the public on February 19, 2025, in Barangay Pasong Tamo, Quezon City. This is the first museum in the Philippines dedicated exclusively to honoring the lives, legacies, and struggles of Filipino women throughout history.
Named after Melchora “Tandang Sora” Aquino, the revered Mother of the Philippine Revolution, the museum is located within the grounds of the Tandang Sora National Shrine. It is housed in a two-storey structure modeled on the colonial Bahay na Bato—a deliberate architectural homage to the era when Tandang Sora’s acts of courage and compassion shaped the nation’s destiny. The structure was designed by Gerard Lico and the ARC LICO team, with a planning and construction process that brought together architecture, scholarship, and advocacy.
Every gallery emphasizes the plurality of women’s experiences in the Philippines—from revolutionaries to everyday heroines, from artists to educators, and from trailblazers to the unsung. Commissioned artworks, curated archives, and interactive displays culminate in a moving, educational experience that blends historical rigor with contemporary relevance.
More than a memorial, the Tandang Sora Women’s Museum is a space for empowerment, learning, and remembrance. It aims to be a living archive and springboard for discussions on women’s rights, social justice, and national identity. Through its exhibits and advocacy, it affirms that Filipino women—past and present—continue to shape the soul of the nation.
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