On August 23, 1896, Bonifacio and his men arrived at the house of Melchora Aquino. She furnished the katipuneros with 100 cavans of rice and 10 carabaos and other necessities. During the revolution, she nursed those who fell sick and wounded.  
 
     Tandang sora and her family fled to Novaliches upon the advice of Bonifacio. She was nonetheless arrested by the Guardia Civil at Pasong Putik, Novaliches. On August 29, 1896, she was held captive in the house of the cabeza de barangay. She was bought to Manila for confinement at the Bilibid prison the very next day. Here, she was subjected to gruelling interrogation by the Spanish inquisitor, but she steadfastly refused to reveal the hideout of Bonifacio and his men.  
 
     Three days later, by decree of General Governor Ramon Blanco, this heroic old woman was deported to Guam along with other Filipino patriots.  
 
     The American government later freed and repatriated her. She was 91 on Februeary 26, 1903 when she boarded the S.S. Uranus, together with 76 other exiled patriots and returned to her home in Banlat where she was warmly and tearfully welcomed by all the villagers, including her children and grandchildren.  
 
     During her last years, she lived in obscurity in the hills of Balintawak. Being too old to work, her surviving children and her families took care of her. She declined material rewards from the government for her patriotic services and sacrifices. To her, rewards did not matter, despite the fact that she lived in poverty. She was contented with the fact that she had supported the Katipunan and suffered six years of lonely exile for her country's freedom.  
 
     Finally, on February 20, 1919, at her age of 107 she died queitly in Banlat in the house of her daughter, Saturnina. she was interred in the Mausoluem of the Veterans of the Philippine Revolution at La Loma Cementery.  
 
 
Excerpts: Filipinos In History Vol.1
from The National Historical Institute (1989)
 
Melchora Aquino(Biography)
Antonio Luna (Contribution to the Philippines)
Antonio Luna (Biography)
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