Inside the Tandang Sora Women's Museum in Quezon City

(SPOT.ph) It's been a while since we first reported that Quezon City will open a museum celebrating the contributions of Filipino women in history. Finally, after over a month of soft opening, the Tandang Sora Women's Museum in Quezon City is now open.

While women don't need any validation of their worth, it's still great to be celebrated for the badasses we are, right? Check out this newly opened, must-visit site for a dose of history (or, in this case, HERstory) and girl power.

Also read: A New Contemporary Art Museum Is Rising Soon in Makati

Here's what you'll find inside the Tandang Sora Women's Museum in Quezon City

The Tandang Sora Women's Museum is the first Philippine museum dedicated to women in our society. Although it is named after Melchora Aquino, the Mother of the Katipunan, the museum doesn't only honor her contributions during the Philippine Revolt. Instead, it seeks to memorialize Tandang Sora's spirit by immortalizing Filipino women's contributions throughout history.

The Tandang Sora Women's Museum is an art and historical museum dedicated to women's inclusion. It houses several sculptures, paintings, and other art specially commissioned for the Museum, which depict the struggle for women's empowerment and influence.

On the other hand, it also features an extensive HERstorical Philippine Timeline, showing women's impact in faith, leadership, and revolution. From the Babaylan to modern women advocates, the museum features the life works of various women who made waves and paved the way for the women of today in politics, arts, science, media, entertainment, and many more. 

This museum didn't just sprout overnight. For Tandang Sora Women's Museum curator and visual artist Sandra Torrijos, this dream has been over 40 years in the making.

In the 1980s, Torrijos was actively involved in many feminist and women-led movements. Here, she first envisioned a dedicated museum for women with the hope of erasing the notion of a womanless past. Torrijos presented the concept to Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte in 2023, who supported the cause.

In January 2024, the museum's construction commenced with designs from Architect Gerard Lico and his team at Arc Lico. Fast forward a year later, and the museum housed in a traditional bahay na bato-style stands as a thoughtfully curated space "illuminating the often-overlooked contributions of women throughout Filipino history."

How to visit the Tandang Sora Women's Museum in Quezon City

The Tandang Sora Women's Museum is beside the Tandang Sora National Shrine along Banlat Road. It is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Admission is free for Quezon City residents, PWDs, and senior citizens. Non-QC residents can still visit for a minimal P50 entrance fee, which helps maintain the museum. If you visit this February or March, all fees will be waived as part of the National Arts Month and Women's Month celebrations.

Walk-ins are welcome. But if you want the full experience, we highly recommend booking a guided tour around the museum. You can email the Quezon City Tourism Department or SMS them at 0915-392-1044.

Also read: The UP Manila Museum of a History of Ideas Is Now Open

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