About the Author
Elena Rivera Mirano is a Professor Emeritus of Art Studies at the University of the Philippines in Diliman. She served as Chair of the Department of Art Studies and Dean of the College of Arts and Letters.
As a researcher in the traditional culture of the Southern Tagalog region, she has authored Subli: One Dance in Four Voices/Subli: Isang Sayaw sa Apat na Tinig (National Book Award, Art Book Category, 1989), Ang Mga Tradisyonal na Musikang Pantinig sa Lumang Bauan, Batangas (Gawad Chancellor, University of the Philippines, Diliman, “Best Book,” Humanities Category, 1998), The Life and Works of Marcelo Adonay (Alfonso Ongpin Award and National Book Award, Art Book Category, 2009) and Performance Notes (2018).
In the domain of the performing arts, she was the featured performer of the recording album, “Kumintang: Awitin ng mga Tagalog na taga Batangas,” which she produced for the Diamond Jubilee of the University of the Philippines. A one woman show developed for the launch of this album was subsequently toured by the Cultural Center of the Philippines as part of its Outreach Program. She is Director Emeritus of the Cherubim and Seraphim, the official children’s choir of the University of the Philippines in Diliman.
She served as research director for the Philippine Program at the 1998 Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington D.C. and the Batangas City Museum (2006). In 2001, she was designated laureate of the prestigious Prince Claus Fund for Culture and Development of the Netherlands. In 2007, an Achievement Award in Humanities was conferred on her by the National Research Council of the Philippines.
She is an Elder of the National City-United Church of Christ in the Philippines and currently serves as its Director of Music.