College of Arts and Letters

University of the Philippines Diliman
Kolehiyo ng Arte at Literatura



Flora Elena Rivera Mirano is a Professor Emeritus of Art Studies at the University of the Philippines in Diliman. She has an A.B. in English, cum laude, an M.A. in Comparative Literature and a Ph.D. in Philippine Studies from the same university, as well as a Master of Arts in Humanities from Stanford University. She served as Chair of the Department of Art Studies from 2006-9, and Dean of the College of Arts and Letters from 2009-15.
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). She served as research director for the Philippine Program at the 1998 Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington D.C. and the Batangas City Museum (2006-2022).
Her more recent writings are Performance Notes (2018), a collection of essays on performance and performativity, and the blog, “Music and Faith in the Time of Covid-19 musicandfaith@squarespace.com (2020)”
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 (November, 1986). As director of the Cherubim and Seraphim (1988-present), the official children’s choir of the University of the Philippines in Diliman, she commissioned the theaterpiece, “Awit ni Pulau,” (1996) with music by Ramon P. Santos and libretto by Edgardo Maranan, serving as its executive producer in 1996, 2017 and consultant in 2021. She also conceptualizes and directs the group’s annual program of workshops and live and virtual concerts.
In 2001, she was designated laureate of the prestigious Prince Claus Fund for Culture and Development of the Netherlands in recognition of her achievements. In 2007, an Achievement Award in Humanities was conferred on her by the National Research Council of the Philippines.

Research/Writing:
Primary author, Subli: One Dance in Four Voices/Subli: Isang Sayaw sa Apat na Tinig (National Book Award, Art Book Category), Pasay City: Cultural Centre of the Philippines, 1989.
Author, Ang Mga Tradisyonal na Musikang Pantinig sa Lumang Bauan, Batangas (Gawad Chancellor, University of the Philippines, Diliman, “Best Book,” Humanities Category), Manila: National Commission for Culture and the Arts, 1998.
Primary Author and Editor-in-chief, The Life and Works of Marcelo Adonay (Alfonso Ongpin Award and National Book Award, Art Book Category). Quezon City: University of the Philippines Press, 2009.
Author, Performance Notes. Personal Essays. Quezon City, 2018.
Author, Music and Faith in the Time of Covid 19: A Blog. musicandfaith@squarespace.com2020
Research director, The Philippine Program at the 1998 Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington D.C.
Consultant, The Batangas City Museum (2006-2022).
Performance:
Featured performer, “Kumintang: Awitin ng mga Tagalog na taga Batangas,” recording album 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.
Director Emeritus of the Cherubim and Seraphim, the official children’s choir of the University of the Philippines in Diliman. Served as Associate Director (1971-96), Director (1996-2016), Director Emeritus (2016-present)