Herminia Victoriano y Amador was born on November 24, 1913 in Caridad, Cavite City to Gallardo Victoriano and Celestina Amador. She was the eldest among the six children. One of her sister, Sarita Victoriano Micael was also a pianist and for a long time, teacher of Pianoforte in Cavite National High School. After her elementary education at Caridad Elementary School and her secondary education at Cavite High School, she enrolled at the University of the Philippines where she finished her Bachelor of Science in Education major in English and Library Sciences as her minor. Immediately, after graduation, she took up Pianoforte at the UP Conservatory of Music. The death of her mother forced her to stop her piano studies which she begun with her grandfather, Don Julian Felipe. From 1947 to 1949, she took up her Masteral Degree in English at the Arellano University and the Centro Escolar University. She took up her Doctoral in Education Administration at the Far Eastern University. She also finished her Bachelor of Music at Colegio de Sta. Isabel. She first taught at her alma mater in Caridad Elementary School. She became a classroom teacher in Alfonso Elementary School. In 1937, she was transferred to Cavite High School where she taught until 1970. She also taught in St. Joseph College. Then she was promoted as Division Supervisor for Secondary Schools of Cavite Province. When Cavite City was separated from the Provincial School Division, she was appointed as music supervisor of Cavite City School Division. Miss Victoriano composed a great number of songs. Among them were the “Landas ng Kadakilaan”, “God Bless the Philippines” in 4 voices which was approved by the Bureau of Public School as prescribed song in public and private schools in the Philippines. The songs Landas ng Kadakilaan and another of her composition “Unang Ginang Imelda” were sung by the Cavite National High School Teachers’ Chorale at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in the presence of the former First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos. She also composed danzas, balitaw, marches and school hymns. She also composed religious songs like Ave Maria. Miss Victoriano organized and directed operettas, choruses, and she choreographed and trained folk dances, interpretative and semi-classical dances. During athletic meet, she organized mass dancing. She wrote and directed the performance of Zarzuela Chabacana. She also organized and directed Opperettas, pageant and plays. In 1964, she organized the Pianoforte Course for Secondary Student at Cavite National High School. It was approved by the Bureau of Public School. It was the first of its kind in the Philippines. Students of Cavite National High School enrolled for four years course in Pianoforte with annual piano recital at the Montano Hall. Miss Victoriano organized the Cavite National High School Teachers’ Chorale where she was the conductor.
They have participated in various choral competition. She also organized and directed the 250 voice CICAMTA Chorale. She was also a director and conductor of the defunct Cavite Artist Guild. Miss Victoriano was also a poetress. She published a book entitles, “Our National Symbols and Ideals in Verse”. It was approved as prescribed book by the Bureau of Public School. Another unpublished works was “My Own Collected Poems” and “Collected Plays and Pageants”. She also collected old Chabacano folk songs which she incorporated in her Zarzuela Chabacana. The zarzuela has been performed many times by public school teachers. Awards were: Award of Merit for Outstanding and Valued Services Rendered to the Education of the Youth, Cavite Women’s Club, 1960; Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award, Free Mason of the Philippines, 1963-64; Award of Merit as Most Outstanding Public Secondary School Teacher, Bureau of Public School, 1965; Award of Distinction for Cultural Development of our Youth – CNHS-PTA, 1966; Most Outstanding Public Secondary School Teacher of Cavite; Senator Gaudencio Antonino Scholarship Award, 1968; Award of Appreciation and Recognition for Active Participation in the 14th Rizal Choral Fest at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Knights of Rizal, 1970; Award Distinction for Composition of CCAT March, Cavite College of Arts and Trade, 1973; Testimonial Plaque for Outstanding Achievement, CNHS, 1974; Don Julian Felipe Award, 1976. She was a member of the Philippine Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, Philippine National Society of Music Education and Philippine Association of University Women.Miss Victoriano dedicated a great part of her life in the education of Caviteño youth, one of the best Caviteña educator had her stroke and for a long time lived with only memories of her achievements. She also served as church organist in San Roque Parish Church since the pre-war days until 1975.
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