In Nora Aunor and Other Profiles, the legendary Quijano de Manila, the pen name of Nick Joaquin, National Artist for Literature, wields his inimitable prose to sketch powerful, intimate, and unforgettable portraits of some of the Philippines’ most iconic figures. At the center of this collection is Nora Aunor, the “Superstar” who rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most influential and beloved artists in Philippine history. Through Quijano’s penetrating lens, Aunor is revealed not just as a celebrity but as a cultural phenomenon, a mirror of the nation’s dreams, anxieties, and aspirations.