21st Century

Report
Who is Virgilio S. Almario???
His Background:
Virgilio Senadrin Almario (born March 9, 1944),

better known by his pen name Rio Alma, is a

Filipino artist, poet, critic, translator, editor,

teacher, and cultural manager.

He is a National Artist of the Philippines and

currently serves as the chairman of the

Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF), the

government agency mandated to promote and

standardize the use of the Filipino language.

On January 5, 2017, Almario was also elected as

the chairman of the National Commission for

Culture and the Arts.

Early Life and Education: Career:
Growing up in Bulacan among
A prolific writer, he spearheaded the

peasants, Almario sought his education

second successful modernist

at the City of Manila and completed

movement in Filipino poetry together

his degree in A.B. Political Science at

with Mangahas and Antonio.
the University of the Philippines
His earliest pieces of literary criticism

Diliman. were collected in Ang Makata sa

His life as a poet started when he took

Panahon ng Makina (1972), now

master’s units in education at the

considered the first book of literary

University of the East where he became

criticism in Filipino. Later, in the years

associated with Rogelio G. Mangahas

of martial law, he set aside modernism

and Lamberto E. Antonio. He did not

and formalism and took interest in

finish the program. nationalism, politics and activist

He only took his M.A. in Filipino in

movement. As critic, his critical works

1974 at the University of the Philippines

deal with the issue of national

Diliman. language..
 Aside from being a critic, Almario engaged in translating and editing. He has translated the

best contemporary poets of the world. He has also translated for theater production the plays

of Nick Joaquin, Bertolt Brecht, Euripides and Maxim Gorki. Other important translations

include the famous works of the Philippines' national hero, José Rizal, namely Noli Me

Tangere and El filibusterismo. For these two, he was awarded the 1999 award for translation by

the Manila Critics Circle.

Almario has been a recipient of numerous awards such as several Palanca Awards, two

grand prizes from the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the Makata ng Taon of the

Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino, the TOYM for literature, and the Southeast Asia Write Award

of Bangkok.

He was an instructor at the Lagao Central Elementary School from 1969-1972. In 2003, he

was appointed Dean of the College of Arts and Letters at the University of the Philippines

DIliman. On June 25 of the same year, he was proclaimed National Artist for Literature.

Almario is also the founder and workshop director of the Linangan sa Imahen, Retorika, at

Anyo (LIRA), an organization of poets who write in Filipino. Award-winning writers and

poets such as Roberto and Rebecca Añonuevo, Romulo Baquiran Jr., Michael Coroza,

Jerry Gracio, and Vim Nadera are but some of the products of the LIRA workshop.
He was a founding member of the Gallan sa Arte at Tula (GAT), along with fellow poets

Teo Antonio and Mike Bigornia.

His Works
Mga Retrato at Rekwerdo (1984)
Palipad-Hangin. (1985)
Katon Para sa Limang Pandama. (1987)
Sentimental. (2004)
Estremelenggoles. (2004)
Memo Mulang Gimokudan. (2005)
Dust Devils. (2005)
Sonetos Postumos, book of poems with translation by Marne Kilates

and paintings by National Artist Ang Kiukok. (2006)

Tatlong Pasyon sa Ating Panahon, poems for children with illustrations

by Mark Justiniani, Neil Doloricon, Ferdinand Doctolero. (2006)

Buwan, Buwang, Bulawan. (2009)
UP Diksyunaryong Filipino
Kulo at Kolorum
Baklang Kolorum
His Works:
His Achievements
Almario has been a

Aside from being a critic, Almario

recipient of numerous

engaged in translating and editing. He

has translated the best contemporary

awards such as several

poets of the world. He has also

Palanca Awards, two

translated for theater production the

grand prizes from the

plays of Nick Joaquin, Bertolt Brecht,

Cultural Center of the

Euripides and Maxim Gorki..

Philippines, the Makata

Other important translations include

ng Taon of the

the famous works of the Philippines'

Komisyon sa Wikang

national hero, José Rizal, namely Noli

Filipino, the TOYM for

Me Tangere and El filibusterismo. For

these two, he was awarded the 1999

literature, and the

award for translation by the Manila

Southeast Asia Write

Critics Circle. Award of Bangkok.