Virgilio S. Almario
Encyclopedia
Virgilio Senadren Almario, 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
.
Growing up in Bulacan
among peasants, Almario sought his education at Manila and completed his degree in A.B. Political Science at the University of the Philippines
.
His life as a poet started when he took master’s course in education at the University of the East
where he became associated with Rogelio G. Mangahas and Lamberto E. Antonio.
A prolific writer, he spearheaded the second successful modernist movement in Filipino poetry together with Rogelio Mangahas
and Teo Antonio. His earliest pieces of literary criticism were collected in Ang Makata sa Panahon ng Makina (1972), now considered the first book of literary criticism in Filipino. Later, in the years of martial law, he set aside modernism and formalism and took interest in nationalism, politics and activist movement. As critic, his critical works deal with the issue of national 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
, Euripedes and Maxim Gorki. Other important translations include the famous works of the Philippines
' national hero, José Rizal
, namely Noli Me Tangere
and El filibusterismo
. It was deemed as the best 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 Ateneo de Manila University
from 1969-1972. He only took his M.A. in Filipino in 1974 in the University of the Philippines
. In 2003, he was appointed Dean of the College of Arts and Letters in the said university. 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
.
Pen name
A pen name, nom de plume, or literary double, is a pseudonym adopted by an author. A pen name may be used to make the author's name more distinctive, to disguise his or her gender, to distance an author from some or all of his or her works, to protect the author from retribution for his or her...
, Rio Alma, is a Filipino
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
artist, poet, critic, translator, editor, teacher, and cultural manager. He is a National Artist of the Philippines
National Artist of the Philippines
A National Artist of the Philippines is a title given to a Filipino who has been given the highest recognition for having made significant contributions to the development of Philippine arts...
.
Growing up in Bulacan
Bulacan
Bulacan , officially called the Province of Bulacan or simply Bulacan Province, is a first class province of the Republic of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon Region in the island of Luzon, north of Manila , and part of the Metro...
among peasants, Almario sought his education at Manila and completed his degree in A.B. Political Science at the University of the Philippines
University of the Philippines
The ' is the national university of the Philippines. Founded in 1908 through Act No...
.
His life as a poet started when he took master’s course in education at the University of the East
University of the East
The University of the East is a private nonsectarian university located in University Belt Area, district of Sampaloc, Manila, Philippines. The university was founded in 1946 as a coeducational institution...
where he became associated with Rogelio G. Mangahas and Lamberto E. Antonio.
A prolific writer, he spearheaded the second successful modernist movement in Filipino poetry together with Rogelio Mangahas
Rogelio Mangahas
Rogelio Mangahas is a Filipino artist and poet. He was born on May 9, 1939 in Palasinan, Cabiao, Nueva Ecija, Philippines.He was educated at the University of the East where he studied AB Filipino. Even then, he was already seeking others who shared the same interest in language, by spending most...
and Teo Antonio. His earliest pieces of literary criticism were collected in Ang Makata sa Panahon ng Makina (1972), now considered the first book of literary criticism in Filipino. Later, in the years of martial law, he set aside modernism and formalism and took interest in nationalism, politics and activist movement. As critic, his critical works deal with the issue of national language
Filipino language
This move has drawn much criticism from other regional groups.In 1987, a new constitution introduced many provisions for the language.Article XIV, Section 6, omits any mention of Tagalog as the basis for Filipino, and states that:...
.
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
Nick Joaquín
Nicomedes Márquez Joaquín was a Filipino writer, historian and journalist, best known for his short stories and novels in the English language. He also wrote using the pen name Quijano de Manila...
, Bertolt Brecht
Bertolt Brecht
Bertolt Brecht was a German poet, playwright, and theatre director.An influential theatre practitioner of the 20th century, Brecht made equally significant contributions to dramaturgy and theatrical production, the latter particularly through the seismic impact of the tours undertaken by the...
, Euripedes and Maxim Gorki. Other important translations include the famous works of the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
' national hero, José Rizal
José Rizal
José Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda , was a Filipino polymath, patriot and the most prominent advocate for reform in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial era. He is regarded as the foremost Filipino patriot and is listed as one of the national heroes of the Philippines by...
, namely Noli Me Tangere
Noli Me Tangere (novel)
Noli Me Tangere is a novel by Filipino polymath José Rizal and first published in 1887 in Berlin, Germany. Early English translations used titles like An Eagle Flight and The Social Cancer, but more recent translations have been published using the original Latin title.Though originally written in...
and El filibusterismo
El filibusterismo
El filibusterismo , also known by its English alternate title The Reign of Greed, is the second novel written by Philippine national hero José Rizal. It is the sequel to Noli Me Tangere and like the first book, was written in Spanish. It was first published in 1891 in Ghent, Belgium...
. It was deemed as the best translation by the Manila Critics Circle.
Almario has been a recipient of numerous awards such as several Palanca Awards
Palanca Awards
The Palanca Awards or Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature is the Philippines' most prestigious and most enduring literary awards and is dubbed as the "Pulitzer Prize" of the Philippines...
, two grand prizes from the Cultural Center of the Philippines
Cultural Center of the Philippines
The Cultural Center of the Philippines is a government-owned and controlled corporation established to preserve, develop and promote arts and culture in the Philippines. The CCP was established through Executive Order No. 30 s. 1966 by President Ferdinand Marcos...
, the Makata ng Taon of the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino, the TOYM for literature, and the Southeast Asia Write Award
S.E.A. Write Award
The S.E.A. Write Award, or Southeast Asian Writers Award, is an award that has been presented annually since 1979 to poets and writers in Southeast Asia....
of Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
.
He was an instructor at the Ateneo de Manila University
Ateneo de Manila University
The Ateneo de Manila University is a private teaching and research university run by the Society of Jesus in the Philippines. It began in 1859 when the City of Manila handed control of the Escuela Municipal de Manila in Intramuros, Manila, to the Jesuits...
from 1969-1972. He only took his M.A. in Filipino in 1974 in the University of the Philippines
University of the Philippines
The ' is the national university of the Philippines. Founded in 1908 through Act No...
. In 2003, he was appointed Dean of the College of Arts and Letters in the said university. 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
Teo Antonio
Teo Antonio is a very important Filipino poet. He was born in Sampaloc, Manila. He was educated at the University of Santo Tomas where he studied Fine Arts. Antonio is the son of Emilio Mar Antonio, hari ng balagtasan during the 1950s.Antonio garnered numerous Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for...
and Mike Bigornia
Mike Bigornia
Mike Bigornia is a Filipino poet, editor, fictionist and translator. Bigornia was educated at the University of the East where he finished political science....
.
Poetry Collections
- Taludtod at Talinghaga. (1991)
- (A)lamat (H)istorya. (1985)
- Palipad-Hangin. (1985)
- Katon Para sa Limang Pandama. (1987)
- Ang Hayop na Ito. (2004)
- Sentimental. (2004)
- Sari-Sari. (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 KiukokAng KiukokAng Kiukok was a leading Filipino painter and a National Artist for Visual Arts.-Profile of the Artist:He was born in Davao City, Philippines to Chinese-Filipino parents who had emigrated from Fukien...
. (2006) - Tatlong Pasyon sa Ating Panahon, poems for children with illustrations by Mark Justiniani, Neil Doloricon, Ferdinand Doctolero. (2006)