Virgilio S. Almario

Virgilio Almario
Philippine Commonwealth
Pen name	Rio Alma
Occupation	Poet literary critic lecturer editor
Nationality	Order of National Artists of the Philippines University of the Philippines Centennial Award, Amado V. Hernandez Award, Balagtas Award for Poetry and Essay
Spouse	Emelina B. Soriano
Children	Asa Victoria, Ani Rosa, Agno Virgilio
Literature portal

Virgilio Senadren Almario (born March 9, 1944), better known by his

Early life and education

Growing up in Bulacan, Almario sought his education at the City of Manila and completed his degree in A.B. Political Science at the University of the Philippines Diliman.

His life as a poet started when he took master's units in education at the University of the East where he became associated with Rogelio G. Mangahas and Lamberto E. Antonio. He did not finish the program.^[3]

He only took his M.A. in Filipino in 1974 at the University of the Philippines Diliman.

Career

A prolific writer, he spearheaded the second successful modernist movement in Filipino poetry together with Mangahas and 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 a critic, his critical works deal with the issue of national language.

Almario campaigned against the usage and proliferation of siyokoy words in the Filipino language, which according to him were improperly derived from English and Spanish.^[4] He also advocated the use of Filipinas as the Philippines official name in both Filipino and English languages.^[5]

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

He was an instructor at the Lagao Central Elementary School from 1969 to 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.^[8]

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.^[9] 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.

Works

Poetry collections

• 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

Filmography

• Sariling Gunita (2022), a documentary film directed by Mark Daniel De Castro. ^[10]

References