Canonical Author

and Philippine
National Artist in
Literature
Virgili
o
• born March 9, 1944
• better known by his pen name Rio Alma
• a Filipino artist, poet, critic, translator,

Senad
editor, teacher, and cultural manager
• currently serves as the chairman of the
Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF)
• On January 5, 2017, Almario was also

rin
elected as the chairman of the National
Commission for Culture and the Arts.

Almari
o

Growing up in Bulacan
among peasants, Almario
sought his education in
Manila and completed his
degree in A.B. Political
Science at the University of
the Philippines. A prolific
writer, he spearheaded the
second successful modernist
movement in Filipino poetry
together with Rogelio G.
Mangahas and Lamberto E.
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
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, Jose Rizal, namely
Noli Me Tangere and El
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. In 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
 Si Pilandok, ang Bantay ng Kalikasan
Famous Si Langgam at si Tipaklong
Si Pilandok sa Pulo ng Pawikan

works Si Pilandok at ang mga Buwaya

Sundalong Patpat
Awards and
Recognition
1983 He is one of the ten outstanding young men.

Southeast Asia Write Award of Bangkok 1989

1992 Gawad Patnubay ng Sining of Manila

Dangal ng Lipi Award of Bulacan
Gantimpalang Quezon of Quezon City 1993

1998 His involvement with NCCA started in November until August 2001.

Dangal ng Lipi Award of Bulacan 2008

2010 Gawad Diwa ng Lahi ng Lungsod Manila

Proclaimed National Artist for literature on June. 2013