Knowing his life and works.
Virgilio S. Almario, known widely by his nom de guerre, Rio Alma, is a prolific Filipino artist, critic, translator, editor, teacher, and cultural manager. He is one of the many National Artists here on Philippines and is currently serving a government agency, Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino(KWF), that mandates to accredit the promotion of Filipino language to be a standard usage on each citizen. But before we immerse on his engrossing works and wondrous awards, let us first discover and know who is Rio Alma behind his paragon silhouette. So, Almario was born on March 9, 1944 at a rural town in San Miguel, Bulacan. He is also the husband of Emelina B. Soriano and a father of three children, Asa Victoria, Ani Rosa and lastly Agno Virgilio. Surrounded by peasants, Almario strives and sought to enter Manila and complete his degree in A.B. Political Science at the famed University of the Philippines. His promising life of being a poet started when he get acquainted to Rogelio G. Mangahas and Lamberto E. Antonio after he took master's course in the University of the East.
Some of his known awards are the University of the Philipinnes Centennial Award, Amado V. Hernandez Award, Balagtas Award for Poetry and Essay. In addition, as a fruitful contributor to Philippine Literature, he spearheaded the second triumphant contemporary movement in Filipino poetry along with Rogelio Mangahas and Teo Antonio. His some thirty books are almost balanced in parts, be it poetry and criticism, that is all written in the national language. One of his beforehand pieces where literary criticism which are collected in "Ang Makata sa Panahon ng Makina" on 1972, this works were recognized as the first book of literary criticism in Filipino. Subsequently, during Martial Law, he set aside modernistic and formalistic works. Nationalism, political and activistic motions piqued his interest back then. As a well-known critic, his captious works deal with the vital matter of our national language. Besides from just criticizing, Rio Alma partakes in translating and editing, as what the first paragraph mentioned he is both a translator and an editor, and he translated an array of prominent contemporary poetries from the different parts of the world.
Rio Alma's conspicuous literary arts shows direct relevance to the daily movement of filipino lives, such as his famed "Dust Devils" that reminds us that every youngsters are constantly in awe over the grandeurs of this world, also his "In the Season of Thunder and Lightning" vividly recounts the prevailing winds and monsoon, another is his piece that encompasses the significance of water, "Water is Smarter. And for me, one of his ardent works, the "Typhoons" that tells of a heart-breaking and lyrical poetry that reminds the filipinos of the sorrows they felt during those dark times, " The typhoon's episodes of terror are yearly:
Berserk wind and shattered glass,
Streaming from the mouths of a thousand serpents,
Almario, as one of the receiver of the National Artists award, has become a driving force to move further the development of Philippine Literature. He proposes and proves that the Filipino language is as capable as any in expressing with richness and sophistication, with technical rigor and creative ways, the native and global Filipino intellect and imagination.
His Current Picture
His Notable Works:
Poetry:
- 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)
Other Known Books:
