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Virgilio S. Almario

Born

in Camias, San Miguel, Bulacan, Philippines

March 09, 1944

Website

http://rioalma.com/

Genre

Literature & Fiction, Children's Books, Poetry

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Virgilio S. 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 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 an Virgilio S. 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 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 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. 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 products of the LIRA workshop. ...more

Combine Editions
Virgilio S. Almario’s books

Average rating: 4.08 · 5,853 ratings · 329 reviews · 137 distinct works • Similar authors

	Ibong Adarna by Virgilio S. Almario (Retold by), Jordan Santos (Illustrator) 4.18 avg rating — 741 ratings — published 1980	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Si Langgam at si Tipaklong by Virgilio S. Almario (Retold by), Renato Gamos (Illustrator) 4.29 avg rating — 488 ratings — published 1981 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Si Pilandok sa Pulo ng Pawikan by Virgilio S. Almario, Kora Dandan-Albano 4.08 avg rating — 382 ratings — published 2001 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Si Pilandok At Ang Mga Buwaya by Virgilio S. Almario, Kora Dandan-Albano (Illustrator) 4.09 avg rating — 345 ratings — published 1994	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	UP Diksiyonaryong Filipino 3.73 avg rating — 340 ratings — published 2001 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Sundalong Patpat by Virgilio S. Almario, Ferdinand R. Doctolero (Illustrator) 4.37 avg rating — 236 ratings — published 1997	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Ang Hukuman ni Sinukuan by Virgilio S. Almario (Retold by), Mitzi Villavecer (Illustrator) 4.18 avg rating — 238 ratings — published 2005 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Sentimental, mga tula ng pag-ibig, lungkot at paglimot 3.88 avg rating — 177 ratings — published 2004 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Isang Mayang Uhaw by Virgilio S. Almario, Jimmy Torres (Illustrator) 4.18 avg rating — 159 ratings — published 1993 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Si Hinlalaki by Virgilio S. Almario, Hubert B. Fucio (Illustrator) 4.17 avg rating — 90 ratings — published 1980 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Virgilio S. Almario…

Series by Virgilio S. Almario

Pilandok (5 books)
by

Virgilio S. Almario,

Kora Dandan-Albano (Illustrator)

4.05 avg rating — 883 ratings

Batang Katutubo (4 books)
by

Virgilio S. Almario,

Beth Parrocha (Illustrator)

4.33 avg rating — 42 ratings

Una Kong Milenyum (2 books)
by

Virgilio S. Almario,

Mike L. Bigornia (Editor)

4.15 avg rating — 13 ratings

100 Filipino Icons (2 books)
by

Virgilio S. Almario (Editor),

Emelina S. Almario

3.60 avg rating — 10 ratings

Madyik Banig (2 books)
by

Virgilio S. Almario,

Joanne de Leon (Illustrator)

3.38 avg rating — 8 ratings

More series by Virgilio S. Almario…

Quotes by Virgilio S. Almario (?)

“Mamamatay akong hindi nakitang sumilay ang bukang-liwayway sa aking bayan! Kayong makakikita, salubungin siya . . . Huwag ninyong lilimutin ang mga nabuwal sa dilim ng gabi!”
—Mula kay Elias sa Kabanata 64: Nochebuena”
― Virgilio S. Almario, Noli Me Tángere

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“Ang pagpapakatáo ay isang hábang-búhay na pagsisikap upang magtamo ng ginhawa dito sa lupà . . . Ang ginhawa ay nagdudulot ng pakiramdam na “singgaan ng liwanag” . . . Natatamo ang pakiramdám na “singgaan ng liwanag” kapag walâng anumang “bigat” ang katawan at kalooban.”
― Virgilio S. Almario, Sapantahang Wika

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“Pinararangalan ko ang ama dahil sa anak, ngunit hindi ang anak dahil sa ama.
Mula kay Pilosopong Tasio sa Kabanata 14: Tasiong Baliw o Pilosopo”
― Virgilio S. Almario, Noli Me Tángere

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See all Virgilio S. Almario's quotes »

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