Rio Alma to be honored in National Artist Tribute
National Artist for Literature Virgilio S. Almario, popularly known as Rio Alma, will be honored in Pagpupugay sa Pambansang Alagad ng Sining on February 13, 2008, 2:00 p.m. in the University of the Philippines Visayas Auditorium, Iloilo City.
Pagpupugay is an annual event sponsored by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) which brings the National Artists to different parts of the Philippines. This is in line with the National Arts Month celebration.
Rio Alma will be joined by the director of the Likhaan: UP Institute of Creative Writing (ICW) Vim Nadera, himself a multi-awarded writer. Aside from the talk of the National Artist, the tribute will also feature dramatic performance of his poetry by UP High School in Iloilo (UPHSI) students.
Rio Alma was proclaimed as the 10th National Artist for Literature on June 25, 2003 for his works as poet, critic, and translator. He currently serves as dean of the College of Arts and Letters of the University of the Philippines – Diliman.
The roster of National Artists for Literature includes Francisco Arcellana, N.V.M. Gonzales, Amado V. Hernandez, Nick Joaquin, F. Sionil Jose, Bienvenido Lumbera, Alejandro Roces, Carlos P. Romulo, Edith L. Tiempo, and Jose Garcia Villa.
Pagpupugay sa Alagad ng Sining is jointly sponsored by the Likhaan: UP Institute of Creative Writing (UPICW), the UPV – Sentro ng Wikang Filipino (UPV-SWF), the Filipinas Institute of Translation of the University of San Agustin, and the University of Iloilo, with the Assistance of UPV Office of Continuing Education and Pahinungod (OCCP).