Almario to head NCCA

National Artist for Literature Virgilio Almario was elected as the new chairperson of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).

The NCCA posted on its website that the 72-yearold Almario has been appointed as NCCA chairman from 2017 until 2019.

He will lead the NCCA Board of Commissioners composed of representatives from the legislative, executive and the private sectors.

Completing the roster of the NCCA Board for the 2017 – 2019 term are Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, chairperson, Senate committee on education, arts, and culture; Rep. Evelina Escudero, chairperson, committee on basic education and culture; Alberto Muyot, undersecretary, , Department of Education; Falconi Millar, Undersecretary, Department of Tourism; Rene Escalante, OIC chair, National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP); Jeremy Barns, director, National Museum; Yolanda Jacinto, officer-in-charge/assistant director, National Library of the Philippines; Victorino Manalo, executive director, National Archives of the Philippines; Raul Sunico, president, Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP); Teddy Co, commissioner, Subcommission on the Arts; Alphonsus Tesoro, commissioner, Subcommission of Cultural Communities and Traditional Arts; Orlando Magno, commissioner, Subcommission on Cultural Dissemination and Marichu Tellano, OIC-executive director of the NCCA.

Almario previously served as chairman of the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF). He was also the executive director to the NCCA from year 1998 to 2001.

He is a native of Bulacan, uses the penname Rio Alma. He graduated from the University of the Philippines (UP) with a degree in A.B. Political Science.

He is also recipient of numerous awards such as several Palanca Awards, two grand prizes from the CCP, the Makata ng Taon of the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino, a Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) for literature, and the Southeast Asia Write Award of Bangkok. –