So do you really know RIO ALMA?

We asked a bunch of people random questions about Anvil Author for August, National Artist VIRGIILIO S. ALMARIO, to see how much more they know their beloved mentor and friend. Thanks a lot to Bobby, Vim, Gerry, and Becky for the very interesting replies.


1. A unique pen name you want Rio to have.
Bobby: “Berling” ang magandang pen name para kay Rio.
Vim: VSA or “Vierne S. Abado”


2. Do you wish you were Rio’s blood relative?
Bobby: No. Dakila din naman ako, at di ko na siya kailangang maging relative.
Vim: Think, think, think, think, think, think, think, think, think, think. (I was born on the Feast day of San Mario… that would mean… I’d end up as Mario Almario?) Think, think, think, think, think, think, think, think, think, think.
Gerry: Hindi ko ito nanaisin. Malayo kong kamaganak ang maybahay ni Sir Rio, pero hindi pa rin ako ligtas sa kanyang matalas na kritisismo. Sa totoo lang, kailangan kang lalong maging masipag at maingat.
Becky: Ay, ayaw. Nakaka-tense.


3. If Rio Alma were a food item or dish, what would he be to you? Why?
Bobby: Bikol express. Maanghang na maanghang, ha?
Vim: Ratatouille. Because the movie (with that title) made him laugh and cry at the same time.
Becky: Everlasting (luto ng nanay ko)––the name says it.


4. The best line written or said by Rio that you shamelessly use to impress/get back at people.
Bobby: “Dakila ka!”
Vim: (Expletives excluded?) “Maganda lang yata rito ay pamagat.”
Becky: To paraphrase him: “Ano ang magbubura sa ating pambansang gunita? Mawala na ang lahat, huwag lang ang wika.” (Sinasabi niya ito sa tuwing unang lektyur niya sa LIRA, at pag sineseryoso ko ang pakikinig, halos maluha pa rin ako, tulad noong unang beses na narinig ko siyang magsalita tungkol sa kasaysayan, panitikan, at wika.)


5. What color don’t you want to see Rio wearing? Why not?
Bobby: Pink. Baka mapagkamalan siyang bading.
Vim: White. He’d be like Ed Ocampo and Tito Eduque rolled into one. Just like a piece of lumpiang ubod on carbonara sauce.


6. What do you think will be a good title for a movie/TV series/book that will feature Rio’s life?
Bobby: Alindog ni Rio Alma
Vim: Case to case basis––
Kung horror, Mga Tiyanak ni Rio Alma
Kung historical, Rio Almanac
Kung fantasy, Mga Kagila-Gilalas na Pakikipagsapalaran ni Superio
Kung drama, Babangon Ako’t Paglilirahin Kita
Kung comedy, Ang Pagdadalaga ni Almaximo Oliverio
Kung action, Kapag Puno na ang Salop, Dapat Ka nang I-K.A.L.
Kung romantic, Naalma ang Buwan sa Haba ni Rio
Kung erotic, Ang Pinakamagandang Tula sa Balat ng Lumpia
Becky: Todo: May katas (o, di ba) hanggang ika-3 milenyo/milenyum


7. What secret language do you think Rio knows by heart?
Bobby: language of the Highlanders.
Vim: an underworld lingua franca
Gerry: Si Rio ay maalam sa Español. Sekretong conio boy siya.


8. What gift would you give Rio for his next birthday?
Bobby: Viagra at liposuction by Vicky Belo.
Vim: For a man who has everything? Time would be the best gift.
Becky: Di ko siya nireregaluhan.


9. What line/ verse/ poem that best describes Rio for you?
Bobby: Oriental.
Vim: Sayang at ipinagbawal ang alay na birhen./ At pansahog na lamang sa adobo ang laurel.


10. What vacation spot would you recommend Rio if he wants to run away from his hectic schedule?
Bobby: nudist camp
Vim: Rio de Janeiro?


11. What’s your favorite literary work by Rio?
Bobby: All his poetry books, except the first one.
Vim: Doktrinang Anakpawis. When I was still a student, I saw a man standing beside me in an overcrowded bus reading it during rush hour at dusk.


12. When did you last see Rio in person?
Bobby: Yesterday (August 8)
Vim: Yesterday (August 8), when classes were suspended due to the typhoon (that failed to show up). He treated us to lunch and a movie at Gateway Mall.


13. Which movie/TV star do you think resembles Rio the most?
Bobby: Wala
Vim: A toss-up between Edu Manzano and Jay Manalo. (Good thing the hardest question’s the last).
Becky: Leonardo Di CapRIO (eeww)

Slushpile Walker: British actor John Nettles of Midsomer Murders fame. Go ahead, Google him, or better yet, watch him on TV then congratulate me for noticing it.


Pahabol ni Bobby:
Fetish ni Rio or his favorite part of the female body, according to his poems: big boobs na tirik na tirik.


Bobby is Bobby Añonuevo. Award-winning poet and chairman of the Writers Union of the Philippines
Becky is Becky Añonuevo. Award-winning poet and author
Vim is Vim Nadera. Award-winning poet and director of UP Likhaan: Institute of Creative Writing
Gerry is Gerry Banzon. Poet and in his words, "Isa sa mga saksi sa simula ng LIRA (One of the witnesses of the birth of LIRA)"