National artist Virgilio Almario elected NCCA chair

MANILA, Philippines — The Board of Commissioners of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts has chosen poet, literary historian and national artist for literature Virgilio Almario as the agency's new chairperson.

Almario will lead the NCCA Board of Commissioners for the term 2017 to 2019. The board consists of representatives from the legislative, executive and the private sectors.

"Chairman Almario continues to champion language and literature as the chairman of Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino. He also was executive director to the NCCA from 1998 to 2001," the NCCA posted on its website on Thursday.

The KWF has congratulated Almario for being elected the new NCCA chair.

"Pagbati kay Tagapangulo at Pambansang Alagad ng Sining Virgilio S. Almario sa pagkakahirang na Tagapangulo ng Pambansang Komisyon para sa Kultura at mga Sining," the KWF posted in its website.

Other members of the NCCA Board for the 2017 to 2019 term are:

• Sen. Paolo Benigno "Bam" Aquino IV - Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Education, Arts and Culture
• Sorsogon Rep. Evelina Escudero - Chairperson of the House Committee on Basic Education and Culture
• Alberto Muyot - Undersecretary of the Department of Education
• Falconi Millar - Undersecretary of the Department of Tourism
• Rene Escalante - OIC Chair of the National Historical Commission of the PhilippinesOIC Chair of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines
• Jeremy Barns - Director of the National Museum
• Yolanda Jacinto - Officer-in-Charge/Assistant Director of the National Library of the Philippines
• Victorino Manalo - Executive Director of the National Archives of the Philippines
• Raul Sunico - President of the Cultural Center of the Philippines
• Teddy Co - Commissioner of the Subcommission on the Arts
• Alphonsus Tesoro - Commissioner of the Subcommission of Cultural Communities and Traditional Arts
• Orlando Magno - Commissioner of the Subcommission on Cultural Dissemination
• Marichu Tellano - OIC-Executive Director of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts

Under Republic Act 7356, the NCCA is mandated to formulate and implement policies and plans to establish national endowment fund for culture and the arts.