Philippine national artist Virgilio Almario has reportedly developed orthographies of the country's different ethno-linguistic tribes that include Ilokanos. Almario is a Tagalog writer who once tampered with a Malacanang document but he got away with the misdeed.
He is supported by a certain Joel Lopez, a high education official in the province of Ilocos Norte. He is a non-writer and can not write one single Ilokano sentence, according to a universal/prescribed orthography. He has also developed his own Ilokano orthography that is now being used in the public schools in Ilocos Norte. The Ilokano orthography is used in widely-read publications in the Ilocos.
For imposing their respective versions of orthography, Almario and Lopez have been criticized by writer's group like Gumil Filipinas, the national association of writers. The duo has been thrown various derogatory names and been branded fascists.
We understand the megalomaniac Almario and his deluded acolyte Lopez. Their outside behavior is just a reflection of their respective mind-set.
This is also the case in the Ilokano writing community, where fascism is endemic. Needless to say, there are Hitlers like the editor who has banned writers in the pages of the magazine because the latter made snide remarks against his close relative, who allegedly mismanaged the funds for a planned house of mannurat.
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| Aurora Park in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, Northern Philippines |
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