Background
Rosauro Almario was born on August 30, 1886, in Manila, Philippines. He was the third among nine children of Estanislao Almario and Rosalia Cagne. His father died when he was less than ten years old.
Rosauro Almario was born on August 30, 1886, in Manila, Philippines. He was the third among nine children of Estanislao Almario and Rosalia Cagne. His father died when he was less than ten years old.
After learning reading and writing from maestro Sevilla and beginner's Latin from Eugenio de Lara, a lawyer who directed a private school in Manila, Rosauro Almario studied Spanish in the Liceo de Manila, while attending English classes in the evening. During this time, he was employed in the Bazar Siglo XX, a commercial firm owned by Don Luis R. Yangco. Then he passed the second-grade examination. Later on, he also took up law courses in the Academia de Leyes but never obtained a degree.
After passing the second-grade examination, Rosauro Almario got employment as a clerk in the Bureau of Education on August 10, 1904, later transferring to the Bureau of Prisons on July 6, 1909, and then to the Bureau of Posts on January 18, 1911. He became a chief clerk on August 1, 1918, in the major's office, becoming an assistant secretary to Mayor Justo Lukban of Manila in the following year. On July 6, 1920, he was promoted to the secretaryship, holding that position both under Mayor Lukban and Mayor Ramon Fernandez. Apart from being Mayor Fernandez's secretary, Almario acted as the supervisor of Manila's reformatories, asylums, and playgrounds.
Resigning on December 14, 1923, together with Mayor Fernandez in protest against Governor-General Wood's reinstatement of Conley in the secret service of Manila, he ran for a seat in the city council under the Nacionalista ticket in the general elections of 1925. His first term was marked by political turmoils which culminated in his conviction for grave insults for denouncing during a council meeting certain anomalies committed by some city officials. He began to serve his term of destierro at Lolomboy in February 1927. With his exile, he became popular and hailed for his open and rude campaign against corruption in the city government. He was returned to the council in the general elections of 1928 and was elected president of that body in 1930. It was during his term that the Barrio Obrero ordinance was proposed and passed. He also fathered the Blue Sunday ordinance. He fought corrupt practices and illegal deals both inside and outside the city hall so that he was called the "terror of grafters in the city hall, and a man who sticks to his word no matter what happens."
An earlier phase of his life was devoted to literary pursuits. One of his earliest attempts to call attention was his essay "Ano ang Ligaya sa Ibabaw ng Lupa?" (1907) and his composition in Spanish "Que Es Pueblo?" (1909). He contributed to Ang Panahon, Muling Pagsilang and later to Taliba and Ang Mithi. During this period he wrote a number of novelettes. Pinatatawad Kita! (1910), Ang Mananayaw (1910), Mga Anak Bukid (1911), Mga Dahong Luksa (1912), and Nang Si Eba ay Likhain (1913) were published. The second work appeared as the first number of a series of literary pieces put out under the imprint of the Aklatang Bayan, a literary society which he founded in 1910 together with Gerardo Chanco, Julian C. Balmaseda, Severino Reyes, Inigo Ed. Regalado, Celestino Chavez, and others. This group which he headed for several years aimed at developing native vernacular writing and the enrichment of Tagalog language and literature in particular by publishing the works of its members.
Earlier he was a member of the Samahan ng mga Mananagalog. He also supported a similar association, the Akademya ng Wikang Tagalog founded by L. K. Santos and others. His works manifest a nationalistic trend and radicalism permeates them. They exhibit a love for native customs and traditions the preservations of which he espoused. Although weal structurally, his stories are carried in a forceful language that is compelling and flowing. But for his political activities which consumed the last third of his life and submerged his creative interests, Almario could have contributed something more of lasting value to Tagalog literature.
He practiced Tagalog literary criticism early, writing one himself before he wrote his first novelette. His "Ang 'Busabos ng Palad,'" was an estimate of Faustino Aguilar's second novel. Almario tried to measure the literary productions of the period with the creations of Victor Hugo, Ruben Dario, Gomez Carillo, Insua, Zamacois, Ibanez, Galdoz, and others. He advocated naturalness in writing. But his writing itself discloses a certain looseness in places and his diction is not free from literary lapses. Like his creative writing, he did not pursue his critical sallies. After the wholesale resignation of the Filipino leaders from their positions of responsibility became a fact in protest against what Manuel L. Quezon believed were the backward policies of Governor-General Wood, he quit the city hall with Mayor Fernandez. Mr. Fernandez immediately founded Pagkakaisa, the first issue striking the city streets on January 16, 1926. This daily soon became a party organ placed under the editorship of Almario and a vehicle for attacking American colonial policy and administrators in the Philippines.
In the same year to inject new blood into the senile El Comercio in whose staff he belonged, he fathered the idea of founding La Opinion in whose administration he was general manager until his death, with Fernando Ma. Guerrero as editor. As a result, these two newspapers were published jointly. In September 1928, he succeeded L.K. Santos as editor of the weekly Sampaguita. His editorials and political writings were always straightforward, harsh, and searching, but honest and frank. These were aimed at exposing the corruption and evils of the day happen what may. If he did not write under his real name, he did so under the pseudonyms R.O. Noel, Batang Simoun, Matanglawin, Ric. A. Clarin, Raxa Matanda or Raxa Soliman, Petronio, El Satiricon.
Quotations: "Let the words by themselves spring from the pen like streams in brooks, the spirit soar the heights like a bird on its wings; by allowing the pen to flow by itself, giving it freedom, never crushing it, we are certain in attaining the most valuable gems in literature: in narration, naturalness, and sincerity in thought."
Rosauro Almario was a charter member of the Gridiron Club, organized in July 1931.
Quotes from others about the person
"He ran the board with a firm hand but always with consideration for his companions. He tried to be always impartial and just to both the majority and minority. Respected and liked by all, except some of his personal opponents, feared by those who had cause to fear, Almario did things in a fatherly manner."
Rosauro Almario married Leonor de Ocampo on October 6, 1907, by whom he had five children, Generoso, Amalia, Bonifacio, Liwayway, and Simoun.