National Artist Virgilio Almario pens poem for 11 solons in favor of ABS-CBN franchise renewal

Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino chairman and National Artist Virgilio Almario has paid tribute to the 11 lawmakers who voted in favor of ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal through a poem.

The poet, who is also known as Rio Alma, shared his work, “Labing-Isang Konsiyensiya” on his Facebook page Sunday.

“Pagpupugay kina kongresista Bienvenido Abante Jr., Carlos Isagani Zarate, Christopher de Venecia, Edward Vera Perez Maceda, Gabriel Bordado Jr., Jose ‘Ping-Ping’ Tejada, Lianda Bolilia, Mujiv Hataman, Sol Aragones, Stella Luz Quimbo, Vilma Santos-Recto na bumoto para sa muling pagbibigay ng prangkisa sa ABS-CBN,” he wrote.

Almario wrote the lines such that the first and last letters of each stanza spelled out “B-U-D-H-I.” 

In his poem, he thanked the lawmakers and questioned the Philippines’ political system.

On July 10, 70 members of the House committee on legislative franchises voted to deny ABS-CBN’s application. Only 11 voted against it and 3 did not participate. – Kaela Malig/RC, GMA News