Negros Occidental celebrates two new National Artists

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — Negros Occidental is celebrating a historic honor as two Negrenses — Maestro Nunelucio “Nune” Alvarado of Sagay City and the late Teodoro “Teddy” Hilado of Silay City — were named among the Philippines’ National Artists for 2025.

Alvarado, 76, a renowned visual artist, and Hilado, a pioneering figure in Philippine theater who died at 77 in 2015, were officially declared National Artists under Proclamation No. 1414 dated Sept. 1, 2026.

For Alvarado, the recognition marks the culmination of a yearslong campaign led by the Sagay City government, the local arts community, cultural workers, his family, and supporters.

The campaign sought to have the nationally and internationally acclaimed social realist formally recognized for his decades of contributions to Philippine art.

In a statement, Alvarado’s wife, Rosalia “Sally” Alvarado, described the recognition as an emotional moment for their family after witnessing his lifelong dedication to art and advocacy for marginalized communities.

“We thank the Lord for this blessing. We are very happy and proud as a family that Nune has finally received this national recognition,” she said, adding that the honor acknowledges his struggles through the years and his commitment to using art to give voice to the voiceless.

His wife also expressed gratitude to the city government and everyone who supported Alvarado’s bid for the Order of National Artist.

She hoped his legacy of bringing art and appreciation for the arts into the community would continue for generations.

Sagay Mayor Leo Rafael Cueva said the recognition belongs not only to Alvarado but also to the communities whose lives and struggles have been at the heart of his work.

He noted that Alvarado demonstrated that an artist does not have to leave his community behind to create art that resonates nationally and internationally.

“He brought his art back to Sagay, shared it with our children and communities, and helped make art part of everyday life here,” Cueva said.

He added that the country is now recognizing what Sagaynons have long known — that a national treasure has been living among them in Margaha.

Alvarado has built a career spanning more than five decades and has become one of the country’s leading social realist painters.

His works have consistently portrayed the lives of sugar workers, farmers, fisherfolk, and other marginalized sectors of Negros, using the faces and experiences of ordinary people to explore issues of labor, poverty, inequality, and human dignity.

The National Museum of the Philippines identifies Alvarado as among the social realist artists who helped shape protest art beginning in the 1970s.

His 1994 two-panel oil painting, “Hulat Sweldo,” which depicts the hardships of sakadas waiting for their wages, is part of the National Fine Arts Collection and is featured in the museum’s exhibition on social and political commentary after the 1970s.

Alvarado studied fine arts at the University of the Philippines Diliman and advertising at La Consolacion College-Bacolod.

He also helped establish several artist collectives, including Black Artists in Asia, Pamilya Pintura, Pintor Kulapol, and Concerned Artists of Negros.

He later became artistic director of Syano Artlink, further extending his influence among generations of artists in Negros.

His artistic contributions have reached beyond Negros and the Philippines.

In 1992, he represented the country at the first Asia-Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art in Australia and later participated in exhibitions in Singapore, Japan, and the United States.

Before being named a National Artist, Alvarado received several major honors, including the CCP Thirteen Artists Award in 1992, grand prizes at the Philip Morris Art Awards in 1997 and 1999, the Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan sa Larangan ng Pintura Award in 2004, and the Most Outstanding Negrense Award in 2010.

At Margaha Beach in Barangay Old Sagay, Alvarado and his wife established their home and studio, Atalyer Alvarado, alongside Kape Albarako.

The space eventually became a gathering place, gallery, and creative hub for artists and visitors.

Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri also congratulated Alvarado, describing him as a fellow Ilonggo from Negros and praising his dedication to social realism — not only through his words but through his actions.

Zubiri said Alvarado’s art reflects the realities of everyday life, including poverty and the hardships faced by rural workers.

The La Consolacion College-Bacolod community likewise commended its alumnus for receiving the country’s highest recognition for Filipino artists and for creating work deeply rooted in the lives and struggles of Negros communities.

For LCC-Bacolod, Alvarado’s recognition places an alumnus whose art emerged from the realities of Negros among the country’s most distinguished cultural figures — affirming how an artistic formation begun in Bacolod can ultimately become part of the Philippines’ national cultural heritage.

Meanwhile, Hilado was recognized posthumously for his pioneering contributions to Philippine theater, particularly in lighting design and technical direction.

Often referred to as the “Father of Philippine Lighting Design,” Hilado played a significant role in shaping the technical and visual aspects of theater production in the country.

Hilado served as technical director of the Cultural Center of the Philippines from 1969 to 1973 and later as theater director of the Folk Arts Theater from 1973 to 1986.

In his hometown of Silay City, he personally designed the stage and original setup of the Natalio G. Velez Sports and Cultural Center.

Negros Occidental 3rd District Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez also congratulated Alvarado and Hilado, saying their recognition brings immense pride and honor to the province.

The Order of National Artists is the country’s highest national recognition for Filipinos who have made significant contributions to the development of Philippine arts and culture.

It is jointly administered by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the Cultural Center of the Philippines and conferred by the president upon their recommendation.

Alvarado and Hilado are among 10 artists named in the 2025 batch, the largest group of National Artists proclaimed at one time.