2 Negrense national artists: One painted people’s struggles, the other lit the stage

• Nunelucio Alvarado and Teodoro Hilado were named among the National Artists for 2025, recognizing their significant contributions to art and theater in the Philippines.
• Alvarado, a social-realist artist, has dedicated over five decades to portraying the lives of ordinary people, while Hilado, known as the 'Father of Philippine Lighting Design,' pioneered technical direction in theater.
• Both artists have left a lasting impact on their communities, with Alvarado continuing to live among those he inspires, and Hilado being honored posthumously for his innovative work in enhancing theatrical storytelling.

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NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines – One is 76 and living with dementia in his hometown, where for more than five decades he turned his art toward the lives and struggles of people around him. The other died in 2015, after a career devoted to an aspect of theater most audiences rarely see but experience in every production.

Nunelucio Alvarado, fondly called “Maestro Nunelucio,” and Teodoro “Teddy” Ledesma-Hilado were named among the 10 National Artists for 2025 in Proclamation No. 1414 announced by Malacañang on Wednesday, September 9.

Their recognition brings together two very different lives in art. Alvarado is the social-realist artist from Sagay whose provocative works became a quiet form of social revolution, while Hilado, the Silaynon known as the “Father of Philippine Lighting Design,” pioneered lighting design and technical direction in the Philippines.

For Helen Arguelles Cutillar, Sagay’s tourism and information officer, Alvarado’s life is itself a canvas.

“He is peerless,” Cutillar said. “He touched people’s lives, especially the poor in so many ways.”

Alvarado has no college degree. Yet for more than five decades, he etched his mark in visual arts, building a body of work centered on social realities and the lives of ordinary people.

His recognition, however, is not being seen in Sagay as a distinction that belongs to him alone.

Sagay Mayor Leo Rafael Cueva said the honor also belongs to the communities whose lives and struggles have been at the heart of Alvarado’s work.

“Maestro Nunelucio showed that an artist does not have to leave his community behind to create work that matters to the nation and the world,” Cueva said. “He brought his art back to Sagay, shared it with our children and communities, and helped make art part of everyday life here.”

“We now have a national treasure living with us. He is a true gem in the field of arts,” Negros Occidental 2nd District Representative Alfredo Marañon III said on Thursday, September 10.

Alvarado is living with dementia, and his wife, Rosalia “Sally” Alvarado, spoke on behalf of the family as the country recognized his contribution.

“We hope his legacy of bringing art and the love for art into the community will continue for generations to come,” she said.

The Metropolitan Museum of Manila hailed the declaration of Alvarado as a national artist, saying it highlighted his work depicting the lives and struggles of communities in Negros.

It said Alvarado has been known for his social realist works rooted in the sugarlands of Negros, with recurring images of sakadas and sugarcane reflecting exploitation, hardship, resistance, survival and hope.

The museum, which holds Alvarado’s works in its collection, said his art has given voice to local communities and helped bring their experiences and stories to a wider audience.

“Immortalizing his agrarian activism in his work, Alvarado continues to spread his philosophy that art belongs to the people and his advocacy for the active involvement of art and grassroots communities in the Philippines,” read part of the museum’s statement.

The museum also celebrated the declaration of another national artist, Imelda Cajipe-Endaya (visual arts), whose works are also in its collection.

The museum said Endaya is known for her textured mixed-media works using everyday fabrics and objects, and for an artistic practice focused on Filipino identity, human rights, feminism, overseas Filipino workers, environmental issues and peace.

“Their works have illuminated the realities, struggles, and aspirations of local communities and through their art and advocacy, Cajipe-Endaya and Alvarado have made impactful contributions to Philippine art and inspire future generations to learn and appreciate the stories that shape them as Filipinos,” it said.

If Alvarado brought art into the life of his community, Hilado devoted his career to the technical side of theater.

The Silay-born artist was named a national artist for theater, specifically for technical direction, 11 years after his death at 77, recognizing a career that helped establish technical direction as an important part of theater from the wings.

Hilado pioneered lighting design and technical direction in the Philippines and became known as the “Father of Philippine Lighting Design.”

He helped professionalize the technical side of the performing arts, using light, space and technical direction to enhance storytelling.

When he served as technical director at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Hilado mastered a minimalist approach to theater, using lights and space to heighten storytelling. His work created atmospheres that captivated audiences and helped raise the standards of local productions to an international level.

Silay Mayor Joedith Gallego asked Silaynons to celebrate Hilado’s recognition.

“He [was] an exceptional artist behind theater lighting and productions,” Gallego said.

Hilado was the third national artist from Silay, according to Solomon Locsin, chairman of the Negros Occidental Historical Council. Before him came Leandro Locsin, who was declared a national artist for architecture in 1990, and Agnes Dakudao-Locsin, national artist for dance in 2022.

In Sagay, the recognition of Alvarado brings national attention to an artist whose work has remained closely tied to his community. And in Silay, Hilado’s posthumous recognition honors a career devoted to the technical craft of theater.

Their lives in art were different. One continues to live with the community that became central to his work; the other is remembered for a career that helped shape how theater was presented to audiences.

Aside from Alvarado, Hilado and Endaya, the other 2025 national artists are as follows:

• Gabriel “Gabby” Formoso – architecture
• Rafael “Nonoy” Catalino Froilan – dance
• Maria Beatriz “Patis” Fabella Pamintuan Tesoro – design and allied arts
• Armando “Bing” Lao – film and broadcast arts
• Gregorio Brillantes – literature
• Nicanor Tiongson – literature
• Alfredo Buenaventura – music