La Consolacion College Bacolod’s School of Architecture, Fine Arts and Interior Design honored 51 alumni who passed recent professional licensure examinations and recognized two distinguished Fine Arts graduates during a testimonial dinner Oct. 9, celebrating achievements in architecture, interior design, master plumbing and the visual arts.
The celebration brought together the school’s newly licensed professionals and two alumni whose artistic accomplishments have earned national and international recognition: National Artist for Visual Arts Nunelucio “Nune” M. Alvarado and award-winning creative Ginoe Ojoy.
The honorees included 25 new architects who passed the June 2026 Architecture Licensure Examination, 15 new master plumbers and 11 new interior designers who passed the July 2026 Licensure Examination for Interior Designers.
The interior design results marked a milestone for LCC Bacolod, which produced its largest number of successful examinees in a single licensure examination. The college recorded an 88.89% passing rate, exceeding the national passing rate of 88.19%.
The gathering recognized not only the academic preparation and perseverance of the successful examinees but also the contributions of their families, faculty members and mentors.
The occasion also highlighted the continuing achievements of LCC Bacolod graduates beyond professional licensure, particularly in the fields of art, design and creative practice.
National Artist Recognized
Alvarado, a native of Sagay City, Negros Occidental, was honored following his conferment of the Order of National Artist for Visual Arts under Proclamation No. 1414, signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sept. 1, 2026.
He was among 10 Filipinos named National Artists for 2025, alongside fellow Visual Arts awardee Imelda Cajipe-Endaya.
An alumnus of LCC Bacolod’s Fine Arts program, where he studied painting from 1974 to 1976, Alvarado has become one of the country’s leading social realist painters.
His works depict the lives and struggles of sugar workers, farmers and marginalized communities, particularly those affected by the socioeconomic realities of the Negros sugar industry.
His career includes recognition from the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Thirteen Artists Awards and grand prizes in the Philip Morris Art Awards in 1997 and 1999.
Alvarado’s recognition as National Artist marks a historic achievement for LCC Bacolod, affirming the institution’s contribution to the development of Philippine visual arts and the broader cultural heritage of Negros.
International creative achievement
The school also recognized Ginoe Ojoy, a graduate of its Digital Media Arts program, for winning gold at the 2026 adobo LIA Young Creative Competition, organized in partnership with the London International Awards and the Design Center of the Philippines.
Ojoy and collaborator Arthel Tagnipez, working under the creative collective Basura Gurls, earned the distinction for their entry, “Pinoy Life Strategy,” also known as “Disk-Arte.”
Created from discarded electronic components, the artwork explores the Filipino concept of diskarte, highlighting resourcefulness, adaptability and human ingenuity in response to the competition’s theme, “You Can What AI Can’t.”
The work also received the Client’s Choice Award from the Design Center of the Philippines and earned the collaborators places in the Creative LIAisons mentorship program in Las Vegas.
Ojoy has credited his multidisciplinary training at LCC Bacolod with developing his ability to work across traditional and digital media.
His achievement reflects the growing participation of creative professionals from Bacolod in international competitions and the global creative industry..
Excellence beyond recognition
In his message to the honorees, LCC Bacolod Vice President for Research, Innovation and Linkages Dr. Rodjhun B. Navarro drew a connection between the emerging careers of newly licensed professionals and the lasting contributions of accomplished artists.
Navarro emphasized that professional recognition represents both an achievement and a responsibility to use one’s knowledge and talents for the benefit of others.
“A professional license is proof of what you have learned. But your legacy will be determined by what you choose to do with that learning,” Navarro said.
Drawing inspiration from Alvarado’s career, Navarro encouraged the new architects, interior designers and other creative professionals to pursue excellence while remaining connected to the needs and experiences of their communities.
He challenged the honorees to look beyond professional credentials, financial success and personal recognition and consider how their work could improve people’s lives.
The recognition of Alvarado and Ojoy provided a broader perspective on the professional journeys of the new board passers, illustrating how creativity, technical competence and commitment to one’s craft can lead to meaningful contributions beyond the classroom.
The testimonial dinner reaffirmed LCC Bacolod’s commitment to developing professionals and artists whose achievements reflect the Augustinian values of excellence, integrity, compassion and service.
For the newly licensed professionals, the evening marked the beginning of another chapter in their careers. For the Fine Arts alumni being honored, it recognized achievements that demonstrate the possibilities of creative practice rooted in talent, perseverance and cultural identity.
“May your licenses open doors to opportunities. May your talents open possibilities for others. And may your work leave behind something far more enduring than personal success — a legacy of meaning, service and humanity,” Navarro said.