ARTFAIRPH/TALKS

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Anchored in salaysay as narration and lived testimony, this panel brings together those who knew Federico Aguilar Alcuaz most closely to reflect on his life and art, in anticipation of the forthcoming monograph to be published later in 2026.

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About the Speaker/s

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

CHRISTIAN MICHAEL AGUILAR

He was born 1960 in Hamburg, Germany. He is the eldest son of the late National Artist Federico Aguilar Alcuaz. When living in the Philippines 1964 – 1969, he went to Ateneo de Manila, Loyola Heights. He moved back to Germany in 1969.

In 1984 - 1986 he underwent a crafts-training to become a commerial painter (""Maler und Lackierer"") in Munich. He graduated with a license (""Gesellenbrief des Handwerks"") to work as such. He participated in workshops for special painting techniques in Munich and microscopic and IR photography in Tübingen.

1986 – 1991 he enrolled into a specialised course ""Colour Design (Farbdesign)"" at ""Fachhochschule [College for Applied Arts] Hildesheim / Holzminden"", specialising in ""methodology and technology of
(historic) architectural and decorativ painting"". He graduated as a ""Diplom Designer (FH)"", which roughly equals a Bachelor’s degree.

He worked since then in he field of “Heritage Conservation”.

He moved back to the Philippines in 2006, initially to take care of Federico Aguilar Alcuaz’s affairs.
He has irregularly continued to work in the field of Heritage Conservation in the Philippines.
He started and developed as early as 2006 the process of documenting and authenticating his father’s art, which he is doing until the present day. He is now the acknowledged and recognized authority on works of Federico Aguilar Alcuaz. He was the main person pushing for declaration and nomination of Federico Aguilar Alcuaz for National Artist in 2006 and in 2009.

Christian M. Aguilar is currently the main editor of the book project
Federico Aguilar Alcuaz: Salaysay.
This book is scheduled to be launched in March 2026.


Mathew Lopez

Matthew Benjamin P. Lopez (b. 1993) is a Hong Kong–based Philippine independent journalist, art researcher and author whose work sits at the intersection of visual culture, history and fine watchmaking. He has written extensively on Philippine art and historiography, alongside critical commentary on contemporary horology.
He began his career as a researcher at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, was part of the founding curatorial team of the 2018 Manila Biennale, and subsequently served as Museum Consultant to Fundación Sansó. His published contributions include the CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Art (2nd edition, 2017), The Watch Annual (2021), and Sansó: Prized and Personal (2025). He is currently Project Lead and Co-Editor of Federico Aguilar Alcuaz: Salaysay, scheduled for publication in March 2026.

A collector of Filipiniana and fine timepieces, Lopez writes regularly for leading publications in the Philippines and abroad, including Spot.ph, the Manila Bulletin, Mr Porter, and SJX Watches. He is also a member of the Academy of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève—an institution often likened to the watchmaking world’s Academy Awards—and is among only three Filipinos to hold this distinction.


Silvana Diaz


Silvana Diaz

Silvana Ancellotti-Diaz is a distinguished Italian arts patron whose profound and enduring love for the Philippines has made her, in spirit and cultural devotion, truly Filipino. Based in Manila, her lifelong dedication to Philippine contemporary art—documented through correspondence and archival records spanning more than 54 years—reflects a deep personal commitment to the country and its creative communities.

Her contributions to arts and culture have been recognized both internationally and locally. She was awarded the title of Cavaliere dell’Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana, a knighthood conferred by the President of the Italian Republic in recognition of exceptional service to culture and international artistic exchange. In the Philippines, she
has also received the Gawad Parangal of the City of Pasay, honoring her lasting impact on the nation’s cultural landscape.

As Art Patron and Director of Galleria Duemila, the Philippines’ longest-running commercial art gallery, she has played a defining role in shaping Philippine contemporary art for nearly five decades. Under her leadership, the gallery has become a vital platform for artistic dialogue, nurturing generations of artists and fostering inclusivity, experimentation, and excellence.

Through decades of advocacy, mentorship, and cultural stewardship—carefully traced through letters, exchanges, and institutional records—Silvana Ancellotti-Diaz has built enduring bridges between Italy and the Philippines. Today, she continues to inspire artists, institutions, and audiences alike, making her a vital voice in conversations on art.