Powerhouse duo: Asian Cultural Council and Leon Gallery

February 26, 2025 | 12:00am

The Asian Cultural Council (ACC) and Leon Gallery continue to be a powerhouse duo with their collaboration to auction off prestigious artworks with proceeds supporting Filipino artists and scholars. The foundation is dedicated to nurturing artistic talents and cultural exchanges, sending the scholars abroad to hone their craft and bring back new perspectives.

At the well-attended cocktail preview last week with First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos as guest of honor, ACC chairman Ernest Escaler stated, “On our 25th year as Asian Cultural Council, Philippines we hope to establish an endowment fund to assure continuity in our grant-giving programs. Thanks to our very involved First Lady, we feel we will be able to continue giving grants for six to seven scholars a year, if not more.”

Meanwhile, Leon Gallery, the Philippines’ premier auction house, has built a reputation for breaking records in the sale of Philippine masterpieces. During the auction this weekend, it soared sky-high with record-breaking sales.

Highlights were a world record for Demi Padua (P10.8 million), Luna’s portrait of Irene dela Rocca (P33 million), Fernando Zóbel’s “Septiembre a las siete de la tarde en Tres Juncos” (P31 million), Elmer Borlongan (P14.4 million), and my personal favorite, Anita Magsaysay-Ho’s “On the Beach” (P28.8 million).

As Jaime Ponce de Leon enthused, “We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined, bidded, and supported the Asian Cultural Council Auction 2025, contributing to yet another successful event in support of Filipino art. As we conclude our 10th-year celebration with ACC, we remain committed to continuing our support for local artists, helping them expand their horizons and reach new heights. We look forward to continuing this meaningful partnership for many more years to come.”