Asian Cultural Council Philippines announces benefit auction set at Leon Gallery

Fernando Amorsolo Site of U.P Diliman

 The Asian Cultural Council Philippines Foundation, Inc. (ACC Philippines), in partnership with Leon Gallery, will  hold its annual benefit art auction on February 14, 2026, at Leon Gallery, Makati City. The auction marks the  first in a series of fundraising initiatives in support of the ACC Philippines Fellowship Program. 

The benefit auction will feature a curated selection of works by distinguished and emerging artists,  highlighting the richness and diversity of Philippine art. Proceeds will directly support the ACC Philippines Fellowship Program, which enables Filipino artists, scholars, and arts professionals to pursue research, creative work, and cultural exchange projects in the Philippines and abroad. 

“This annual art auction is both a celebration of artistic excellence and a vital platform for sustaining the fellowship program that nurtures cultural leadership and cross-cultural dialogue,” said ACC Philippines Chairman Ernest Escaler. “With the generosity of artists, collectors, and partners such as Leon Gallery, we continue to invest in the future of the arts.” 

Mauro Malang Santos, Soler Santos, and Steve Santos Interaction

Leon Gallery, a leading Philippine auction house, shares ACC Philippines’ commitment to advancing the arts  and fostering international cultural exchange, reinforcing a shared mission to support artistic practice and  scholarship. 

Currently, eight Filipino artists in the fields of visual arts, theater, and music are undertaking ACC fellowships  in the United States. Pursuing graduate fellowships are Aina Ramolete (MA in Puppet Arts, University of  Connecticut) and Alain de Asis (MA in Music – Violin Performance) at the Jacobs School of Music, Indiana  University. 

Meanwhile, grantees on their six-month New York Fellowships include Joyce Sahagun Garcia and Maria Estela  Paiso (Film, Video, and Photography), and Karl Jingco (Theater). Three additional grantees—J-Mee Katanyag  (Theater), Joed Balsamo (Music), and Ma. Alexa Andrea Torte (Dance)—are set to travel to the United States  to begin their ACC fellowships. 

Since 2000, ACC Philippines has supported nearly 300 alumni, including National Artists Jose Joya, Lucrecia  Kasilag, Lamberto Avellana, Alejandro Roces, Francisco Feliciano, Jose Maceda, Kidlat Tahimik, Ramon Santos,  and Alice Reyes, alongside leading contemporary artists and emerging cultural practitioners. 

The Asian Cultural Council Auction invites collectors, patrons, and supporters to come together in support of  a cause that strengthens the cultural ecosystem and empowers the next generation of Filipino artists. 

Bidding begins at 2:00 PM at Leon Gallery, Eurovilla 1, Rufino corner Legazpi Streets, Legazpi Village, Makati  City. For auction details, visit www.leon-gallery.com. For more information on ACC programs and fellowships,  visit www.asianculturalcouncil.org.