Featuring a dynamic mix of art forms, the benefit auction at Leon Gallery will be raising funds for fellowships that send Filipino artists abroad, strengthening the nation’s cultural ecosystem.
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 in Makati City. This event is the first in a series of fundraising initiatives supporting the ACC Philippines Fellowship Program.
As one of the Philippines’ leading auction houses, Leon Gallery is a natural partner for the event, sharing ACC Philippines’ mission to advance the arts by championing artistic practice, exchange, and scholarship.
“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,” shares 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.”
READ ALSO: Art Walk Returns This 2026, Transforming Makati Into A Cultural Immersion
About The Auction
The auction will feature a selection of works by distinguished and emerging artists, all of which showcase the richness and diversity of Philippine art. Proceeds will directly support the Fellowship Program, which enables Filipino artists, scholars, and arts professionals to pursue research, creative work, and cultural exchange projects both in the Philippines and abroad.
Currently, eight Filipino artists are undertaking ACC fellowships in the United States. Graduate fellows include Aina Ramolete (MA in Puppet Arts, University of Connecticut) and Alain de Asis (MA in Music – Violin Performance, Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University). Six-month New York fellows 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 burgeoning cultural practitioners. Through the support of its collectors and patrons, the organization hopes to bolster a cause that strengthens the cultural ecosystem by empowering the next generation of Filipino artists.
Bidding begins at 2 PM at Leon Gallery, Eurovilla 1, Rufino corner Legazpi Street, Legazpi Village, Makati City. For auction details, visit www.leon-gallery.com. For more information on ACC programs and fellowships, visit www.asianculturalcouncil.org.
Frequently Asked Questions
The ACC Philippines Fellowship Program supports Filipino artists, scholars, and arts professionals in pursuing research, creative work, and cultural exchange in the Philippines and abroad. Since 2000, the program has supported nearly 300 alumni, including National Artists Jose Joya, Lucrecia Kasilag, Kidlat Tahimik, and Alice Reyes.
The ACC Philippines benefit auction takes place on February 14, 2026, at Leon Gallery, Eurovilla 1, Rufino corner Legazpi Street, Legazpi Village, Makati City. Bidding begins at 2 PM. The event is the first in a series of fundraising initiatives supporting the ACC Philippines Fellowship Program.
Eight Filipino artists are currently undertaking ACC fellowships in the United States. Graduate fellows include Aina Ramolete and Alain de Asis, while six-month New York fellows include Joyce Sahagun Garcia, Maria Estela Paiso, and Karl Jingco. J-Mee Katanyag, Joed Balsamo, and Ma. Alexa Andrea Torte are set to begin their fellowships.
The auction features works by both distinguished and emerging Filipino artists, reflecting the breadth of contemporary Philippine art. Named works include pieces by Manuel Ocampo, Anita Magsaysay-Ho, Félix Resurrección Hidalgo, and Fernando Amorsolo, whose inclusion underscores the cultural and historical range of the auction’s offerings.
Proceeds from the auction fund the ACC Philippines Fellowship Program, which enables Filipino artists and cultural practitioners to pursue international research and exchange. By channeling collector and patron support directly into artist development, ACC Philippines strengthens the pipeline of Filipino talent participating in global cultural discourse.
