#ArtsPH - When Supporting Artists Feels This Good: A Peek into the ACC Benefit Auction
There are events that don’t just fill a room — they fill a community. That’s the vibe surrounding this year’s ACC Philippines Benefit Auction, which is happening on February 14, 2026 at Leon Gallery in Makati. Yes, Valentine’s Day. And honestly, there’s something poetic about celebrating love by supporting artists, storytellers, and cultural dreamers.
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| Manuel Ocampo_Murio la Verdad |
Every year, ACC Philippines gathers artworks from both celebrated and rising Filipino artists, and the pieces that make it into the auction feel like tiny windows into the soul of our culture. It’s the kind of collection that makes you slow down, lean in, and remember just how endlessly rich Philippine creativity really is.
But what makes this event more than just an art sale is what the proceeds actually do: they send Filipino artists, scholars, and cultural workers out into the world — and sometimes deeper into their own communities — to learn, explore, collaborate, and grow. Through the ACC Fellowship Program, grantees get the kind of support that can completely change the trajectory of their practice.
Right now, eight Filipino artists are already in the thick of their fellowships in the US. Some are knee‑deep in research, others are polishing their craft, and a few are soaking up the creative chaos of New York City. They’re puppeteers and musicians and filmmakers and theater artists — each one carrying a piece of our culture with them and returning home with new ideas, new skills, and new stories.
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| Danilo Dalena_America |
It’s easy to forget, but programs like this don’t run on passion alone. They run on actual community support — people showing up, bidding, talking about the arts, and rooting for the next wave of Filipino creatives. And ACC has quite a legacy to uphold. Since 2000, they’ve supported nearly 300 fellows, including National Artists whose names we grew up hearing in classrooms, theaters, and museums.
This year’s auction feels like a continuation of that legacy — but also a reminder that every generation needs its own champions. The artists contributing their work, the collectors who keep showing up, and the everyday art lovers who just want to see Filipino creativity thrive are all part of the same ecosystem.
If you’re the kind of person who loves discovering new art, or supporting something bigger than yourself, or simply being in a space buzzing with creativity, this auction might be the kind of afternoon you’ll want to be part of. Bidding starts at 2:00 PM at Leon Gallery in Legazpi Village, and the mix of people, energy, and art usually turns it into more than just a formal event. It becomes a celebration.
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| Borlongan, Ocampo-Flores, Justiniani, Mallari, and Sievert_Sanggawa |
And maybe that’s the real charm of this benefit auction: it doesn’t just showcase art — it reminds us why art matters, why artists matter, and why investing in culture is one of the most meaningful ways to invest in our shared future.
If you want to check out the auction details, you can peek at leon-gallery.com, and if you're curious about ACC’s fellowship programs, asianculturalcouncil.org has a treasure trove of stories worth exploring.
Sometimes supporting the arts looks like buying a painting; other times, it’s simply showing up. Either way, you’re part of the story.
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