For 25 years, the Asian Cultural Council (ACC) Philippines has been more than a patron of the arts—it has been a bridge, a catalyst, and a champion of cultural exchange. Through its fellowships, ACC has empowered nearly 300 Filipino artists, scholars, and cultural workers, many of whom have gone on to shape the country’s artistic and intellectual landscape. From National Artists to today’s brightest creative minds, ACC’s mission has remained clear: to support artists as they find new ways to see and new ways to tell our stories.

This year’s ACC Auction, happening on Feb. 22, at 2 p.m. at León Gallery, is more than just an art sale—it is a continuation of that mission. Each piece up for bid carries a story, a legacy of creative exploration. Among them are works by National Artists Jose Joya, Anita Magsaysay-Ho, Vicente Manansala, H.R. Ocampo, and Fernando Zóbel, as well as Gawad CCP awardee Roberto Chabet and contemporary sculptor Riel Hilario. These artists—some former ACC grantees themselves—embody the spirit of artistic exchange that the foundation champions.

But beyond celebrating the past, this milestone year is about looking forward. The auction directly funds the ACC Philippine Fellowship Program, which enables artists, researchers, and cultural workers to engage in international collaborations, pursue specialized training, and learn from mentors abroad.

This year’s fellows are a diverse group of creatives who are expanding their practice across continents. Dance artist Maria Patricia Bernas is studying movement therapy at Sarah Lawrence College while theater arts practitioner Aina Ramolete is delving into the art of puppetry at the University of Connecticut. Literary artist Padmapani Perez is conducting research in India while visual artist Archie Oclos immerses himself in the creative history of Coney Island. In New York, dramaturg and educator Anril Tiatco refines his craft, curator and critic John Alexis Balaguer explores exhibition writing, and theater artist Toni Go and stage writer and director Joshua Lim So prepare to embark on their fellowship later this year. Meanwhile, conservation specialist Peter John Natividad has just returned from Japan, bringing home invaluable insights on museum mounting and seismic control systems for display and storage in museums.

Since 1963, the ACC has provided a platform for Filipino artists to immerse themselves in global artistic communities, exchanging ideas and practices that continue to shape the country’s cultural landscape.

The preview of the ACC Auction opens on Feb. 18 at 6 p.m., offering a rare opportunity to see these remarkable works up close. It is a moment to reflect on how art transcends time and place, and how each bid supports the next generation of Filipino artists in their pursuit of excellence.

 www.asianculturalcouncil.org | www.leon-gallery.com