For many, February is synonymous with romance. In the Philippines, it is also Arts Month, a time to celebrate creativity, heritage, and expression. When these two themes meet, love expands beyond romance and becomes an act of generosity, mentorship, and belief in the power of art to change lives.

This spirit of love is at the heart of the Asian Cultural Council (ACC) Philippines Foundation Inc. annual benefit art auction, happening on Feb. 14, 2026, at Leon Gallery in Makati City. Held in partnership with Leon Gallery, the auction marks the two organizations’ 11 years of strong partnership and the first of a series of fundraising initiatives in support of the ACC Philippines Fellowship Program, which has long championed Filipino artists and arts professionals.

The Valentine’s Day auction brings together a carefully curated selection of works by both distinguished and emerging artists, showcasing the depth and diversity of Philippine art. Proceeds from the event will directly support ACC fellowships that enable Filipino artists, scholars, and cultural practitioners to pursue research, creative work, and cultural exchange projects in the Philippines and overseas.

“This year’s benefit art auction is held on Valentine’s Day as an ode to love in its most enduring form: love for the arts, love for generosity, and love for helping others realize their creative potential,” said ACC Philippines chairman Ernest L. Escaler.

Among the notable works up for bidding is a rare piece by Patricio Gaston O’Farrell, the favored student of Juan Luna. O’Farrell presents a copy of Luna’s now-lost 1887 masterpiece “Portrait of Christ,” which depicts a weary Jesus presented to Pontius Pilate for trial. The work serves as a precious reminder of Luna’s original painting, created shortly after his marriage to Paz Pardo de Tavera as an expression of religious devotion.

Félix Resurrección Hidalgo’s “Bois de Boulogne” offers a glimpse into the ilustrado’s beloved Parisian refuge during his 17-year stay in the city. The painting captures a space that bore witness to the quiet melancholies of his heart and soul.

Fernando Amorsolo’s works also figure prominently in the auction, including “Site of U.P. Diliman,” painted in 1947, which portrays the rural landscape of what would later become the country’s premier national university. At the time, Amorsolo was serving as director of the University of the Philippines School of Fine Arts.

Another significant Amorsolo piece is “Marikina” from 1933, once acquired by Alex Frieder, who later convinced President Manuel Quezon to establish a safe haven for Jewish refugees fleeing the Holocaust. This initiative led to the creation of the Jewish Refugee Committee of the Philippine Islands, which saved more than a thousand Jews from Germany and Austria in the late 1930s.

Lastly, the auction also features Danilo Dalena’s “America,” a surviving work from his intended Port Authority Series, which reflected his satirical impressions of the US during his travels in the 1980s.

A portion of the proceeds from the auction will fund various ACC grants for Filipino and other Asian artists and arts-based practitioners. In an interview with Manila Bulletin Lifestyle, ACC Philippines director Teresa Rances shared that the organization hopes to raise P15 million from this year’s auction and from their other fundraising programs to support current and upcoming fellows.

At present, eight Filipino artists in the fields of visual arts, theater, and music are undertaking ACC fellowships in the United States. Among those pursuing graduate studies are Aina Ramolete, who is taking up a master’s degree in Puppet Arts at the University of Connecticut, and Alain de Asis, a violin performance major at the Jacobs School of Music of Indiana University.

Six-month New York fellowship grantees include Joyce Sahagun Garcia and Maria Estela Paiso for film, video, and photography, as well as Karl Jingco for theater. Three more grantees, J-Mee Katanyag for theater, Joed Balsamo for music, and Ma. Alexa Andrea Torte for dance, are set to travel to the US to begin their fellowships.

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