Art collectors, sneaker enthusiasts, and supporters of the ICANSERVE Foundation came out in full force for the live auction of The Pink Room: A Gallery for Good, held at Brittany Hotel BGC in Taguig City on September 14, 2024.
The charity auction successfully sold 25 artworks created by top Filipino artists and raised over six million pesos, kicking off ICANSERVE’s 25th anniversary celebration in the most thrilling of ways.
Known in the art world as a “white glove sale”—a rare occurrence where every piece on offer is sold—the fundraiser was a triumph for Filipino talent and creativity in support of a cause that resonated with all the artists: advocacy for the breast cancer community. It was also a victory for auctioneer Tonico Manahan, whose hammer-wielding expertise and understanding of the story behind each unique artwork created an atmosphere of excitement all throughout.
The evening’s highlight was an intense bidding battle for Ronald Ventura’s “Swoosh of Resilience,” which depicts the themes of disaster response and resilience in the artist’s signature style. Amidst cheers and applause, a live bidder beat several phone and absentee bidders with a final bid of 2.2 million pesos.
Along with Ventura’s work, National Artist Benedicto “BENCAB” Cabrera’s “Solemates” and sculptor Daniel dela Cruz’s “Pegasus” series were the top-selling lots of the auction. The works of Gus Albor, Arce, Max Balatbat, Plet Bolipata & Elmer Borlongan, Jinggoy Buensuceso, Carlo Calma, Katrina Cuenca, RM De Leon, Monica Delgado, Tracie Anglo Dizon, Christina Dy, Manny Garibay, Toym Imao, Jose Santos III, Pam Yan Santos, Gerry Tan, Carlo Tanseco, Vien Valencia, Lydia Velasco, Melissa Yeung Yap, and MM Yu all went home with owners who felt a personal connection to each piece of art, thoughtfully crafted using a pair of Nike Air Force 1 Triple Whites as a canvas.
Two lucky donors won raffle prizes donated by Lilianna Manahan and Ciane Xavier, while another took home a pair hand painted by young children of breast cancer survivors. The special auction lot was created during an art session conducted by ICanServeToo, the Foundation’s youth arm, on September 7 at The Pink Room.
When asked for her thoughts on the fundraiser’s success, ICANSERVE co-founder and chair Crisann Celdran shares, “It was surreal. The Pink Room auction surpassed our wildest expectations. We felt everyone’s love and support all throughout the exhibition, and even more so on the auction floor that night. At times, it seemed like a crazy idea but the artists and partners embraced it wholeheartedly. And for that we are most grateful. We are fully prepared to continue our work. It was one for the books and now we can look forward to the next chapter.”
Proceeds of the auction and raffle will enable ICANSERVE to fund treatments and medical procedures for breast cancer patients, launch high-impact health literacy campaigns, invest in the training of public health care workers on early detection, and create breast cancer control programs, to support its mission of saving lives.
ICANSERVE thanks The Pink Room Partners: SM Aura, The Estate Makati, The Brittany Hotel BGC, curator Carol Karthe and Endo Lighting with Metal-Lite.
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- ICanServe members and volunteers celebrate the success of its 25th anniversary fundraiser, The Pink Room
