History is preserved in many forms: written in books, captured in objects, and expressed through paintings and craftsmanship passed down through generations. On September 13, these pieces come together at Leon Gallery’s Magnificent September Auction 2025. Marking the gallery’s 15th anniversary, the sale gathers artworks and artifacts that reflect Philippine art, heritage, and the stories that continue to shape the nation’s identity.
Gallery director Jaime Ponce de Leon says this year’s auction “pays homage to the Filipino spirit in every era of our storied past and deep-rooted heritage.”
At the center of the sale are two rare pieces from national hero Dr. Jose Rizal. One is a first-edition copy of Noli Me Tangere, published in 1887 and gifted to Trinidad H. Pardo de Tavera. The handwritten dedication offers a glimpse into Rizal’s circle of ilustrado contemporaries whose ideas helped shape a national consciousness. The other is Rizal’s architectural plan for his dream academy, a detailed drawing envisioning a school for future educators and thinkers. These works show Rizal’s creativity extending beyond literature into architecture, education, and nation-building.
Leading the seven-digit lots is Anita Magsaysay-Ho’s Pounding Rice, which opens bidding at P24 million. Painted in 1947, it marks the period when she began shaping her modernist style and redefining her portrayal of Filipina women. Close behind is Vicente Manansala’s Family, starting at P18 million, his Filipino interpretation of the Holy Family.
Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo is represented by two works from different stages of his career. A Native House in a River Glade comes from his rare Philippine period, capturing scenes of local life. In contrast, an untitled painting of Venus and the Swan, opening at P18 million, reflects Hidalgo’s mastery of classical form.
Jose Joya’s Blue Harbor starts at P16 million, exploring abstraction with bold energy, while H.R. Ocampo’s Torso, also opening at PHP 16 million, presents a contrasting vision shaped by his distinct biomorphic forms. Fernando Zobel’s Segunda Conversación con RVR, priced at P10 million, engages with Rembrandt’s techniques through a minimalist and personal approach. Completing the seven-digit lots is Fernando Amorsolo’s pair of Under the Mango Tree paintings, each opening at PHP 10 million, revisiting the warmth and pastoral themes central to his legacy.
The auction also features rare artifacts and antiques, including a Butuan dagger with a gold hilt that highlights the sophistication of pre-colonial craftsmanship and metallurgy. A 17th- to 18th-century ivory image of a child St. John the Baptist is also featured. Manansala’s personal artifacts, including his leather bag and Paris scholarship documents, are on offer, providing a glimpse into a defining period of his artistic journey.
Two other pieces recall more recent chapters of Philippine history: a Rolex Oyster Perpetual Day-Date engraved with President Ferdinand Marcos’s signature and a Steinway Hamburg grand piano commissioned for the 1976 inauguration of the Philippine Plaza Hotel, once celebrated as the “Grand Dame of Philippine Hotels.”
Included in the auction are works by BenCab, Ronald Ventura, Ramon Orlina, Elmer Borlongan, Emmanuel Garibay, Jigger Cruz, Mark Justiniani, Arturo Luz, Federico Aguilar Alcuaz, Ang Kiukok, Cesar Legaspi, Abdulmari Imao, Juvenal Sansó, Mauro Malang Santos, Onib Olmedo, Pacita Abad, Nena Saguil, Betsy Westendorp, Araceli Dans, and former President Corazon Aquino, among others. Together, these works present a wide view of Filipino creativity across periods, styles, and movements.
Leon Gallery has released an auction catalog detailing all 170 lots. A preview exhibition runs at the Eurovilla 1 showroom in Legazpi Village, Makati City, until September 12.
Ponce de Leon calls the 15th anniversary auction “another chapter celebrating the ingenuity, resilience, and triumph of the Filipino spirit.” Beyond marking the gallery’s milestone, the sale highlights how art preserves history and how memory continues to shape identity.
