Antique show at Greenhills

MANILA, Philippines - Art and antique collectors as well as tourists, local and foreign, crowd the biggest antique show dubbed the 20th Annual Antique Show ongoing until Oct. 7 at the Greenhills Shopping Complex. Its theme is “100 of years evolution of arts, antique furniture and furnishing.”

Henry Babiera, a top art and antique collector in Southeast Asia, invites collectors to visit the 25-day show where they may find rare and special art and antique pieces.

Organizer of the trade fair is the Prime Asia Trade Planners & Convention Organizers (PATEPCO) in cooperation with the Philippine Numismatic Antiquarian Society, Bank Notes Society of the Philippine Bayanihan Collectors Club, Inc. and Greenhills Antique Dealer Group.

Babiera’s penchant for arts and antiques and how it develops form a passion to what he now describes as an “obsession” which is an inspiring tale of hard work, patience and commitment that earned for him the respect and admiration of art patrons, dealers, collectors, and enthusiasts, not only here but abroad.

Today, the former seaman is proud of his collections, comprising of over a hundred works of the masters (Luna, Resurrection Hidalgo,  Saguil, Zalamada, Sanzo, Manansala and Ocampo) and his antiques, mostly religious centuries-old crucifix, ivory Sto. Niño, age-old statues of saints, Ming Dynasty vases and Japanese furniture.

“The Philippines still has one of the best art and antique pieces. We are a part of Asian, European and American collections. Even the foreign market goes for local arts and antiquities,” he says.

The Greenhills Shopping Complex serves as a familiar landmark in the San Juan-Mandaluyong area and a bargain mecca catering to people from all walks of life. Familiar  here are bargain hunters who frequent also other flea markets from other parts of the metropolis. Also shopping here are the rich and the famous, personalities in business, entertainment, politics, sports and media and VIPs from other countries.

Greenhills features a department store, beauty shops, Music Museum, a food strip, a badminton court and multi-level parking spaces.