Uplifting Filipino talent & culture

The recent Magnificent September Auction at Leon Gallery highlighted early works with fascinating history, rare finds, objets d’art and contemporary pieces. The auction also saw record-breaking prices for some of the major pieces available.

Leon Gallery director Jaime Ponce de Leon said, “It has always been our commitment to uplift Filipino talent, culture and history through the arts. And it is with great pride to bring these spectacular works to new homes and owners, who will surely value and treasure them like we do. This way, we are able to preserve the arts and constantly pass history from one generation to another.”

A huge Sabel painting, reportedly the largest, by National Artist Benedicto “BenCab” Cabrera finds eits new home after being acquired at a record-breaking P46.7 million. Another major piece auctioned at P14 million is an untitled work by Juan Luna — signed and dated 1884 — oil on canvas, which features a comely European lady depicted in full figure in the formal dress of the time.

Meanwhile, Anita Magsaysay-Ho’s Lavanderas circa 1957 was acquired at P39.71 million, following the successful auction of her masterpiece Fish Harvest at Dawn sold at P52 million during the Leon Gallery Spectacular Mid-Year Auction 2015.  Ang Kiukok’s 1981 Seated Figure was sold for P11.68 million, Vicente Manansala’s 1975 Adam and Eve went for P6.42 million, while Nena Saguil’s 1964 watercolor Paris sold for P1.99 million.

Leon Gallery’s Magnificent September Auction 2015 followed the two equally successful Spectacular Mid-Year Auction 2015 and The Jim and Reed Pfeufer Collection: A four-decade friendship with Fernando Zobel, which featured over 70 pieces that illustrate how the Spanish-Filipino artist’s friendship with the American Pfeufer couple flourished throughout the years.

(Leon Gallery is located at the G/F, Eurovilla 1, Rufino corner Legazpi Streets, Legazpi Village, Makati City. For more information, visit leon-gallery.com.)

Passion & sole

It was a light gathering at Aruga by Rockwell in Makati City during the launch of Singaporean footwear brand Heatwave.

Guests enjoyed catching up on the ins and outs of the industry over French desserts and Prosecco in hand. To their delight, Heatwave footwear brand definitely fit their standards of form and function in one complete package.

From a meager shop in Singapore to a full-scale footwear brand known for its comfortable, fashionable footwear made for its customers in hands-on, small-scale production houses, the brand is in Manila to stay. Customers, who look for well-designed, high quality shoes can be assured that they have with them pairs that can keep for years — that’s why each pair is designed with simplicity and elegance in mind.

Observe a pair of Heatwave shoes from the design, looking inward:          versatile designs in classic colors, wearable for any occasion, from sun up to sun down. The brand is known for its manageable heel lengths as well, elevated just enough to boost the wearer’s height and confidence, without sacrificing comfort. Inside, quality is both seen and felt — flexible soles are made to be anti-slip, placing maximum support at the sole — and as the heart and soul — of each pair.

Why such a dedicated effort for quality? It’s really the customer connection that the brand wants to sustain — a community of women who are as sensible as they are stylish, like the pairs they own.

(Heatwave will soon be available at TheShop.ph and The Block at SM North next month.)

Beyond the Barricade

A glittering evening of musical showstoppers is set for a one-night-only concert of UK’s critically acclaimed show, Beyond the Barricade.

The two-hour show, which will make its Philippine debut on Wednesday, Oct. 7, at The Theatre of Solaire Resort and Casino in Pasay City, will feature past principal performers from Les Misérables in the West End and on tour. They are set to perform hit songs from iconic, well-loved musicals, which include The Phantom of the Opera, Jersey Boys, Evita, Wicked, Miss Saigon, West Side Story and Mamma Mia, climaxing with a spectacular finale from Les Misérables.

Beyond the Barricade has been delighting audiences throughout the UK and Europe for 16 years, from the Royal Albert Hall to the Cunard cruise liners, and now makes its debut in Asia with performances in Manila, Singapore and Hong Kong.

The former cast members of London’s longest-running musical Les Misérables include Andy Reiss, who has played numerous male roles including Jean Valjean; David Fawcett, who also played Valjean; Katie Leeming, who played the role of Eponine; and Rebecca Vere who played Cosette. They are joined by an ensemble of talented musicians to create an authentic live experience, capturing all the passions and orchestrations of the original shows.

The four talented performers have toured Europe, performed on the three Cunard liners — the Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria —  and were also featured in the Les Misérables 25th Anniversary Concert staged at the O2 Arena in London, while Kate and Rebecca were ensemble vocalists in the Les Misérables movie.

Producer and CEO of Lunchbox Theatrical Productions James Cundall said, “I was fortunate enough to see Beyond the Barricade earlier this year in the UK and was bowled over by the quality of the performances, and the intimate ambience of the show. Having brought many of the top musicals to Asia over the last two decades, I instantly thought they would be warmly received by the many musical theater-lovers here.”

(Beyond the Barricade is produced in Manila by Lunchbox Theatrical Productions and Concertus Manila. For ticket information, call TicketWorld at  891-9999 or visit www.ticketworld.com.ph. For group bookings, e-mail [email protected].) (Follow me on Instagram @pepperteehankee.)