Man of Peace, serigraph, 1984, BenCab, estimated at PHP 280,000-300,000.
Auggie Cordero
The Auggie Cordero art collection will be on view starting Sept. 15, 2025 at Salcedo Auctions ‘The Well-appointed Life’ at Salcedo at NEX Tower, 6786 Ayala Avenue, Makati. The auction is on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, 10 am (online auction), 2 pm (live auction).
Iconic Filipino fashion designer Auggie Cordero was neither a hoarder nor a collector of Philippine art and antiques—at least not the way he was diligently collecting books, magazines, betamaxes/VHFs/lasers of movies from young adulthood to his passing in 2022.
But when he acquired paintings and antiques, he did so with the diligence, discerning eye, and taste of a learned designer. He would buy only those he liked—motivated by informed curiosity and a driving desire to see these works of art in his home, and to let the santos and antiques compose a setting in his tastefully decorated home, where his friends would dine and chill at night, usually way into the crack of dawn.
Though he was a private individual who stuck to a few friends, his milieu was the Malate/Mabini of the ’70s and ’80s, when the area was the epicenter of bohemian culture and lifestyle. He knew many of the artists and designers who were shaking and shaping up contemporary Filipino culture, and some of their collectors, many of whom were the who’s who of Philippine society. Socialites and influential women like Aurora Silayan-Go, Lorna Laurel, Gilda Antonio were his good friends and clients. Aside from his artist friends, it was through art aficionado-friends like Aurora Silayan-Go that he would acquire art pieces. Ms. Silayan-Go was a close friend to National Artists Vicente Manansala and BenCab (BenCab and Annie Sarthou called her “ninang”). It was through her that Auggie acquired BenCab’s Man of Peace, which BenCab was moved to do after the assassination of Ninoy Aquino in 1983. That 1984 serigraph of the death mask of Ninoy was the visual highlight in Auggie’s dining room in his old Balagtas (street) townhouse for many years.
TheDiarist.ph wrote upon his death in October 2022: “The country knew Auggie Cordero as the designer who designed the wardrobe of then President Cory Aquino. This was, however, barely skimming the surface of his solid achievements. Auggie had a knack for starting trends. Almost single-handedly, he put the style legend, actress Audrey Hepburn, in the consciousness of many a Filipina in the ‘80s as, collection after collection, one fashion shoot after another, he popularized the Audrey Hepburn gamine look of sabrina neckline, cropped pants, tailored yet very feminine silhouettes. Before that he became known for his Annie Hall and Katharine Hepburn collections of soft tailored coordinates and smart layering. Auggie also popularized the shirtdress which appealed to the growingly empowered Filipino women, the accents such as bow and camellia to soften tailored tops inspired by Chanel, the tuxedo dressing inspired by his fashion god Yves Saint Laurent, the barong tunic for women, the use of color in bridal ensembles, among other trends through the decades.”
He pushed the envelop, as they say, in Philippine fashion design, and made his name synonymous with feminine elegance and timeless dressing. Many of his clients say how they could continue to wear his clothes—particularly the impeccably tailored ensembles—even to this day.
Ibarra dela Rosa Untitled, oil on canvas, 1974, estimated at
PHP 180,000-220,000
Fernando Zobel Untitled lithograph, estimated at PHP 35,000-45,000
Romulo Olzao Untitled (male nude), charcoal on paper, 1974, Romulo Olazao, estimated at PHP 43,000- 50,000
This September, Salcedo Auctions opens the doors to his private world in The Well-appointed Life sale, offering Cordero’s exceptional collection that spans paintings, fine antiques, and ethnographic and ecclesiastical relics. The objects reflect Cordero’s ethos; the authenticity of naive carvings, the bold strokes that mirrored his daring verve, or the purely classic lines that intuit his design DNA.
A lot of three heirloom storage jars, dark-glazed, 19th century China, estimated at PHP 30,000 – 35,000
An Ifugao ceremonial bowl with lizard carvings, 1st half, 20th century, estimated at PHP 30,000 – 35,000.
Among the highlights are paintings and drawings that offer rare glimpses of the artists’ portfolios, works that may not have received full recognition in their own time. One such piece is a landscape by Ibarra dela Rosa, its fevered palette of blazing reds and oranges set in striking contrast to deep blues and greens. Even more intense is Ibarra’s untitled watercolor on graphite paper with what seems like hallucinatory blotches.
There are works by abstractionists in various stages of their careers. In a striking nude, Romulo Olazo blends formal traditions with the planar gestures of his later compositions. There is a lithograph by Fernando Zobel, the lines echoing the energy of the artist’s Saeta series.
A lot of five Virgin Mary heads, 1st quarter, 2oth century Ilocos, estimated at PHP 26,000 – 30,000.
Some artworks reveal Cordero’s sentimental side, like Edsel Moscoso’s sepia-washed Los Parientes, which depict a trio of women and a young boy in traditional Filipino attire. Other works hint at his yearning for quiet moments: Alfredo Roces’ still life of an open magazine beside a vase of flowers, and BenCab’s serigraph titled Man of Peace.
The collection includes ancient pottery, carved santos and reliefs, and antique bangles. They reflect a designer’s well-appointed taste and his immense appreciation for beauty, whether in the sacred, the ornamental, or the everyday.
Salcedo Auctions ‘The Well-appointed Life’’ sale presented with Exclusive Bank Partner UnionBank Elite takes place on Saturday, 27 September 2025, 10AM (online auction), 2PM (live auction), at NEX Tower, 6786 Ayala Avenue, Makati City. View the catalogue and register to bid at salcedoauctions.com.
