Salcedo Auctions’ Finer Pursuits marquee event on June 6 was an extraordinary convergence of passion and patriotism, as collectors gravitated toward works mirroring the spirit of Independence Month. The winning bids reflected a nation’s commitment to freedom and independence, expressed through visual art and early photography, and even in dance.
Among the notable sales were two seminal paintings by National Artist H.R. Ocampo, from the estate of his longtime friend and muse, National Artist for Dance Leonor Orosa Goquingco. Both great Filipinos were pillars in their fields, shaping the generations that came after them.
The two paintings—gifts of Ocampo to Goquingco—were put on the block to fulfill the dance dame’s final wish to revive Filipinescas, the dance company she founded and nurtured until her death. She wanted its return onstage—a parting wish her son, Dr. Benjamin “Benjie” Goquingco Jr., decided to fulfill. The proceeds are earmarked for the restaging of a Filipinescas production next year.
Salcedo Auctions chairman and chief specialist Richie Lerma fielding bids at Finer Pursuits sale
“She was an early entrepreneur,” Benjie recalls of his mother. A “one-woman show,” says Benjie, who, growing up, coordinated with embassies to secure visas and booked theaters for Filipinescas’ performances.
Ocampo’s Arabesque went for ₱9,928,000, 53-A (Madonna and Child) for ₱7,592,000. These impressive results should help ensure that a new generation may again benefit from her vision of expressing the Filipino soul through music and movement.
A rare album containing 104 photographs of the Philippines at the end of Spanish colonial rule fetched ₱3,036,800 after a strong bidding. The album is an invaluable visual record of a nation on the brink of transformation, preserving images of events and personalities that helped shape the struggle for independence.
A rare album of 1800s ‘Photos of the Philippines,’ which includes the largest print of Dr. Jose Rizal’s martyrdom, taken by Manuel Arias Y Rodriguez, sold for ₱3,036,800
Among its most significant photographs is an image of Dr. Jose Rizal moments before his martyrdom on Dec. 30, 1896—the largest known photographic print of the historic event in private hands, captured by bookseller and amateur photographer Manuel Arias y Rodriguez. The album includes a group portrait of figures associated with the Pact of Biak-na-Bato, including the revolutionary leader and first president Emilio Aguinaldo.
Perhaps the most haunting images from the monumental album are the before-and-after photographs of the Thirteen Martyrs of Bagumbayan, taken just 12 days after Rizal’s martyrdom. In the earlier photograph, 12 of the condemned stand together while Moises Salvador lies on the ground, weakened by torture.
H.R. Ocampo’s ‘Arabesque’ closed at ₱9,928,000.
The theme of heroism was expressed in Fernando Zobel’s Gestos XXVI–ANZAC. The acronym ANZAC in the title references the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, whose soldiers fought on the Gallipoli Peninsula during the First World War. It went for ₱11,680,000, its soaring image evoking not only battle but the resilience, sacrifice, and courage that endure long after the conflict has passed.
The auction’s latter part went ecclesiastical, if not contemplative, with a pair of 19th-century angels selling for ₱1,284,800, more than double the estimate. Arms crossed over their chests, the figures embody humility and devotion, suggesting their role as attendants to the sacred.
A pair of 19th-century adoring angels sold for ₱1,284,800.
Oscar Zalameda’s ‘Untitled (European Village)’ went for ₱2,569,600.
Other highlights included an untitled 1966 painting of a European village by Oscar Zalameda, with a final price of ₱2,569,600. Equally memorable was a fierce bidding between a lady on the floor and an online bidder for a rare 18-karat gold Audemars Piguet Royal Oak ladies’ watch. The contest drew the attention of the room before the coveted timepiece ultimately sold for ₱2,569,600.
A rare 18-karat gold Audemars Piguet Royal Oak ladies’ watch sold for ₱2,569,600.
Despite the intense biddings, the atmosphere remained convivial, with good-natured banter among collectors and lively exchanges with auctioneer and Salcedo Auctions chairman Richie Lerma. As the final hammer fell, the sale underscored the enduring appeal of objects that tell stories—whether of artistic genius, historical significance, personal legacy, or craftsmanship.
Looking ahead to Salcedo Auctions’ next marquee sale in September, Lerma extended an invitation to prospective consignors: “Great collections deserve great audiences. We look forward to discovering new consignments across categories, and sharing their stories with collectors this September.”
For the full auction results and consignment offers to its next marquee sale ‘The Well-Appointed Life’ on September 12, visit salcedoauctions.com.
