goin' once.. twice.. sold!

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Last Friday, I attended an art auction at the National Museum, it was a fund-raising project for Ang Ladlad, somehow I volunteered myself for the preparation and also as my contribution for the organization, 'though I'm not an official member yet.

the Marble Hall

Paintings, sculptures, rare books, prints, clothes were among the auctioned items, it ranged from a publication that costs Php350.00 to a striking work of art that costs Php120,000.00. No national artist works, the pieces were all donated by friends of Danton Remoto and the Ang Ladlad organization.

I went to the Marble Hall around 3pm after a wonderful brunch and a few hours of sleep. I introduced myself to the people there and began assisting in curating the artworks and helping them set the evening's event. The people are friendly, the lesbians are nice and of course, the gays who are noted for vivacity were everywhere.

The night was attended by some artists and art aficionados, some were glamorously dressed up but some were wearing casual outfits, but a fun-filled setting was not compromised by a semi-formal endeavor.

Boy Abunda, the evening's host was there and some non-popular-but-somehow-popular queers i.e. the flop show, "OUT" hosts, Jigs Mayuga and JM Cobarrubias and their gay cohorts.

Danton Remoto and Boy Abunda with the lamp I liked (left of Boy Abunda)

The food was sublime, the pasta and braised pork were really good, the spanish wine was also tempting yet I controlled myself not to indulge with it since I knew I can't. I went with the free-flowing lemon iced tea instead.

I've made friends and acquaintances that night, met with John Silva, whose job description is my dream, he's an art consultant for the entire National Museum, also artists from Art Association of the Philippines who willingly donated their works of art for the benefit of the organization, gays from different legions and other organizers of Ang Ladlad. Also, Mikee and Boom followed, had a nice dinner, drinks and had the art world as the agenda of the night.

The auction proper was interesting, there were shy people who didn't want to be recognized as bidders, instead signed up on the papers alongside each artwork and had a silent auction by themselves. Boy Abunda spent i think Php30,000 for a couple of paintings and an ostrich egg lamp from Firma, which I really liked and could have bid against the famous celebrity, well, I didn't, I cannot spend that much.

visual artists

The evening auction was a success, Danton Remoto was able to raise the amount of money to begin with, for the organization's campaign.. ended the night with a boisterously laughing and unending ridicule with among the people who were left at the museum.

I left the place and headed to Starbucks Manila Pavilion to have coffee with Mikee and Boom, who left early.. discussed the entire auction night and each other's crushes, and one thing we did excitingly was we gave each other some revelations we never thought we'd spill out, we proved that we're comfortable with each other enough to give out secrets, no matter how important it is.

I got a text message from a friend and said to party after at Off the Grill Timog Avenue to celebrate my friend, Monaliza's birthday, so my gay friends and I split and I went to Quezon City, met with some of my college friends and some drunk ones whom I never had the chance to have a conversation with.

I enjoy my weekends a lot but definitely there'll be a change of lifestyle next month. I did it on purpose..