A spirited evening blends art, music and movement as Salcedo Auctions celebrated a vibrant and well-attended vernissage last 20 November for Under the Tree: Wish List, the auction house’s final marquee sale of the year.

Chairman and chief specialist Richie Lerma welcomed guests with remarks that spoke to the power of art in the present moment. “During these interesting times, art at Salcedo Auctions takes on even more meaning — giving us joy, hope and a sense of identity that keeps us connected through all the ebbs and flows of our beloved motherland,” he said, setting the tone for the evening’s special performance.

Lerma introduced dancers from the J&K San Mateo DanceSport Team, trained and supported by Tatag Dance, an initiative founded by Cristina R. Velez and Cyril Faller and guided by coach John Alexander Taroma. Performers Kaeilx Claro, Jaiden Paran, Avril Maghanoy, Lourence Novelo, Ava Aguirre, Justine Urbina, Andrei Espiritu and Kaycee Maghanoy, ages 11 to 19, delighted the audience with spirited renditions of the rumba, samba and jive, culminating in a dramatic paso doble.

The finale echoed the emotional force of the upcoming auction’s centerpiece — Félix Martínez’s La Jota Manileña from 1886 — a historic work that captures the Filipinos’ resilient spirit amid conflict and the stirrings of national consciousness. The performance served as a dynamic prelude to the auction, which opened its doors to the public ahead of the sale on 29 November.