Children with clefts benefit from art exhibit and auction

CEBU, Philippines —  In a bid to bring more smiles to Filipinos, contemporary art space, Qube Gallery and art gallery, District 32, held an auction benefitting Smile Train, the world’s leading cleft charity, opening more opportunities for Cebuanos to be Smile Makers. The event was held at Asmara Urban Resort. 

“With Smile Train’s model of empowering local medical professionals with training, funding, and resources to provide free cleft surgery and comprehensive cleft care to children globally, we welcome the support of organizations in different cities to help us maintain the sustainability of our programs. We are hopeful that through the support of Qube Gallery and District 32, there would be more Smile Makers in Cebu,” said Kimmy Coseteng-Flaviano, Area Director for Smile Train in Southeast Asia.

Dubbed as “Art for Smiles: A Charity Art Auction and Dinner for Smile Train”, the event brought artists from different galleries together for the first auction held in Cebu City to benefit Smile Train Philippines.

The artists who participated in the auction included Dennis Sio Montera, a prolific visual artist and educator and is one of the Qube Gallery’s top collected artists; Golda King, a mixed media artist who did a residency at the Vermont Studio Center—the largest international artists' and writers' residency program in the USA; the highly creative and imaginative Thom Jopson, one of Qube’s resident artists; Roberto Sanchez a DJ, entrepreneur and a portrait artist; and, Ivy Lim, an artist who now renders her time and skills towards making social impact.

Over 50 pieces were donated by the different artists and galleries, with guests being able to bring home one piece of artwork each, while also being able to raise funds for Smile Train Philippines through their donations.

The event raised enough funds to create a brighter future for 30 children born with clefts.

“We are grateful for the generosity of the artists and galleries for believing in Smile Train’s cause,” says Flaviano. “We are hopeful that we will be able to partner with more organizations and communities so that we can help give more children their forever smiles.”

Premier triathlete Noy Jopson, one of Smile Train’s supporters in Cebu, presided the auction of the beautiful art pieces.