This November, a visit to the "Likhang Kasambuhay Habambuhay" exhibit at the Philamlife Tower in Makati offers a visual treat tantamount to walking through the great museums of the world. But while the paintings could easily be mistaken for works of professional artists, what the viewer needs to know is that the artworks on display were actually created by individuals who, up until seven months ago, had little or no background in painting.

It was Mrs. Ying Miller, wife of Nestle Chairman and CEO John Miller, who helmed the project—a celebration of 100 years of Nestle Philippines and a way of giving back to the artistic heritage of the country. Mrs. Miller, together with the spouses and children of senior Nestle executives, undertook some 120 hours of painting lessons with noted artist Jose Glenn Blanco of the Blanco Museum in Angono.

The result, of course, is Likhang Kasambuhay Habambuhay—an exhibit consisting of paintings that will be up for auction on November 27. Proceeds will go to the Angono Council for Tradition, Culture, and Arts (ACTCA), an organization that holds training programs for the youth in such fields as visual arts, literature, theater, and dance. ACTCA hopes to raise new artists who will likewise bequeth their culture and traditions to future generations.

Browse through the gallery to see the paintings that will be auctioned for the benefit of the Angono Council for Tradition, Culture, and Arts.

Visit the Likhang Kasambuhay Habambuhay exhibit from November 24 to 26, 10AM to 6PM at The Tower Club, 33rd Floor Philamlife Tower, 8767 Paseo de Roxas, Makati. Bid on your chosen work on November 27, 4PM to 6PM. Dress code for both the exhibit and the auction is cocktail chic. For more details on the beneficiaries, visit www.actca-ph.com.

(Photos by Mike Dee)