COMPETING bids for a tiny abstract painting by Robert Ryman climbed higher and higher until — Bang! — the hammer came down on the 1963 canvas at £850,000 ($1.08 million), more than twice its low estimate.

IT WAS late one evening when a young woman, along with two friends, was walking through the Paseo de Roxas underpass in Makati on her way home after a long day at work. Mural artist A.G. Saño was painting at the steps of the underpass when she recognized him. She happened to have been a participant at his art and environmental engagement talks at a university in Camarines Sur, Bicol some years before. He then asked the woman and her friends if they were interested in helping him paint the mural. Mr. Saño said that “it is innate among our group to have strangers engage if they want to paint.

ALTHOUGH recent events have made locals paranoid about the seemingly overwhelming presence of Chinese in certain areas of the metropolis, one needs to remember that Filipinos and Chinese have been working side by side even before local recorded history. For centuries now, Filipinos been trading with the Chinese, proven by archeological excavations over the last hundred years or so.

ON JULY 20, Gavel&Block, a subsidiary brand of Salcedo Auctions that features both established artists and emerging talent, will mount a benefit auction in partnership with the IWantToShare Foundation, an organization which works with the Philippine General Hospital (PGH).

FOR NEW YORK-based Japanese artist Sophia Chizuco, “the circle is the most peaceful shape.” Thus her new exhibit at the Globe Art Gallery, features works that are filled with circles. Dreamscapes by Sophia Chizuco is organized by Hiraya Gallery in partnership with Globe Art Gallery. The opening reception will be on July 11, and will run until July 30, at the Globe Tower, 32^nd St. corner 7^th Ave., Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

BUSINESS reality TV show The Final Pitch is back for a fourth season featuring judges from previous seasons once again looking for the best Philippine startups from aspiring entrepreneurs.

A COPYRIGHT battle over Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On” was halted last week by a judge until a separate fight over Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” is resolved.

LOS ANGELES — Superheroes were once again around to save the day as Spider-Man: Far From Home ignited a much-needed boost in the domestic box office. The web-slinging adventure easily dominated in North America, delivering a $185 million debut from 4,636 venues during its first six days in theaters.

LONDON — Karen Mok may be currently performing on what she says will be her final concert tour but the Hong Kong-born actress and singer has no plans to retire just yet, setting her sights on bringing Broadway-style musicals to China.

FIVE short films on about authoritarian regimes, strong central powers, and limited political and individual freedoms, are set to be shown at the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) Museum of Contemporary Art and Design (MCAD) on July 13.

TOY STORY 4’s characters come to life in a new way at Hong Kong’s Harbour City through an interactive exhibit which is ongoing until Aug. 4.

BOSTON — The man that former House of Cards star Kevin Spacey is accused by prosecutors of sexually assaulting in Massachusetts three years ago has dropped a civil lawsuit he filed against the Oscar-winning actor last week.