For Anna Vergel RS, artistic validation comes quietly, in a hallway lined with paintings that businessman Hans Sy has collected.
For most of her life, Filipino artist Anna Vergel RS has carved her path through canvas and color, painting stories of identity, mythology, and womanhood. A University of the Philippines graduate and a former athlete turned painter, she is no stranger to discipline or passion.
She has mounted several acclaimed solo exhibitions and advocates for arts education, mentors young artists, and leads restoration projects. But even the most resilient artists, at times, find themselves in a lull—creatively adrift, searching for the next spark.
That spark arrived not in the form of a new commission or grant—but from an unexpected source: billionaire businessman and SM Prime chairman Hans T. Sy.
What was intended to be a casual visit to SM Prime’s corporate headquarters became a turning point for Anna, who was stunned to see several of her paintings mounted on the walls of a private corridor leading to the company chapel—a quiet but deliberate placement.
The works, familiar yet elevated in that context, hung alongside museum-grade pieces and personal artifacts from Sy’s extensive art collection.
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The PHQ Art Collection
Sy and his family may be best known for building malls, cities, and business empires, but quietly Hans Sy has also been building something else: a legacy of supporting Filipino visual art. His brand of collecting is not performative—it is deeply personal.
Called “The PHQ Art Collection,” SM Prime’s collection showcases a curated selection of works by both Filipino and international artists, reflecting their commitment to culture, creativity, and community. “Each piece offers a unique perspective while celebrating heritage, innovation, and the power of art to inspire within the halls of SM Prime Headquarters,” according to SM’s website.
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Anna described the collection as “a private wing of the Met Museum—with its own Starbucks inside.” The space is filled with museum-grade artworks, rare memorabilia, and carefully curated pieces from Sy’s private collection.
The collection includes works by artists such as Juvenal Sansó, Soler Santos, Nicole Coson, Melissa Yeung Yap, Thomas Godin, Pigcasso & Joanne-Lefson, Jana Benitez, Anthony Palomo, RM De Leon and many other artists.
What took Anna’s breath away was seeing her own paintings—preserved, framed, and displayed with care. Several of her works from her acclaimed ”Ve-nus Stones Series” hung proudly along the hallways, including just outside the headquarters’ chapel.
“I was stunned,” she recalled. “There were so many incredible pieces—and then, there were mine. Right there, given such thoughtful space.”
For Anna, the experience was a creative reawakening. “That visit inspired me on so many levels. It reminded me of the importance of creating work that moves people, that lives outside the gallery. If someone like Hans Sy can take the time to appreciate, give importance and nurture local artists, then I owe it to myself to keep growing and sharing my work,” she shared.
More importantly, the visit gave her renewed clarity and purpose as she prepares for her upcoming exhibit next year. It was a reminder that true artistic validation doesn’t always come through grand openings or glowing reviews. Sometimes, it comes quietly—in a hallway lined with paintings, in the silent gaze of a collector, or in the simple yet powerful act of someone choosing to preserve your work.
