Albert Raqueño: Art in Motion, Healing in Real-Time
Beyond the canvas, illustrator Albert Raqueño transformed rapid three-minute portraits into a powerful lifeline for young cancer warriors at MoCAF 2026.
Words Rebelyn Beyong
July 09, 2026
The Marquis Events Place hummed with the vibrant energy of MoCAF 2026. Amidst the grand exhibitions, bustling collectors, and exclusive previews, a profound and quiet exchange happened at the Mbrace Project booth.
There, visual artist and illustrator Albert Raqueño wielded his brush not just to capture faces, but to capture humanity in real-time.
For Raqueño, a Visual Communication graduate from UP Diliman, live portraiture is a fast-paced yet deeply intimate practice. In a matter of minutes, he observed strangers amidst the festival chaos and distilled their unique energy onto paper.
“Once you get to talk to the person, you get a sense of their ‘energy’ more, or who they are,” Raqueño explained. He noted that while people share physical similarities, everyone is distinctively unique, making it essential to capture their authentic essence in real-time.
Artist Albert Raqueño | Photo from Fundacion Sanso’s Facebook Post
He viewed these rapid sessions as a way to build a micro-community right on the exhibition floor. The brief stories shared by students, mothers, and couples significantly supplemented the physical artwork. Sometimes, these interactions were delightfully unexpected.
“I drew a little girl and her mom. The little girl was very energetic,” he recalled of his time at the booth. “While I was drawing her in real-time, she was also critiquing my work... ‘Why is it like that? I want this color. I want that.’ Parang nakahanap ako ng katapat! It was challenging but also a cute experience.”
Canvas of care
Raqueño’s presence at MoCAF 2026 was driven by a much larger purpose. He was a featured artist for the Mbrace Project, a foundational pillar of the festival’s "MoCAF Gives Back" initiative.
Mbrace Project is an advocacy-driven non-profit dedicated to supporting children battling cancer. By providing art therapy workshops, they offer these brave kids a safe space for emotional healing, while simultaneously raising funds for their critical medical needs.
Booth Set-up during MoCAF 2026
“I was invited by Martin [Sy], CEO and co-founder of Mbrace Project. We first met at the Skyline Festival in Quezon City,” Raqueño shared.
“When he asked me to partner up months prior to MoCAF, I took it as a great opportunity to also shed light and support the foundation.”
As Raqueño drew his subjects, the vibrant artworks created by these young warriors hung proudly behind him. Every live portrait he completed directly supported the foundation’s Cancer Champion Fund.
“It makes you realize how intertwined we all are. Not everything is purely solitary in nature,” he reflected on the initiative. “Even though my work is very personal or produced with my hands, if it means that I get to be part of this ripple effect supporting kids with cancer, I feel like that's already a win for me.”
Checkpoint in time
Despite the pressure of drawing live in a highly dynamic environment, Raqueño found immense fulfillment in the connections he forged. For his returning subjects, his portraits served as a documentarian of their personal growth—from graduating college to getting married.
Artworks displayed for the Mbrace Project at MoCAF
As festival-goers walked away with their freshly painted portraits, they carried more than just an artwork; they took home a shared moment and made a tangible contribution to a life-saving cause.
“Whenever they see the piece that we shared for three to five minutes, I hope they remember the moment that we had small talk, or maybe recall where they are in life during this day and time,” he said.
Raqueño's live art proved that a simple stroke of a pen can beautifully intersect with the profound act of saving a life.
