Art in transit: National Museum and AF Payments reveal Juan Luna beep card

The National Museum of the Philippines has introduced a limited edition premium beep card featuring Juan Luna’s celebrated artwork Una Bulaqueña, aligning its release with the country’s observance of National Heroes’ Day.

The initiative is the result of a collaboration between the National Museum Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative and AF Payments, operator of the beep card system, underscoring how cultural institutions and payment networks are increasingly merging art and everyday experiences.

Available exclusively at the National Museum of Fine Arts Shop in Manila, the collectible card is priced at 480 pesos (US$8.4) without load and is limited to a maximum of three purchases per person. The card remains valid until November 2030.

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The design carries cultural weight beyond its collectible appeal. According to the National Museum of Fine Arts, Una Bulaqueña (1895) features a young woman from Bulacan, dressed in the elegant traje de mestiza, the traditional dress worn by many elites in the late 1800s, reported Philippine Information Agency (PIA).

Painted shortly before the Philippine Revolution, the portrait marks a stylistic shift for Juan Luna, moving from grand historical narratives to more personal depictions of Filipino identity. The PIA noted that the subject’s “calm pose, graceful gestures, and national clothing symbolise the strength of the Philippines, the struggles of colonial society, and the growing desire of the Filipino people for freedom and nationhood.”

Functionality remains central to the campaign. Beyond being a keepsake, the card integrates seamlessly into the everyday commuter journey, being accepted on LRT1, LRT2, MRT3, point-to-point buses, modern electronic jeepneys, and selected tollways including CAVITEX and NLEX. The card can also be used for purchases at retail partners such as Uncle John’s and Lawson.

The campaign positions the beep card not only as a practical transit tool but also as a cultural statement. Each tap becomes a symbolic bridge between history and modern mobility, transforming payment into an act of heritage appreciation.

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