National Museum of the Philippines loans Juan Luna's 'Una Bulaqueña' to Louvre Abu Dhabi
The National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) has loaned Juan Luna's 'Una Bulaqueña' to the Louvre Abu Dhabi (LAD) in the United Arab Emirates, where it will be displayed until June 2026.
According to NMP's post on Facebook, the loan is the first direct collaboration between the two museums, 'signalling a major milestone in the cultural dialogue between the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates.'
The unveiling ceremony was attended by His Excellency Chairman of LAD Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak; Ambassador of the Philippines in the UAE His Excellency Alfonso A. Ver; and Deputy Director-General of the NMP Jorell M. Legaspi.
Al Mubarak said LAD commits to promoting universality and global cultural exchange.
'With this display of 'Una Bulaqueña,' Abu Dhabi audiences will have the opportunity to discover a great deal about its cultural and art historical context, thereby learning more about the rich and fascinating history of the Philippines,' he said.
Ver added that this strengthens the relations between the Philippines and the UAE. 'This significant cultural exchange reflects our shared commitment to fostering understanding and cooperation through art.'
LAD director Manuel Rabaté said they're "deeply honored to bring this treasured masterpiece to the Arab world for the first time." He described 'Una Bulaqueña' as a representation of the heritage and identity of the Filipino people.
"This exceptional loan strengthens our universal narrative by placing Southeast Asia's voice at the heart of our global dialogue."
"Una Bulaqueña," also called "La Bulaqueña," is Luna's painting of a Filipino woman from Bulacan dressed in traditional attire. According to the Cultural Center of the Philippines Encyclopedia of Philippine Art, the woman in the portrait is Emiliana Yriarte Trinidad, who was less than 17 years old when she posed for the painting. She is 'a comely Filipina from an elite provincial family," depicted full figure in the formal dress of the time.
'Her contemplative gaze and upright posture speak volumes about the grace and strength of a Filipina,' NMP added on Facebook. 'The artwork also reflects Luna's mastery of merging the European art traditions of his time with the distinct dynamism of Filipino identity.'
The painting survived World War II and was declared a National Cultural Treasure in 2008. It was sold to the NMP in World War II for 200 in Japanese military notes, according to the CCP.
—Nika Roque/JCB, GMA Integrated News
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
GMA Network
2 hours ago
- GMA Network
Filipina Julianne Pundan, Filipino-British Seann Miley Moore to star as Kim, The Engineer in 'Miss Saigon' UK production
Filipino actress Julianne Pundan and Filipino-British singer Seann Miley Moore are set to star in "Miss Saigon" in its United Kingdom production. Miss Saigon UK announced its principal cast on social media Thursday, with Julianne set to play the role of Kim and Seann as The Engineer. "We're bringing this back home to UK because I'm actually half Filipino, half British. So, finally perorming in the motherland, but I need to come back home to the UK to perform The Engineer," said Seann in the principal cast announcement video that Miss Saigon UK posted. "I feel very privileged, very honored as well, because Miss Saigon is this insane musical. The score compliments the story line so well. It is just all beautiful and the fact to play Kim, I'm so blessed, I feel very, very grateful," Julianne also said. On her Instagram account, Julianne shared that it is "a dream come true" to play the role of Kim, adding that this will be her professional lead debut. "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity that I will forever be grateful for, feeling so blessed, this is so surreal, thank you God," she wrote. She also expressed her gratitude to the people behind the production, as well as her friends and family for their support. "I can't believe this is happening, I am so excited to begin and become a part of such a legendary musical!" she said. Other cast members include Mikko Juan as Thuy, "The Voice" semi-finalist Ace as Gigi, Bea Ward as Alternate Kim, and Aaron Teoh as Alternate Engineer. Meanwhile, the ensemble includes Jamil Abbasi, Aaron Aisoni, Daniel Brian, Ann-Marie Craine, Ben Fenwick, Aaron Gonzales, Owen Johnston, Evita Khrime, Caleb Lagayan, Rayhan Lee, James Mateo-Salt, Shania Montevalde, Ryan Ocampo, Julius Sahr, Tonny Shim, Anh Koha Tr?n, Yiling Yang, Aimee Yue, and Carmen Zhu. The "Miss Saigon" musical by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg is presented by Michael Harrison and Cameron Mackintosh. The production will kick off its UK and Ireland tour beginning this October. Lea Salonga memorably portrayed Kim in the original West End and Broadway productions of "Miss Saigon." The musical follows the story of a 17-year-old Vietnamese girl named Kim who works in a bar in Saigon managed by The Engineer. She meets and falls in love with Chris Scott, an American GI assigned to Saigon during the Vietnam War. —CDC, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
3 hours ago
- GMA Network
From family table to fine dining: Chef Cristina Santiago continues father's legacy at this Makati steakhouse
Chef Cristina Santiago is keeping the memories of her late father alive at the new location of Carmelo's Steakhouse in Makati City. The Filipina restaurateur is the daughter of the late Carmelo "Melo" Santiago, a name that became synonymous with premium steak in Manila. In 1987, Melo's Steakhouse, a restaurant founded by Carmelo, broke ground as the first restaurant to offer Certified Angus Beef in the Philippines. Decades later, his legacy lives on, this time through Cristina's vision of a modern steakhouse rooted in family, nostalgia, and elevated dining. Cristina retained her father's recipe for the steak for Carmelo's, but her love for food presentation elevates the dishes. It's her way of injecting her personality into her dad's food legacy. "When I opened Carmelo's, I had to cook whatever my dad was cooking because these are all his recipes," Cristina told GMA News Online. "I don't want to touch anything that's already good," she added. "I'm just lucky because I have his taste buds." The main highlight of Carmelo's is, of course, the steak selection. True to her father's standards, Cristina ensures top-tier quality, sourcing Certified Angus Beef and Australian Wagyu and offering a range of cuts. Whether it's a solo lunch or a celebratory feast, there's a steak for every appetite, from personal-sized portions to shareable centerpieces like the Grilled Wagyu Ribeye (P609/oz.), Tomahawk (P329/oz.), and Tenderloin (P4,220). Cristina also added dishes inspired by her travels into the menu, like the Moules Marinieres (P850) inspired by Parisian meals with her dad, the Octopus Ala Plancha (P850) over cauliflower purée and gremolata, and the Tuna Tataki (P400) with homemade white miso. For pastsa, there's the Spinach Spaghetti Alle Vongole (P1,200), which features a briny depth with green noodles, and the Truffle Burrata Pasta (P1,200). Carmelo's Steakhouse is located at 2/F, Retail Row Proscenium Residences, Rockwell, Makati City. —CDC, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
5 hours ago
- GMA Network
National Museum of the Philippines loans Juan Luna's 'Una Bulaqueña' to Louvre Abu Dhabi
The National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) has loaned Juan Luna's 'Una Bulaqueña' to the Louvre Abu Dhabi (LAD) in the United Arab Emirates, where it will be displayed until June 2026. According to NMP's post on Facebook, the loan is the first direct collaboration between the two museums, 'signalling a major milestone in the cultural dialogue between the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates.' The unveiling ceremony was attended by His Excellency Chairman of LAD Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak; Ambassador of the Philippines in the UAE His Excellency Alfonso A. Ver; and Deputy Director-General of the NMP Jorell M. Legaspi. Al Mubarak said LAD commits to promoting universality and global cultural exchange. 'With this display of 'Una Bulaqueña,' Abu Dhabi audiences will have the opportunity to discover a great deal about its cultural and art historical context, thereby learning more about the rich and fascinating history of the Philippines,' he said. Ver added that this strengthens the relations between the Philippines and the UAE. 'This significant cultural exchange reflects our shared commitment to fostering understanding and cooperation through art.' LAD director Manuel Rabaté said they're "deeply honored to bring this treasured masterpiece to the Arab world for the first time." He described 'Una Bulaqueña' as a representation of the heritage and identity of the Filipino people. "This exceptional loan strengthens our universal narrative by placing Southeast Asia's voice at the heart of our global dialogue." "Una Bulaqueña," also called "La Bulaqueña," is Luna's painting of a Filipino woman from Bulacan dressed in traditional attire. According to the Cultural Center of the Philippines Encyclopedia of Philippine Art, the woman in the portrait is Emiliana Yriarte Trinidad, who was less than 17 years old when she posed for the painting. She is 'a comely Filipina from an elite provincial family," depicted full figure in the formal dress of the time. 'Her contemplative gaze and upright posture speak volumes about the grace and strength of a Filipina,' NMP added on Facebook. 'The artwork also reflects Luna's mastery of merging the European art traditions of his time with the distinct dynamism of Filipino identity.' The painting survived World War II and was declared a National Cultural Treasure in 2008. It was sold to the NMP in World War II for 200 in Japanese military notes, according to the CCP. —Nika Roque/JCB, GMA Integrated News
