La Bulaqueña (the album) was released in April 2022 when the Covid-19 pandemic was starting to transition to an endemic phase. Which means gigs were limited. We really wanted to shoot a music video for the title track but logistical concerns prompted us decide to shelve the idea.
La Bulaqueña (the song) was inspired by the 1895 oil painting of Juan Luna y Novicio entitled “Una Bulaqueña,” a National Cultural Treasure and part of the National Fine Arts Collection of the National Museum of the Philippines.
It is a collaborative songwriting effort of the band which poised the questions “Who is the subject of the painting?” and “What is her relation to Juan Luna?” And to match the title, we translated the question in Spanish “¿Quién es ella, la Bulaqueña?” which translates to “Who is she, the woman from Buacan?”
We ended up with a vibrant, upbeat song that captures the essence of Filipino culture and community.
Fast forward to 2024, Chelsea Manalo (a Bulakenya) was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2024. During her campaign, she did a concept photography to do an impression of the subject of Juan Luna’s painting and used our song in reels and Tiktok videos. The song somewhat became attached to her image and became viral on social media platforms.
The turn of events encouraged us to revive the idea of filming the music video with Chelsea and to complete the picture – shooting it on location where the painting resides — the National Museum of Fine Arts. Our team and label did a couple of inquiries, and the stars aligned. We are grateful that the museum management decided to partner with us with this project and for the record we were the first band to film a music video inside the museum!
As for Chelsea, she readily said yes! And thanks to the management of Miss Universe Philippines, it allows us to fulfill a dream project. Mixing music, culture, arts, architecture and pageantry in a contemporary setting and theme.
Working with Chelsea was a breeze. She was a natural behind the lens and a jolly individual. A true beauty queen in and out.
The concept of the MV
Conceptualized and directed by our friends from Everywhere We Shoot. It uses a parallel story line that reflect each other, showing a different perspective on a similar theme — the painting as an inspiration in music (Orange & Lemons) and in pageantry (Chelsea Manalo). Not to mention sharing the same demographic location (Orange & Lemons and Chelsea both trace our roots in Bulacan). The symbolic repetition of the painting deepens the narrative and signifies the theme.
Thank you to our incredible partners!
We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who played a role in bringing the “La Bulaquena” music video to life. Your creativity, dedication, and passion made this project possible.
A special thanks to our amazing crew, talented cast, and everyone behind the scenes. From the cinematographers and editors to the production team, your hard work shines through in every frame.
To our collaborators, sponsors, and supporters—thank you for believing in our vision and for your unwavering support throughout this journey.
Together, we’ve created something truly special! Here’s to more collaborations in the future!
