Louvre hosts cultural treasure ‘Una Bulaquena’ of Philippines

Representative of the iron will of a people found in every corner of the world, an oil painting of a 16-year-old elitista provincial lass is now on display at the Louvre Abu Dhabi.

This is the 185X87 centimetre rendition of Emiliana Yriarte Trinidad (January 4, 1878-March 22, 1971) by no less than her art instructor, Juan Luna (October 25, 1857-December 7, 1899), completed in 1895; known as “Una Bulaquena” or “La Bulaquena.”

That was 11 years after Luna – older brother of another Philippine hero, General Antonio Luna (October 29, 1866-June 5, 1899) – won the grand prize at the 1884 Exposicion Nacional de Bellas Artes in Madrid, Spain for his “La Spolarium,” a mockery on the Spanish conquest of his motherland, featuring dying gladiators.

Alongside other scions of wealthy Filipino and Philippine-born Spaniards in Europe, the elder art student Luna, propagated for liberty from Spain.

Unveiled last Monday in the presence of Department of Culture and Tourism/Louvre Abu Dhabi chairman Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak and Philippine Ambassador to the UAE Alfonso Ferdinand Ver, the painting, which Trinidad herself sold to a “very influential art collector” at the pre-stages of World War II, is the second to be loaned to the museum.

“It is a continuity of relationship with the Philippines that began several years ago. It came from the necessity to have a beautiful artwork representing Filipino culture, supported by the Philippine Embassy,” Louvre Abu Dhabi director Manuel Rabate told Gulf Today.

It was in 2022 when the Ayala Museum brought to Louvre Abu Dhabi from among its gold artifacts collection, a funerary mask from Butuan, Agusan del Norte and a cup from Nabua, Camarines Sur, dating 10th to 13th centuries -- still on exhibit.

According to National Museum of the Philippines deputy director general Jorelle Legaspi, the one-year-stay of “Una Bulaquena” in the UAE is historic.

It is the first time that this 2008-declared National Cultural Treasure of the Philippines would be shared globally through another country.

Related Legaspi: “Emiliana Yriarte Trinidad had the foresight to sell her portrait to a very influential art collector, actually the National Museum of the Philippines in the 1940s.”

Leafing through the archives of the museum that began operating in 1901, Legaspi said “Una Bulaquena” escaped from the near obliteration of Manila, a consequence of the city’s 1944-1945 liberation from the Japanese Imperial Army by the American forces, as “that art collector” decided to have Malacanang, the Presidential Palace, as its repository.

“’Una Bulaquena’ still exists because of Emiliana’s willpower to protect it from the war. Many of our best collections, works of art, and national treasures were lost or destroyed during the Battle of Manila. Both are a story of a strong, independent woman, of quiet confidence, of survival and resilience. It was not until 1986 that the National Museum was able to retrieve the painting and put it under it care within the museum itself,” Legaspi said.

On the possibility that Louvre Abu Dhabi be the temporary home of other Filipino masterpieces, Rabate said: “We showcase the connection of cultures. We are always sensitive to moments in the history of art where there is an encounter between different identities. This painting reflects that, highlighting the Western influence that is also part of Juan’s legacy, while also speaking deeply about Filipino identity. We will have other partnerships, whether in permanent galleries or temporary exhibitions. The ‘Asian Roads of Exchange’ is a key project in 2026.”

On the possibility that the National Museum of the Philippines would also host UAE artifacts and treasures, Legaspi said: “We are definitely open to the idea. Whenever we have a museum-to-museum partnership, it is always important that we can provide the same care as what our partner would expect. We are working very hard towards that.”

Ambassador Ver said “Una Bulaquena” in the UAE “is a testament to the expanding relations, not only through labour migration, but to the strengthening of bilateral ties, in different and previously untapped fields.”

From Abu Dhabu-based multi-awarded artist-musician Sky Biscocho: “It is always a joy and honour when artists’ works are showcased internationally.”

From Dubai-based gallerist Carlo Garrido: “It was a powerful, emotional moment when I saw it. It shines a spotlight on the world class artistry we bring to the global stage.”