Louvre Abu Dhabi houses Filipino masterpiece

Juan Luna's oil painting, which is seen as his Mona Lisa, will be on display until June 2026

- BY MANUEL ALMARIO Senior News Editor

Juan Luna’s iconic painting Una Bulaquena, a symbol of the Filipina spirit, has officially taken its place among the world’s cultural masterpieces at the Louvre Abu Dhabi. This beloved national treasure is now on view outside the Philippines for the first time.

Hailed as Luna’s own Mona Lisa, Una Bulaquena is a stunning portrayal of a poised young woman from Bulacan, resplendent in her traditional baro't saya. Painted in 1895 during the Spanish colonial era, the artwork masterfully fuses European technique with the soul of the Filipino experience.