Chelsea Manalo stars in Orange & Lemons music video for ‘La Bulaqueña’

Chelsea Manalo is a stunning dalagang Pilipina in the music video for “La Bulaqueña” by Orange & Lemons.

Like the Miss Universe Philippines 2024, Orange & Lemons also hails from Bulacan.

The music video for "La Bulaqueña" was conceptualized and directed by the band's constant collaborators Everywhere We Shoot.

It features the similar stories of the alternative pop band and Chelsea, and how they were connected by Juan Luna's 19th century portrait, "Una Bulaqueña,” in regard to influence and geographic likeness.

The said painting by Luna presents a Filipina from an elite countryside background, who is perceived to be from Bulacan.

“The symbolic repetition of the painting deepens the narrative and signifies the theme,” said Clem Castro, Orange & Lemons lead vocalist and guitarist, in a press release.

The collaboration was inspired by one of Chelsea’s photo shoots during her Miss Universe Philippines campaign.

Chelsea's team used “La Bulaqueña” as the background music for one of her concept photos for the pageant, which depicted the woman in Luna's painting.

The posts from Chelsea's team and fans made waves on social media, compelling Orange & Lemons to reconsider shooting the song's music video, with Chelsea serving as "the missing piece of the puzzle."

"Working with Chelsea was a breeze. She was a natural behind the lens and a jolly individual. A true beauty queen, both inside and out," said Clem.

Orange & Lemons also worked with the National Museum of Fine Arts to make the music video for "La Bulaqueña" happen.

Being the first band to ever film a music video in the museum, Orange & Lemons got to realize the dream of melding music, culture, arts, architecture, and pageantry with a contemporary approach.

“Our team and label did a couple of inquiries, and the stars aligned,” Clem said. “We are grateful that the National Museum of Fine Arts decided to partner with us with this project.”

25th anniversary concert

Apart from the release of the “La Bulaqueña” music video, Orange & Lemons will also be having a concert to celebrate their 25 years in the industry.

The show, “Now & Then: Orange & Lemons 25th Anniversary Concert,” will be held on October 18 at 7 p.m. at the Metrotent Convention Center in Pasig City.

The award-winning band will treat fans to a three-hour set featuring some of their most significant songs, from crowd and critical favorites to underrated gems.

The much-awaited concert is a celebration of Orange & Lemons' journey, tracing the band's independent start, mainstream success, psychedelic era, and switch to Tagalog-flavored music, which all culminate in an ambitious and bold discography.

“We normally play short sets on the big stage all over the country, leaving out most of our catalog in favor of more popular ones. For this concert, we want to bring to the big stage and perform live, if not all, a majority of songs from our past four albums. Expect us to perform and tell our story for over three hours!” Clem said

In an open letter shared two weeks ago, Orange & Lemons thanked fans for their unfaltering support through the years.

“Reaching this quarter-century milestone feels like a dream come true, and it’s a testament to the incredible community that surrounds us,” Clem said.

“Each chord we strummed, each lyric we penned, and every note we sang has been made richer by your enthusiasm and love. You’ve been with us through the highs and lows. From our beginnings as struggling artists, to our rise to fame, the heartaches of disbanding and a decade of quiet moments, the reformation and new releases. We couldn’t have done it without you.”

Apart from the main concert, fans can also look forward to a Meet and Greet with Orange & Lemons. The event will give fans the opportunity to interact and shake hands with the band, and for them to also experience a special set of songs and covers that didn’t get included in the concert's set.

Tickets to Orange & Lemons' concert are now available online, with the following tiers:

• General Admission (P2,000) - access to the concert
• VIP (P2,500) – access to the VIP section and access to the Meet and Greet
• SVIP (P3,500) – access to the VIP section, access to the soundcheck and the Meet and Greet, and limited-edition merchandise

Meanwhile, Chelsea will compete at the upcoming Miss Universe 2024 pageant in Mexico, with the coronation night happening on November 16.

Following her crowning, Chelsea held a homecoming event in Bulacan and her alma mater, De La Salle Araneta University.

Chelsea officially called her pasarela the "Tampisaw Walk" and was a stunner in her Miss Universe Philippines portraits.

— Nika Roque/CDC, GMA Integrated News