Bukadkad is a romantic Filipino word describing a flower in full bloom, and it’s the inspiration behind Maya’s special-edition Bukad Card. The card, made from 100% recycled plastic, showcases the richness of Philippine biodiversity through the intricate artwork of Filipino visual artist and illustrator Raxenne Maniquiz.
For Raxenne, whose work is known for lush composition, vivid colors, and detailed depictions of nature, the collaboration offered an opportunity to embellish an unexplored canvas. Translating her signature visual language onto the card meant turning a functional object into a canvas for self-expression and lending it artistic flair without losing Maya’s distinct brand identity.
“Maya’s identity has always been about standing out,” Raxenne said in an exclusive interview with adobo Magazine.
The resulting design brings flowers, foliage, and wildlife to life in a vibrant tapestry, with details that reveal finer details up close. Rather than relying solely on familiar tropical imagery, Raxenne sought less conventional botanical subjects, including rare flower species that underscore the Philippines’ distinctive natural heritage.
“I brought this out by choosing flora that aren’t the usual choices for lush landscapes,” Raxenne added. “There’s the Amorphophallus species and Rafflesia species, rare flowers that are endemic to our islands.”
Raxenne’s creative process began with two colored sketches. She then presented them to Maya, which, in turn, selected the version for the final design. From there, the illustrator refined the artwork during an on-site revision session. The refinement—not too surprisingly—was approved immediately, on the spot.
Although the illustration retains the artist’s recognizable style, the collaboration also called for a visual connection to Maya. That came through a neon green palette—a signature color of the digital financial services brand—woven into the broader composition, resulting in two distinct forms of visual rhetoric. Raxenne’s intricate treatment of flora and fauna offers users the satisfaction of visual discovery, while the vivid green anchors the design in Maya’s identity.
Certain details connect the artwork directly to the brand. The only fauna depicted on the card is the maya, a nod to the bird that lends Maya its name. The complementary scarf, on the other hand, features several more maya birds hidden throughout the illustration.
Bringing biodiversity into everyday life
Raxenne also underscored how the project presented an opportunity to foreground a part of the Philippines that deserves greater appreciation. While tropical landscapes are familiar subjects in visual culture, the country’s biodiversity offers far more than the available images of lush greenery and colorful flowers.
“The Philippines is one of the mega-diverse countries in the world,” she said. “We have a lot of amazing flora and fauna that can only be seen in our islands. I hope they see the unique, lush, and vibrant landscapes found in our country.”
That perspective shapes the Bukad Card’s appeal. Its imagery draws attention to species that may be less recognizable than the country’s more familiar natural symbols, placed on an object for everyday use.
The limited-edition Bukad scarf makes Raxenne’s illustration wearable, allowing the artwork to unfold beyond the card’s compact dimensions.
Beyond the surface
Beyond its illustrations, the Maya Bukad Card reflects a broader change in the material used to produce Maya’s prepaid cards. Maya has completed its transition to 100% recycled plastic for all newly produced prepaid wallet cards, moving away from virgin plastic while retaining the security, durability, and functionality expected of a payment card.
The shift gives the Bukad Card another layer of meaning. Its connection to nature extends to the raw material for making it, going beyond the imagery printed on its surface. By giving existing plastic another life, the card brings material considerations into a product designed for everyday transactions.
The change also extends beyond this special-edition release. With all newly produced prepaid cards now made from 100% recycled plastic, the Bukad Card becomes part of a wider transition of how Maya produces its cards, rather than a standalone sustainability initiative tied only to a limited design.
Moreover, its practical features remain central to the product. Powered by Visa, the Maya Bukad Card can be used for purchases and ATM withdrawals wherever Visa is accepted globally. Customers who use it in the Philippines also receive 1% cashback on all in-store and online purchases.
The card therefore brings together three considerations that do not always share the same space: Filipino artistic expression, the everyday utility of financial technology, and a more conscious approach to materials.
Ultimately, the collaboration between Maya and Raxenne makes a case for looking more closely at the objects people use every day. From the endemic flora that inspired Raxenne’s artwork to the recycled plastic that forms the card itself, the Bukad Card brings Filipino creativity and material consciousness together as part of functional design.
The special-edition Maya Bukad Card is available on the Maya app. To order yours, simply open the Maya app, head to the Cards tab, and order the Maya Bukad Card.
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