Need some inspiration to explore the metro by public transportation this year? If you plan to use trains and buses more regularly this year or still rely on single-journey tickets, you might want to kick-start 2025 with a brand-new beep card.
These stored-value cards can be used to pay for transport fares in Metro Manila’s three elevated railways: LRT-1, LRT-2, and MRT-3. It may also be used in point-to-point (P2P) buses and modern PUVs like the BGC Bus.
Going cashless saves you the hassle of lining up every time to get a ticket and saves you a bit on transport fares compared to single-journey tickets. These cards can also be used to pay for transactions in select Uncle John and Lawson convenience stores and LRT-1 stalls.
But if you don’t want to settle for the classic beep card sold in stations (with a blue design inspired by local weaves), you can find a few limited-edition and customized beep cards to bring some (badly needed) inspiration to your daily commute. Some designs channel Pinoy pride with their depictions of Philippine art, culture, and history, while others add a dash of fun and personality to everyday trips.
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Here are some limited-edition beep card designs I’ve come across—most of which you can score online.
Spoliarium beep card
The Spoliarium beep card issued by the National Museum of the Philippines went viral last year and quickly sold out after its initial release in May 2024. This limited-edition beep card features the award-winning painting Spoliarium by Juan Luna, displayed in the National Museum of Fine Arts. The card was released by the National Museum of the Philippines to celebrate the painting’s 140th anniversary.
While initially available only in their museum shop, the beep card was restocked in their official online shops. I was recently able to buy this without having to physically line up at the museum by getting it directly from beep’s online shop. Incidentally, the National Museum is now open seven days a week starting January 2025, so you might want to schedule a trip there just to get other Spoliarium-related merch.
Price: The Spoliarium beep card costs P500 without any load.
National Museum beep cards
The National Museum also released four Exclusive National Museum beep cards in November 2023, featuring the historical structures to honor the history and culture of the Philippines to mark Museums and Galleries Month. The four designs show:
- Lualhati – Fine Arts: Hematite red card available at the National Museum of Fine Arts in Manila
- Manunggul jar – Anthropology: Brown card available at the National Museum of Anthropology in Manila
- Lolong – Natural History: Green card available at the National Museum of Natural History in Manila
- Cebu: Card available at the National Museum of Natural History building in Cebu
Only 250 beep cards for each design were made available and are sold exclusively at the National Museum of the Philippines. I was able to buy the National Museum of Anthropology one when I visited late last year, but it was the only design left at the time.
Price: The National Museum beep cards cost P400 each, with an initial load of P50.
Baybayin beep cards
While browsing beep’s online shop, I came across some very cool designs featuring Baybayin, the Philippine ancient writing system. The CalligraFilipino series features artwork designed by internationally renowned CalligraFilipino Artist Taipan Lucero. This series also has four designs featuring Baybayin in creative art forms.
- Blue – Pilipino: Written vertically in Baybayin, leading concentric rings of vibrant, colorful, dynamic Cordilleran-inspired weaving designs.
- Red – Sa Aking Mga Kababata: Written vertically, from left to right, is the infamous phrase, “Ang hindi marunong magmahal sa kanyang salita, mahigit sa hayop at malansang isda” (“Those who don’t love their language are worse than animals and rotten fish”)
- Teal – Ilaw: As in “ilaw ng tahanan” or light of the home or light of the family, an honorific title of Filipino mothers as they are our guiding light. The red ribbon-like lines are Baybayin letters ‘I,’ ‘La,’ and ‘W.’ The colorful curvilinear forms are inspired by the Okir of the Maranao.
- Black – Alin Pa: Lines from the poem ‘Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa,’ written by Andres Bonifacio written in the kulintang form.
Price: The limited-edition CalligraFilipino beep cards cost P350 each with no load.
Horoscope-themed designs
If you’re into Astrology and want to show off your Zodiac sign during your daily rides, you might want to buy Beep’s limited-edition horoscope-themed cards. These come in 12 designs depicting all the star signs: Aquarius, Aries, Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces, Libra, Taurus, Leo, Capricorn, Sagittarius, Virgo, and Gemini.
Price: The limited-edition Horoscope beep cards cost P350 each with no load.
How to customize your own beep cards
Interested in a particular design? According to Beep, cards can be customized for brands, advertisers, companies, and other organizations to promote their businesses to public commuters. Companies and schools can also make their ID cards beep-enabled to serve as identification and convenient fare payment systems.
In the past, Beep has released various designs including cards inspired by the old 2009 LRT magnetic tickets by the Commuters PH, cards showcasing artwork from Philippine artists in collaboration with the Beep Card Collectors of the Philippines (BCCP), and even an AR-enabled card. They also have gaming-themed cards to promote the mobile game, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) with beep cards that unlock exclusive in-game items aside from serving as a transport card.
Businesses interested in partnering with beepTM, can reach out to sales@afpayments.com or contact the Service Desk at (02) 87379600 (landline), 09175121319 (Globe), or 09985819675 (Smart).
Where to buy beep cards
LRT-1 train stations
- Roosevelt
- Balintawak
- Yamaha-Monumento
- 5th Avenue
- R. Papa
- Abad Santos
- Blumentritt
- Tayuman
- Bambang
- Doroteo Jose
- Carriedo
- Central Terminal
- United Nations
- Pedro Gil
- Quirino
- Vito Cruz
- Gil Puyat
- Libertad
- EDSA
- Baclaran
- Redemptorist-Aseana
- MIA Road
- PITX
- Ninoy Aquino Avenue
- Dr. Santos (formerly Sucat)
LRT-2 train stations
- Recto
- Legarda
- Pureza
- V. Mapa
- J. Ruiz
- Gilmore
- Betty Go – Belmonte
- Araneta Center – Cubao
- Anonas
- Katipunan
- Santolan
- Marikina
- Antipolo
MRT-3 train stations
- North Avenue
- Quezon Avenue
- GMA – Kamuning
- Araneta Center – Cubao
- Santolan – Annapolis
- Ortigas
- Shaw Boulevard
- Boni
- Guadalupe
- Buendia
- Ayala
- Magallanes
- Taft Avenue
Select partner P2P Terminals
- BGC Bus EDSA McKinley – 5am to 12am (weekdays) and 5am to 11pm (weekends)
- BGC Bus Market! Market! – 5am to 12am (weekdays) and 5am to 11pm(weekends)
- One Ayala – 1pm to 9pm (weekdays only except holidays)
- TAS Trans Pilar Las Piñas – 5am to 12pm (weekdays only except holidays)
- TAS Trans NUVALI – 5am to 12pm (weekdays only except holidays)
- Alabang Town Center – 5am to 9am (weekdays only except holidays)
- Starmall Alabang – 5am to 9am (weekdays only except holidays)
- Starmall Shaw – 4pm to 8pm (weekdays only except holidays)
Online shops
All beep cards are reloadable, with an option to extend the validity for one more year. There’s no minimum load to top up. You can also enjoy special discounts from partner establishments and earn reward points every time you use your beep card through beep rewards.
