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Local artist Koy Sun designed the artwork for the commemorative card
San Diego – In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) and Pacific Arts Movement (Pac Arts) proudly unveiled a special edition PRONTO card and limited-time bus wrap featuring artwork by San Diego-based AAPI artist Koy Suntichotinun, also known as Koy Sun. These public art activations honor the vibrant cultures, histories, and contributions of the AAPI community in San Diego and beyond.
“At MTS, we’re proud to celebrate the rich cultural contributions of the AAPI community through this unique collaboration with Pacific Arts Movement and Koy Sun,” said Stephen Whitburn, MTS Board Chair and San Diego City Councilmember for District 3. “This initiative celebrates the diverse stories that shape San Diego’s identity and reflect the communities we serve. We look forward to continuing this tradition with future commemorative cards that honor the cultures, events and partners that make our region so vibrant.”
The commemorative AAPI PRONTO card is part of MTS’s Community Celebration Program, an initiative which honors and features the many San Diego County communities the transit system serves. The groundwork for the program began in 2023, when MTS released cards for longtime partner the San Diego Padres, as well as the San Diego Pride Parade and Festival. These first cards were followed by a San Diego Comic-Con card in 2024. Due to the popularity of these custom cards, in late 2024, the PRONTO Community Celebration Program was formed to allow MTS to commission local artists and/or partner with community organizations to commission custom art to promote the events and communities that make San Diego so vibrant.
“At Pacific Arts Movement, we believe in the power of art to amplify community voices and tell important stories,” said Alex Villafuerte, Executive Director of Pacific Arts Movement. “It’s been a pleasure collaborating with local artist Koy Sun, whose artwork beautifully captures the vibrant essence of Asian American experiences. Uplifting artists and storytellers is vital to shaping the narrative of our culture, and this project is a wonderful way to celebrate that creativity.”
The bus wrap and PRONTO card’s design, created by Koy Sun, showcases a playful and vibrant scene of Asian American kids riding the bus, highlighting a shared cultural experience around food that resonates with many in the community.
“This piece is a tribute to the incredible grocery stores we have in San Diego,” said artist Koy Sun. “For so many of us, places like Vien Dong, Seafood City, Sin Lee Food, 99 Ranch Market, H-Mart and Mitsuwa aren’t just where we grab ingredients—they’re cultural hubs. They’re where families stock up for Lunar New Year, where elders plan bus trips and where we all find a taste of home.”
The artwork features classic and recognizable Asian American snacks and foods, reflecting the flavors and memories that bring comfort and connection. Sun, a San Diego-based artist, draws from their own upbringing and the cultural distinctiveness of the local AAPI community, capturing the joyful moments of everyday life and celebrating the foods that have become integral to Asian American identity.
The limited-edition PRONTO cards are available for purchase ($2) beginning May 1 at the MTS Transit Store, ticket-vending machines at select Trolley stations, and select community events in May. People can also call PRONTO Support to purchase a card (619-595-5636). Full details on how to purchase a limited-edition AAPI PRONTO card can be found at sdmts.com/commemorative-card-program.
Additionally, the custom bus wrap featuring Koy Sun’s artwork will run on MTS routes throughout the month of May, offering riders and passersby a joyful and visible reminder of the San Diego AAPI community’s impact on arts and culture.
Future planned commemorative PRONTO card artwork includes Pride Month (2025), Hispanic Heritage Month (2025), San Diego FC (2025) and Black History Month (2026).
ABOUT MTS:
The Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) operates 92 bus routes and four Trolley lines in 10 cities and unincorporated areas of San Diego. MTS is a leader in advancing initiatives to create a greener, cleaner and better-connected transit system in San Diego. Each weekday more than 238,000 passenger trips are taken throughout the MTS system taking people to work, school, health appointments and other essential trips. In FY 2024, MTS served more than 75 million riders. For service schedule updates, news, alerts and more information on how you can use public transportation, go to www.sdmts.com.
ABOUT THE SAN DIEGO ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL:
Pacific Arts Movement (Pac Arts) is the most comprehensive portrait of Asian and Asian American cinema in North America. Located in San Diego, California, Pac Arts is the presenter of the annual San Diego Asian Film Festival, the largest showcase of Asian cinema on the West Coast, and the Spring Showcase of Asian Cinema. The 26th San Diego Asian Film Festival is scheduled for November 6-15th, 2025.
ABOUT PACIFIC ARTS MOVEMENT:
Pacific Arts Movement (Pac Arts) launched in 2000 when it debuted at the San Diego Asian Film Festival, a showcase of Asian American and Asian international cinema. Rooted in the love of film and the arts, global citizenship, and Asian culture and communities, Pac Arts became an official nonprofit media arts organization in 2002 and is now one of the most significant exhibitions of Asian cinema in North America. For more information, visit pacarts.org.
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