For today’s students, culture and tradition can sometimes feel distant in a world that moves at the speed of digital content. But with the help of Canva Education, teachers are showing that heritage can be engaging, vibrant, and deeply relevant.

Canva Education — which provides free access to design tools for all K–12 students and teachers nationwide — empowers educators to turn everyday lessons into meaningful cultural experiences. 

This vision comes to life in the work of Lulu Campoto and Egg Quiñosa Jr., two Canva Education creators who weave Filipino culture directly into their classrooms.

Creativity rooted in community

For Lulu, who spent eight years as an early childhood teacher, art has always been more than a classroom activity — it’s a way to connect people.

“Art has the power to unite people, both physically and culturally. By sharing a community’s story or an inspiring reflection, we build connections that bridge differences,” she said.

When Lulu discovered Canva, she saw how digital design could transform her classroom. Interactive projects and vibrant visuals not only kept students engaged but also gave them a stronger appreciation of their own heritage.

One tradition especially close to her heart is Brigada Eskwela, the back-to-school activity that brings parents, teachers, and volunteers together to prepare classrooms. For Lulu, it’s a living expression of bayanihan — the Filipino spirit of working together. By weaving this tradition into her digital lessons, she helps students see how community, culture, and the future are all connected.

Culture woven into every lesson

Teaching Araling Panlipunan, Egg quickly realized something: when lessons were intentionally designed, students became more curious, engaged, and inspired.

For him, design is not decoration — it’s transformation.

“It’s not just about making things look nice. It’s about helping students see the value of their own culture and social realities in a modern, digital space,” Egg said.

Through Canva, he creates classroom materials infused with Filipino patterns, colors, and symbols, giving lessons a cultural heartbeat.

“When we design with intention, we’re not just teaching facts. We are helping our students connect with their culture, think critically about our society, and imagine how they can make a difference,” he added.

For Egg’s students, chapters become more than textbook lessons — they’re reminders of an unfolding story, one they themselves can help shape.

Why it matters

In a globalized, digital world, local traditions risk being overshadowed. Teachers like Lulu and Egg highlight why keeping them alive matters.

• For identity: Integrating Filipino culture into daily lessons gives students a sense of belonging and pride.
• For empowerment: It challenges them to think about their role in society and nation-building.
• For connection: It shows that heritage is not something old and distant, but something alive in their everyday learning.

Egg puts it simply: “When students see their own culture, traditions, and stories woven into our activities and discussions, it does more than affirm their heritage. It challenges them to think critically about their role in nation-building.”

Lulu adds: “By incorporating Filipino culture into our materials, we serve as a reminder of our identity to the youth, fostering a sense of purpose within them.”

The big picture

Behind this work is a simple truth: when teachers have the right tools, education becomes a source of inspiration.

With Canva Education’s easy-to-use design platform, teachers have access to templates, patterns, and cultural resources that make it possible to craft materials that resonate.

The result: a generation of students who see heritage not as something from the past, but as a foundation for the future. —Ed: Corrie S. Narisma