VIA GRAPHIC PLUS — Teaching today extends far beyond delivering lessons. Filipino educators are expected to adapt to changing curricula, create engaging learning experiences, prepare materials, and manage administrative responsibilities—all while helping students succeed in an increasingly digital world.
As these demands grow, teachers are finding ways to keep pace without compromising the quality of learning. For educators Daniel Timbal, Richard Empimo, Reyna Orlanes, and Vanda Rema, tools like Canva Code have helped make that possible. It brings vibe coding–the ability to turn plain language prompts into working apps and interactive experiences–into an intuitive platform, allowing teachers to create interactive learning resources without needing technical expertise.
Their experiences reflect a broader truth: when teachers are supported, they are better equipped to prepare students for the future.
Adapting to a changing education landscape
After nearly 15 years as an educator, Daniel Timbal has seen firsthand how frequent curriculum updates require teachers to continuously revise lesson plans, redesign materials, and develop new skills, on top of their daily responsibilities.
“I’ve been a teacher for almost 15 years. So I experienced firsthand how much time Filipino educators spend on paperwork, making lesson plans, and in several years, since 2015, our curriculum is constantly changing. So every year we have to learn, we have to acquire skills,” said Daniel.
This challenge inspired Daniel to think beyond his own classroom. Using Canva Code, he built GuroHub, a free AI-powered lesson planning platform designed around the Philippine curriculum to help teachers navigate changing standards more efficiently.
Within its first month, GuroHub attracted more than 2,000 users, highlighting the demand for tools that reduce administrative work while helping educators keep pace with change. For Daniel, the experience reinforced a simple idea: supporting teachers through change ultimately benefits their students.
Diction, Context & Connotation by Reyna Orlanes is an interactive classroom activity generated where students can learn the lesson, perform an activity, and take a quiz
Reclaiming time for what matters most
Daniel’s experience reflects a challenge shared by many educators. For Richard Empimo, a teacher at Cristina Calnantoc Rosario National High School in Davao Occidental, that often means spending hours creating classroom materials that synchronize with the curriculum changes.
“We know that making lesson plans is very time consuming. There are times when I’d spend hours just to complete a lesson plan,” said Richard Empimo.
By turning ideas into interactive learning materials efficiently through tools like Canva Code, Richard is able to spend more time refining lessons and focusing on teaching.
Reyna Orlanes, an English and Media Arts teacher, has experienced similar gains in a different way. Previously relying on multiple apps for presentations, visuals, and activities, she now benefits from having these capabilities in one place, allowing her to streamline preparation and focus more on her students.
“This really makes the work of teachers very easy in the sense that we don’t need any additional subscriptions if we want to work on our lesson plans or if we want to prepare presentations,” she said.
Although their approaches differ, both Richard and Reyna have found that simplifying workflows allows them to devote more time and energy to their students.
Creating classrooms where students thrive
For Vanda Rema, a Science teacher of nearly 8 years, the opportunity extends beyond efficiency. As student attention spans evolve, she has embraced technology to make learning more interactive, encourage participation, and simplify complex concepts.
“I incorporate technology into my lessons to enhance learning and encourage student participation,” said Vanda. “AI has helped a lot because we treat it as a tool to improve teaching. It’s not there to replace teachers because human interaction is still needed,” she added.
Using Canva Code, Vanda creates gamified reviews and interactive learning activities that transform lessons into more engaging classroom experiences. She has since observed stronger student participation and improved academic performance, reinforcing her belief that when students are actively involved in the learning process, they are more likely to understand, retain, and apply what they learn.
Across these stories, the focus is not the technology itself, but the educators behind it—teachers who continue to adapt, innovate, and find new ways to support their students despite the growing demands.
As education continues to evolve, giving teachers the right support gives them more time to teach, more flexibility to innovate, and more opportunities to create meaningful learning experiences. In doing so, they are better equipped to prepare the next generation for what lies ahead.
