With the 9.9 shopping festival fast approaching, Canva Philippines has unveiled a lineup of initiatives designed to help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) sharpen their digital presence, boost online sales, and compete on equal footing with bigger brands.
For Filipino entrepreneurs, running a business often means wearing multiple hats—product developer, marketer, accountant, and customer service all rolled into one.
But in today’s fast-paced online marketplace, where attention spans are shrinking and competition is fierce, compelling visuals can spell the difference between being noticed or being ignored.
“Filipino entrepreneurs are creative and resilient, but many still face challenges in building a strong online identity,” said Maisie Littaua, Canva Philippines Country Lead. “Our goal is to empower every entrepreneur to show up with the same confidence as big brands, because their ideas and stories deserve to be seen.”
Templates for the 9.9 surge
Leading the rollout is a curated collection of marketing and promotional templates tailored for the country’s biggest double-digit sale events, starting with 9.9. The designs are built to help SMEs highlight their bestsellers, announce time-limited offers, and stand out in crowded social feeds—without needing professional design experience.
The ready-to-use templates, accessible via Canva’s platform, allow entrepreneurs to create polished, eye-catching visuals in just minutes. The timing is deliberate: September marks the beginning of the Philippines’ long holiday shopping season, making it crucial for businesses to build visibility early.
Shopee partnership for sellers
Beyond templates, Canva has teamed up with Shopee Philippines to strengthen the design and marketing skills of online sellers. A new Shopee Creator Page on Canva now hosts storefront templates and promotional resources tailored for Shopee merchants, providing them with tools to upgrade their digital shops.
Starting October, Canva will also be integrated into the Shopee University curriculum, where sellers can undergo training on practical design and marketing skills. Through these sessions, entrepreneurs will learn how to craft visuals that not only drive sales but also establish stronger brand identities.
To encourage sellers to adopt Canva’s premium tools, the platform is offering 4,000 exclusive one-month Canva Pro trial codes to eligible Shopee sellers, followed by a 50 percent discount for up to three months after the trial period.
“Shopee is dedicated to helping businesses of all sizes grow and succeed,” said Jack Ng, Head of Commercial at Shopee Philippines. “Through this partnership, we are not only giving sellers tools to market their products more effectively today, but also upskilling them with design and marketing knowledge that they can use to grow their businesses in the long run.”
Backing from DTI for creative industries
Canva Philippines led by Maisie Littaua (left) signs a Memorandum of Agreement with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)’s Creative Industries Development office
In a move that underscores its long-term vision, Canva Philippines also signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Department of Trade and Industry’s Creative Industries Development Office (CID). The partnership aims to bolster the Philippine creative economy by equipping entrepreneurs and creatives with digital skills and design tools.
Through nationwide workshops, caravans, and the DTI’s flagship Malikhaing Filipino event, Canva and the DTI plan to reach micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across the country, enabling them to thrive in a digital-first, global marketplace.
“For many SMEs, Canva isn’t just a design platform. It’s a partner that makes their everyday hustle easier,” Littaua said. “As more entrepreneurs embrace digital transformation, Canva will continue to be an enabler, helping them scale, compete, and grow their impact on families, communities, and the economy.”
Driving the digital shift
Since its launch in 2013, Canva has grown into one of the world’s leading platforms for visual communication and collaboration, now serving users in more than 190 countries. Its vast library of designer-made templates, powered by proprietary AI tools, continues to empower individuals, SMEs, and enterprises to design, collaborate, and communicate with ease.
As Filipino entrepreneurs prepare for the year’s busiest shopping season, Canva’s latest offerings — backed by partnerships with Shopee and the DTI — signal a clear push to help SMEs not just survive but thrive in the digital economy.
For businesses seeking to maximize the momentum of 9.9 and the long “-ber months” shopping rush, the message is clear: with the right tools and training, creativity and resilience can go hand in hand with sales and growth.
