For students, school projects are part of the requirements for passing a subject and moving on to the next level. But for the freshmen art and design students of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, one particular project opened a pathway to bigger exposure and opportunities in the design world: the UPS Express Envelope Design Competition.

In an exclusive partnership with the premier design school, UPS, an international logistics solutions company, challenged students to showcase their creativity while promoting the country’s rich culture and heritage through envelope design.

More than 400 students submitted their entries. On Aug. 25 at the Ayala Museum, with the presence of First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos, nine finalists were awarded, with one emerging as the champion: Lauren Kelby Obaldo, whose work, “Haraya sa Kalsada,” combines Filipino culture with the idea of progress and development.

The design represents the nation's continuous growth while highlighting Clark, Pampanga, as an important center for transportation, logistics, and global connections. It shows how jeepneys can move forward while still respecting and preserving cultural identity.

The shadows of people symbolize movement, efficiency, and economic progress, while the orange gradient background represents hope and a brighter future for the country. Festival design is also present, reflecting Filipino heritage, resilience, and unity. Together, these elements create a design that shows the Philippines advancing toward greater opportunities while remaining connected to its roots and culture.

In an interview, the upcoming sophomore shared that he could not believe he had won the award because he initially thought designing a jeepney and submitting it to the competition was too cliché.

“My concept is too common. While most of my peers connect Clark, Pampanga to airplanes, I focused on jeepney because I want to remind people that this is part of our identities as Filipinos, a part of our culture,” he told Manila Bulletin Lifestyle. “Especially now that we are on the road to modernization, I don’t want us to forget the traditional jeepneys.”

Meanwhile, Vibhav Varshney, marketing manager, UPS Australia, Indonesia, New Zealand, and Philippines shared that Lauren’s winning design will be used on UPS envelopes in the Philippines, which customers can use to send packages all over the world.

“We brought this student competition program here because of the massive infrastructure investment that UPS is doing in the Philippines. We have the launch of our expanded Clark International Hub that happens in October, and in sync with that, we wanted to showcase the local talent, and that's why the program is here,” he said. “All our customers in the Philippines will get this envelope. We serve 220 countries worldwide. So this design, this concept, and the student's name will go anywhere in the world.”

On top of having his design printed on UPS envelopes, Lauren also received P36,000 worth of shopping vouchers.

The UPS Express Envelope Design Competition featured three competing categories or themes. “Roots of Progress: Filipino Culture, Values and Heritage” focused on resilience and the ability to adapt and move forward. “Galaw ng Bayan, Abot ang Mundo” explored connectivity and how stronger connections open access to global opportunities. Lastly, “Clark Rising: Asia's Center, Philippines' Pride” highlighted innovation and modern infrastructure that place the Philippines within Asia's network.

Three finalists were chosen per category, and the three first-prize winners competed for the Grand Winner title. The two other category winners were Aleana Szobelle P. Lallamant and Jana Lois D. Oliveros.

Aleana won under the “Roots of Progress” category with “Started From the Bottom Now We’re Here!” Her design centers on the Philippine Eagle, framed by the anahaw leaf and sampaguita flower. These national symbols represent strength, resilience, and pride, reflecting the values that continue to shape the Filipino spirit.

Meanwhile, Jana won under the “Galaw ng Bayan, Abot ang Mundo” category with “Reach for the Waves.” Waterways connect nations to wider horizons. Two boats, known as bangka, a traditional boat used by Filipino fishermen, diverge from each other, with the waves and marine life following the boats’ movements while also carrying fresh goods.

Lauren emerged as the winner under the “Clark Rising” category and was named the competition’s grand winner. Aleana and Jana both received P18,000 worth of shopping vouchers.

For these young designers, the competition proved that a school project can become more than just a requirement. By bringing a familiar Filipino symbol into a design that speaks of progress, they showed how young creatives can use their work to preserve cultural identity while opening doors to opportunities beyond the classroom.