How to Use Visual Storytelling to Keep Culture and Language Alive

Every August, the Philippines celebrates Buwan ng Wika (National Language Month). It is meant to promote our national language, Filipino. But it also makes me pause and ask: What really is the Filipino language?

With over 175 living languages in the country, many spoken by indigenous tribes, our ways of speaking, remembering, and even imagining the world are far more diverse than what is often celebrated. Yet, when languages fade, so do the stories, the sense of belonging, and the cultural memory tied to them.

This realization led me to a project called Naya’s Journey, a character design rooted in my own tribe’s colors, clothing, and stories. It made me reflect on how illustrators can use visual storytelling as a tool of remembrance. Here’s how you can do the same in your own creative projects:

1. Start With Reflection

Before drawing, take time to reflect on your own cultural background, values, and stories. Ask yourself:

• What elements of my culture or community risk being forgotten?

• How can I honor them in my art without turning them into spectacle?

2. Use Visual Cues as Memory Carriers

Illustrations are more than decoration, they can preserve memory. Pay attention to:

• Colors: Do they connect to landscapes, textiles, or symbolic meanings?

• Clothing: Can they represent identity without being reduced to costume?

• Details: Small objects, patterns, or surroundings can spark recognition.

3. Balance Aesthetics With Authenticity

It’s tempting to stylize cultural elements to “catch attention.” But instead of glittering up traditions, try rooting your visuals in lived memory. This ensures your work respects and celebrates its origins rather than distorting them.

4. Build Narratives Beyond Words

As picture book makers, we know stories are not told by words alone. Visuals can:

• Strengthen cultural memory.

• Resist stereotypes.

• Offer children new ways to connect to identity and belonging.

5. Create With the Future in Mind

Your illustrations can be more than personal, they can become part of a collective memory. When you design with care, you help future generations see themselves, their language, and their culture reflected back with pride.

Language is not only spoken, it is also seen. As illustrators and storytellers, we hold a unique power: to celebrate differences, pass on values, and keep alive the voices that risk being forgotten.