Indonesian Innovation Shines in Brunei: Elwyn.ai by Primeskills Secures Award at APICTA Awards 2024

Elwyn.ai, an AI-powered learning platform developed by Indonesian edtech company Primeskills, achieved runner-up status at the 2024 Asia Pacific ICT Alliance (APICTA) Awards in Brunei. This platform uses realistic role-playing simulations to enhance soft skills and interdepartmental communication for professionals and higher education students.

Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam - December 11, 2024 - Primeskills, a leading educational technology company from Indonesia, proudly announces the success of its flagship product, Elwyn.ai, in securing the runner-up position at the prestigious Asia Pacific ICT Alliance (APICTA) Awards 2024 in Brunei. This achievement solidifies Indonesia's position as a key innovator in professional learning and higher education technology on a global scale.

Elwyn.ai, an AI-based learning platform, is revolutionizing the world of professional education and higher learning. By delivering realistic role-playing simulations, Elwyn.ai helps professionals and advanced students hone their soft skills and inter-departmental communication through scenarios that mirror real workplace situations.

"We are thrilled with this recognition at APICTA 2024," stated William Irawan, CEO of Primeskills. "This achievement is not just a win for Primeskills, but also tangible proof that Indonesian learning technology can compete at an international level. We are committed to continuously driving innovation in professional education and higher learning, while showcasing the immense potential of Indonesian startups on the global stage."

Elwyn.ai's excellence lies in its seamless integration with various systems that have become industry standards across institutions and companies. The platform utilizes sophisticated AI algorithms trained on thousands of real-world scenario data, a result of Primeskills' five years of experience in developing soft skills training modules for higher education institutions and leading companies.

APICTA itself is a prestigious event involving 16 member economies from the Asia-Pacific region. In 2023, the awards involved more than 250 nominations from 165 participating teams, representing countries such as Australia, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Brunei, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, and Singapore.

The APICTA 2024 judges praised Elwyn.ai's innovative approach in addressing challenges in the modern professional world. Higher education institutions and organizations that have adopted Elwyn.ai report significant improvements in aspects of communication, teamwork, and work readiness.

Elwyn.ai's success at APICTA 2024 not only highlights Primeskills' achievement but also illustrates the rapid development of the edtech ecosystem in Indonesia. This accomplishment further solidifies the position of Indonesian technology companies as key innovators actively shaping the future of higher education and professional development on a global level.

Looking ahead, Primeskills plans to expand Elwyn.ai's reach to international markets, focusing on higher education institutions and multinational organizations. "We are in the process of forging partnerships with several leading universities and organizations to implement Elwyn.ai in various countries," added William. "Our goal is to establish Elwyn.ai as a global standard in AI-based professional education and higher learning."

For more information, visit www.primeskills.id

About Primeskills

Primeskills, headquartered in Tangerang, Indonesia, is a pioneer in creating technological solutions that bridge the gap between higher education, professional development, and industry needs. Their flagship product, Elwyn.ai, leverages artificial intelligence to deliver immersive learning experiences, while introducing Indonesian innovation to the international stage.

Redesigning History: The Politics Behind the Changing Faces of Philippine Banknotes

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

The recent redesign of the Philippine currency has sparked debates and raised eyebrows across the nation. With every alteration—whether it’s removing historical figures, changing colors, or updating imagery—it becomes clear that the nation’s banknotes are not merely tools for economic transactions but also canvases for political narratives. The latest changes, which some critics argue subtly erase remnants of the Marcos regime, highlight a deeper issue: the selective rewriting of history through symbols ingrained in our daily lives.

Monetary Bills as Political Tools

Banknotes are more than just paper; they are powerful symbols of national identity and collective memory. Every face, landmark, and symbol imprinted on a bill tells a story about the country's values, struggles, and triumphs. However, these narratives are vulnerable to political influence. In recent years, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has rolled out changes that many view as attempts to downplay or outright remove references to certain political eras—particularly the Marcos regime.

The replacement of historical figures with images of natural wonders and native fauna may seem apolitical at first glance, but context is everything. The removal of faces associated with key moments in Philippine history—whether celebrated or controversial—raises questions about intent. Are these changes driven by a desire for a more neutral and unifying national imagery, or are they subtle acts of historical revisionism?

Selective Erasure and Misplaced Priorities

While debates rage over whose face should appear on our money, there are more pressing concerns about the glorification of living politicians. Across the country, faces of elected officials dominate billboards announcing government projects funded by taxpayers’ money. Schools, streets, hospitals, and even waiting sheds are often named after politicians, turning public spaces into campaign posters in disguise.

If the goal is to reduce the influence of political personalities in our national imagery, shouldn't we start with these blatant displays of self-promotion? There should be a firm policy discouraging the inclusion of names and faces of incumbent officials on public infrastructure. Instead, recognition should be reserved for individuals who have made undeniable contributions to the nation's development and who are no longer in positions of power.

A Culture of 'Epal' Politics

"Epal," a Filipino term referring to politicians who shamelessly credit themselves for projects they are mandated to deliver, remains an enduring problem. While debates on currency design spark national discussions, the everyday visibility of politicians’ faces on every conceivable surface often goes unchecked. Government funds should never be used to fuel political campaigns disguised as public service announcements.

Instead of repeatedly redesigning currency in ways that invite controversy, the government should focus on institutional reforms that prevent political self-aggrandizement in public spaces. Legislation that strictly prohibits the naming of streets, schools, and other public infrastructure after politicians during their lifetime is long overdue.

A Call for Genuine Representation

Symbols matter. Whether on our money, on billboards, or on street signs, they shape how we perceive our leaders, our history, and ourselves. The faces and names we immortalize in these spaces should not be decided by those in power but by a collective agreement on who truly deserves such recognition.

Moving forward, the government must ensure that the redesign of banknotes is rooted in a transparent and inclusive consultation process, free from political motivations. Likewise, public infrastructure should serve the people, not the egos of those in office.

In the end, the true measure of progress lies not in whose face appears on a bill or a billboard, but in whether these symbols represent genuine contributions to the nation’s welfare. If we truly want to move forward, let’s start by putting an end to the culture of epal politics and focus on building a legacy of integrity, transparency, and accountability—values that no redesign can erase.

DepEd, DSWD renew commitment on expanded Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program

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To support learners’ literacy development, the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) have renewed their partnership on implementing the Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program (TBTP).



DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara and DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian signed the memorandum of agreement (MOA) on Friday at the DepEd Central Office in Pasig City.



The Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program was recently declared a flagship program of President Bongbong Marcos Jr. through Executive Order No. 76, s. 2024 signed on November 22, 2024. This aims to address foundational literacy gaps among struggling learners while providing temporary work opportunities for financially challenged college students.



“I know this has been very successful and it was declared a flagship program by Malacañang recently, and we are very happy and fortunate to be part of it and we will do our best to make it succeed,” Sec. Angara noted.



TBTP program targets Grade 1 learners identified as struggling readers or incoming Grade 2 non-readers as its beneficiaries. It includes Nanay-Tatay Teacher Sessions to equip parents and guardians with tools to support their children’s literacy development. These sessions are conducted by pre-service teachers and Youth Development Workers (YDW) in exchange for financial aid and work experience.



In its first year of implementation this 2024, TBTP reached 120,359 college students, struggling and non-reader elementary learners, and parent beneficiaries.



Through an inter-agency effort among national government agencies, SUCs, LGUs, and other stakeholders, the TBTP aims to reach 207,000 total beneficiaries in 2025.



“This is probably going to be one of the many collaborations with DepEd with the whole purpose of helping kids finish school, learning how to read, and at the same time transitioning, like I said from pure straight-out social welfare to something conditional and developmental,” Sec. Gatchalian said.



In the renewed partnership of the two agencies, DepEd will identify and assess learner-beneficiaries, improve capacity-building design for tutors with Ateneo Center for Educational Development (ACED), provide school venues, and assist in logistical arrangements.



“We are very grateful for this partnership with DSWD, definitely, it will improve the delivery of services with learning and I think the interface with DSWD and DepEd will be very fruitful and productive for our children and young learners," Sec. Angara noted.