1 day Ago By Katlene O. Cacho-Laurejas
FILIPINO educators in the English as a Second Language (ESL) sector may soon find lesson planning dramatically easier, thanks to BridgeAI, a new educational technology platform developed by Vietnam-based Cebuano innovator Poppet Celdran. Launched earlier this year, BridgeAI is a subscription-based AI-powered platform designed to automate and simplify lesson plan creation for ESL teachers. Accessible at www.
bridgeai.pro, the platform aims to significantly reduce teachers’ prep time while improving classroom engagement—two major challenges in the Philippines, which hosts one of the largest ESL teaching communities in the world. “Filipino teachers are known worldwide for their excellent English instruction,” said Celdran, founder and chief executive officer of BridgeAI.
“But lesson planning takes up so much of their time. It affects both their personal lives and how well they teach. BridgeAI is here to lighten that load.
” Initial trials of BridgeAI with Filipino ESL instructors have delivered promising results. According to Celdran, participating teachers saved up to eight hours per week on lesson planning, while student engagement rose by 40 percent, based on preliminary classroom feedback. BridgeAI arrives at a crucial time as the Philippines continues to position itself as a global ESL hub, further reinforced by the Department of Education’s revamped K–12 curriculum, which places a stronger emphasis on English proficiency.
“BridgeAI takes care of the heavy lifting so teachers can focus on what they love—inspiring students,” Celdran added. Educators who sign up for the waitlist will receive early access ahead of the full launch later this year, along with special introductory pricing. BridgeAI is also collaborating with local schools and institutions to tailor its AI capabilities to the unique needs of Filipino classrooms, where oversized class sizes often add pressure on teachers.
The platform aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education) by supporting more effective teaching without increasing teacher workloads. “I used to spend all of Sunday preparing lessons,” said Angel Namatic, an ESL teacher from Batangas City who joined the pilot program. “Now I can create better lessons in just a few minutes.
I have more time with my family, and my students are learning more.” BridgeAI is the latest venture from Celdran, a graduate of the University of the Philippines Cebu and holder of a master’s degree in Development Communication from UP Open University Los Baños. He previously launched Zen, Vietnam’s first on-demand wellness app in 2022, which provides in-home massage therapy services.
Zen Wellness App currently operates in Vietnam, with expansion plans targeting the Philippines, Cambodia and Thailand by 2026. With BridgeAI, Celdran is taking another step toward digital innovation focused on improving lives through AI—this time, by empowering one of the Philippines’ most vital sectors: education. / KOC.
