by Alexis Tuble, Correspondent
What if textbooks felt like films? What if lessons unfolded with the same emotional pull as a documentary on National Geographic? These are the questions that drive Chrissie Bellosillo, Chief Operating Officer of Firstlight Emperor, as she leads a bold effort to merge storytelling, artificial intelligence (AI), and education.
Chrissie Bellosillo, Chief Operating Officer of First light
This scene captures how Firstlight, an education technology provider, and Amazon Web Services (AWS) are reshaping classrooms in the Philippines. Their partnership — and a new study unveiled during AWS Cloud Day Philippines 2025 — show how storytelling and artificial intelligence can transform learning into something cinematic, emotional, and unforgettable.
Firstlight: Turning lessons into stories
For years, Filipino teachers relied on rote memorization and traditional textbooks. Bellosillo wants to change that by borrowing from Hollywood.
“In everything we do, we ask ourselves — what if the magic of movies was applied to how we learn?” Bellosillo said during her presentation at AWS Cloud Day. “What if the emotional power that moves our hearts and minds in film could unlock understanding and ignite real change?”
Under her leadership, Firstlight built an app that delivers interactive e-books with cinematic storytelling. Students watch documentary-style films, explore dynamic graphics, and interact with lessons structured like story arcs.
Using AWS tools like Amazon Bedrock, Amazon Nova Reel, and Emperor AI, the company cut production time by more than 50%. That speed lets them roll out richer, more engaging content to over 30,000 learners in the Philippines and 1,500 institutions worldwide.
Belosillo (left) and her staff at Firstlight join AWS’s Gunish Chawla (2nd from left) at AWS Cloud Day Philippines 2025, where they discussed driving innovation in digital education
AI amplifies teachers
Generative AI often sparks fears of replacing teachers. AWS leaders counter that perception.
“AI acts as a force multiplier for teachers — augmenting rather than replacing their role,” said Gunish Chawla, Managing Director for the Commercial Sector at AWS ASEAN, who led the unveiling of the study at AWS Cloud Day Philippines 2025.
“Firstlight’s work is not just innovation at play — it’s transformation with a purpose,” he added.
AI handles repetitive tasks such as producing learning materials, which frees teachers to focus on guiding, mentoring, and inspiring students. In this new setup, teachers play the role of directors, shaping how lessons unfold and ensuring stories resonate with their students.
Building the infrastructure for change
AWS has laid the foundation for this transformation. Since 2016, the company has invested heavily in the Philippines — launching Local Zones in Manila and training more than 100,000 Filipinos in cloud and AI skills. This infrastructure now fuels innovations like Firstlight, making scalable, cloud-powered education accessible to schools nationwide.
Gunish Chawla, Managing Director for the Commercial Sector at AWS ASEAN
From data to meaning
EdTech companies have long focused on data and efficiency. Bellosillo argues that information alone doesn’t inspire learning. “While data is abundant, meaning is rare,” she said. “We don’t just inform, we inspire. We don’t just influence institutions, we transform them.”
By weaving storytelling into lessons, Firstlight ensures students don’t just absorb facts — they connect emotionally with what they learn. That spark of emotion makes knowledge stick, just as a powerful film lingers in memory.
The future: Classrooms as cinemas of imagination
Gunish Chawla (left) of AWS together with Chrissie Bellosillo during the media Q&A
The Philippine education system faces persistent challenges, from overcrowded classrooms to uneven access to quality content. Technology won’t solve these problems overnight. But recent research unveiled at AWS Cloud Day Philippines 2025 shows what happens when creativity meets cloud computing: students stop memorizing and start experiencing.
If this vision takes root, future learners may not remember the grind of textbooks or endless recitations. Instead, they’ll recall stories — like the rumble of a volcano, the courage of a revolutionary, or the wonder of galaxies opening before their eyes.
In this new model, classrooms don’t just transfer information. They tell stories that ignite curiosity, stir emotions, and inspire hope.
