WorldSkills Asean Manila endsbr br The WorldSkills Asean Manila 2025 ended with a grand closing ceremony at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City on Saturday night. br br Malaysia won 13 gold medals while the Philippines got 10, the first time the country got gold medals since the 2004 WorldSkills ASEAN competition. br br In his speech and subsequent interview with The Manila Times, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Secretary Francisco Benitez highlighted the importance of skills training and technical-vocational education not only in the Philippines but also in the ASEAN region.br br In interviews with the Manila Times, competitors and winners from Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore share their experience competing in the so-called Olympics of Skills and the friendship and camaraderie they formed along the way.