MikeLigalig.com

For his innovative “Kariton Klasrum” (pushcart classroom) Filipino educator Efren Peñaflorida has been awarded by CNN as “2009 Hero of the Year.”

Peñaflorida was awarded during the CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood. He received his award from American actress Eva Mendes. He bested nine other nominees from different countries for the Hero of the Year award. The nominees were initially selected by a panel of 14 “Blue Panel” luminaries but the Hero of the Year award is given to the one with the most number of online votes in the CNN Heroes website.

Peñaflorida would be the first Filipino to become a nominee of the annual CNN Heroes awards and the first to Filipino to win the top prize.

The project, already in its third year, is a tribute by the international news organization to selfless humanitarian acts of individuals from different countries.

In his acceptance speech, quoted by CNN, Peñaflorida said: “Our planet is filled with heroes, young and old, rich and poor, man, woman of different colors, shapes and sizes. We are one great tapestry. Each person has a hidden hero within, you just have to look inside you and search it in your heart, and be the hero to the next one in need.”

"So to each and every person inside in this theater and for those who are watching at home, the hero in you is waiting to be unleashed. Serve, serve well, serve others above yourself and be happy to serve. As I always tell to my co-volunteers ... you are the change that you dream as I am the change that I dream and collectively we are the change that this world needs to be."

Peñaflorida will receive $100,000. This will be used to fund his work in the Dynamic Teen Company (DTC), a volunteer organization that he put up to conduct his “Kariton Klasrum” program. more: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20091122-237752/Filipino-declared-Hero-of-the-Year-by-CNN

makahilak man pud ta ani oi.. very touching kaayo..

mao jud Ann noh? maka tindog sa balahimo!

anyway theres another Filipino to be proud of!

Congratulations Efren! keep up the good work!

Pride of the Filipino People!

We did have had a cyber campaign to log to CNN and vote for him, thanks God he made it.

i wanna do something like this. but i need to work to live.

I have learned from a nun, 3 things the Lord expected us to do, Do  your job well, be nice to your friends and pray for them. Small things are also great in the eyes of the Lord.

Korek, i agree Manay!

love your enemy and pray for your friends.

your truely a filipino hero efren congrats and mabuhay ka! we are all proud of you

apil pud kos sunod!!!

Quote from: bugsay on November 23, 2009, 08:52:37 AM
love your enemy and pray for your friends.

Pray that your friend will never be your enemy, and pray that your enemy will always be available for loving...

Quote from: hubag bohol on November 23, 2009, 09:02:53 AM
Pray that your friend will never be your enemy, and pray that your enemy will always be available for loving...

ah, OK..kini nalang!

Quote from: bugsay on November 23, 2009, 09:04:59 AM
ah, OK..kini nalang!

Way magmahay ani, bwahaha.

Quote from: hubag bohol on November 23, 2009, 09:20:35 AM
Way magmahay ani, bwahaha.

Para nako, ang tanan nalang unta nga na nominate mauy ginganlan ug Hero of the Year, kay ang ilang pagtabang dili man tungod sa competition.

Quote from: nat-cast on November 23, 2009, 08:52:57 AM
your truely a filipino hero efren congrats and mabuhay ka! we are all proud of you

dili lang kay Filipino, bai NatC...kini si Efren mauy tinuod nga tawo.

glad he won, i voted him twice ja²

  bravo !

http://edition.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/us/2009/11/22/cnnheroes.hero.of.the.year.cnn.html

This is really heartwarming!

Maayo nga mensahe gikan sa lahi nga forum. I-share lang sab nako diri:


You can’t be proud enough! He is not Manny Pacquiao. He is Efren Peñaflorida. He may not be the King of the ring like Manny Pacquiao but he fights with a heart, determination, grit, dignity and love for his Kabayan.

Manny may have fought for the country, as he claimed but, that’s too far to compare to what Efren did. While Manny fights for big money and fame, Efren fights the most devastating of foes, IGNORANCE.

While Manny inspires Pinoy while accomplishing the insurmountable task of winning in the ring where material benefits goes to his pockets, Efren not only inspire, he educates young people, he pulls and raise them up from the morass. He helps them to be a better Pinoy with no material benefits in return.

Efren Penaflorida INSPIRES people not to be famous and rich instead he gives our poor kababayans the CHANCE, the HOPE and the LIGHT to help them get out of darkness called Ignorance. He EMPOWERS them.

Manny Pacquiao’s legacy may last forever and boxing history books will be full of it but, Efren Penaflorida’s legacy is written on the hearts and minds of those poor Pinoy kids he helped.

And heaven knows which legacy is far more important and worthy of great praises.

Mabuhay ka Efren. You are truly and definitely Pinoy!

Daghan sila gi awardan sa CNN pero siya lang ang filipino. Nakahilak ko nagtan aw labi na pagsaka niya sa stage unya nakabarong unya undanon kaayo iyang speech bisan mubo ra. Ingkalit ra ug pangatagak ahong luha.Gihatagan pud niya si Eva Mendez ug souvenir nga replica sa iyang kariton. Ganahan sad ko sa black hero nga giawardan tungod sa iyang pagtabang sa mga homeless nga veterans.