Home » The Feed » Efren Peñaflorida wins CNN Hero of the Year

Efren Peñaflorida wins CNN Hero of the Year

Published: Nov 22, 2009 - 5:57pm

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"Street educator" Efren Peñaflorida of the Philippines, who provides  education to underprivileged children by using  kariton classrooms  has been named  2009 CNN Hero of the Year, reports CNN.com. Through CNN's online competition that garnered over  2.75 million votes,  Peñaflorida bested ten finalists chosen from 9,000 nominees from all over the world.

Peñaflorida won $100,000 which he will use for his work with the  Dynamic Teen Company (DTC), an organization he put up to help change the lives of slum-dwelling children by  diverting their attention from violent gangs and fraternities to education,  community service and talent development.

CNN anchor Anderson Cooper announced Peñaflorida's win at the star-studded "CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute" gala at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood the night of November 21.

In his acceptance speech, Peñaflorida, who wore a Barong Tagalog with the Philippine map embroidered on his chest (designed by Rhett Eala for C2) 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."

The event will be aired on CNN  Tribute at 0200 GMT, November 27 (9  p.m. ET/PT November 26).


 
 
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  • Leftyleisupergodtheftthorzeus 11 months ago Reply Report Abuse
       
    Wow he is so heroic!
  • wenna rose Caballero Dec 01 2009 @ 04:13pm Reply Report Abuse
       
    Wow ....your great Kuya Efren! please continue helping the poor children. you are the pride of FIlipino,after cory aquino ikaw naman ang sumunod.Ang tunay na HERO ay talagang nasa iy0.
  • Sandra Nov 30 2009 @ 12:33pm Reply Report Abuse
       
    Bakit silang lahat naka Collezione shirt?
  • daniella Nov 29 2009 @ 10:28am Reply Report Abuse
       
    nice work efren
  • tom basa Nov 24 2009 @ 06:29pm Reply Report Abuse
       
    ganyan ang pinoy sana po sa mga politiko ay mag silbing gabay sa inyo c kuya efren galing po ng pinoy more power kuya efren. ganyan po sana kahit d na maka abot sa CNN,kahit sa anmang dako ng polo may iisang katulad pa sa kanya,
  • platinumangel Nov 24 2009 @ 11:27am Reply Report Abuse
       
    Indeed, good things happen to good people. Congratulations to Efren!!!
  • Tate Nov 24 2009 @ 10:25am Reply Report Abuse
       
    Congratulations to Efren and to all the heroes around the world.
  • Mr. Condom Nov 24 2009 @ 10:13am Reply Report Abuse
       
    I hope the 10% which Efren will give to the Church will not be used against reproductive rights or else we need more Efrens to educate more and more unwanted children.
  • Iboto Mo Nov 24 2009 @ 02:37am Reply Report Abuse
       
    Mahilig din naman tayo sa botohan, ituloy na natin ang bayanihan spirit ng botohan para sa Wonder of the World. Kailangan ang tulong ng lahat para maipasok ang Palawan Underground River.

    http://www.vote7.com/n7w
  • annery10 Nov 24 2009 @ 01:50am Reply Report Abuse
       
    Mabuhay ka Efren!! isa kang tunay na bayani!!ipinagmamalaki ka naming lahat!!
  • Cavite Boy Nov 24 2009 @ 01:16am Reply Report Abuse
       
    Watch the Revillas and the Remullas of Cavite share in the glory. Politicians OUT!!!
  • Gingerbreadman Nov 24 2009 @ 12:53am Reply Report Abuse
       
    i completely agree with Gabriela Silang, ang participative natin sa mga online voting, pero we disregard/forget the essence behind it. i remember meron online voting for the new wonders of the world, sana alam natin kung ano talaga ang purpose ng online voting na yun at di lang tayo vote gn vote dahil inaraw-araw ng media ang pangungulit sa 'tin to vote for our entries.

    just to add: can we refrain from joining the Guiness World Records stuff na kung ano na lang gagawin natin para lang malagay tayo sa mga world records. let's opt for more socially-relevant endeavors!
  • kaka Nov 23 2009 @ 04:53pm Reply Report Abuse
       
    hindi nga dapat ihambing si efren kahit kanino, iba ang interes niya,

    ang hirap at pagod ay kanyang binabata,
    sa ikabubuti lamang ng mga bata. kahit walang yaman, kahit isang dukha, taos puso parin ang pagtulong sa kapwa.

    thanks efren, u made waking tall again
  • lionheart Nov 23 2009 @ 04:34pm Reply Report Abuse
       
    matinding sampal ito sa mga liderato ng bansa na nagbubulagbulagan lamang sa mga pangangailangan ng mamamayan.
  • ria Nov 23 2009 @ 04:12pm Reply Report Abuse
       
    i agree with jsgutz...efren is a selfless person na mas inuuna ang kapwa kesa sa sarili..he is the real hero.. not manny pacquio..
  • edwin gonda Nov 23 2009 @ 01:39pm Reply Report Abuse
       
    I am happy and proud of Efren's achievement and what he continues to do. I was so touched and I cried when I saw the picture of him and his kariton. So humble and yet so noble and great. How I wish meron din Pay per view earnings ang mga "dakilang" tao tulad ni Efren. I hope he continues his noble work and continues to inspire more people to become heroes in their own little way. Ur great efren.
  • jsgutz Nov 23 2009 @ 07:43am Reply Report Abuse
       
    Mabuhay ka Efren!

    Isa kang tunay na bayani ng ating panahon.

    Hindi ka dapat ihambing kina Arnel, Charice at Manny sa kadahilanang habang sila ay sumisikat sa buong mundo, patuloy naman silang yumayaman, samantalang ikaw, ang grant na ibinigay sa iyo ng CNN, ay mapupunta pa rin sa pagpapatuloy ng iyong napakagandang adhikain at hindi para sa sarili mo.

    Ikaw ang tunay na bayani...

    God bless and more power to you Efren!

    Mabuhay!
  • pussy_angel09 Nov 23 2009 @ 02:47am Reply Report Abuse
       
    following the honor that manny pacquiao brought for the Filipino people…here is another hero emerging from the Philippines…tunay nga naman na di nagpapahuli ang mga PILIPINO! hope to see you again here in Davao kuya Efren!God bless and more power! yan ang new breed of leaders na kailangan ng bansa...aja!
  • pussy_angel09 Nov 23 2009 @ 02:44am Reply Report Abuse
       
    after the honor that manny pacquiao...here is another hero emerging from the Philippines...tunay nga naman na di nagpapahuli ang mga PILIPINO! hope to see again here in Davao kuya Efren!
  • igeramos Nov 23 2009 @ 12:09am Reply Report Abuse
       
    He delivered one of the best speeches I've heard. Walang turuan, walang sisihan, it was simple, elegant and sincere.
    http://edition.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/11/16/cnnheroes.tribute.show/index.html
  • Gabriela Silang Nov 22 2009 @ 11:43pm Reply Report Abuse
       
    This is the other side of our "damaged culture". Name any online voting, we get it (like Ms. Universe Photogenic). Let us all be agents of change. It is time for us to identify the best of the world within us. Yes, there is Efren, Arnel, and Charice but it took a foreigner or a foreign based organization to notice them. Why not us? Kaya natin ito.
  • Juan Makabayan Nov 22 2009 @ 11:11pm Reply Report Abuse
       
    Mga Kababayan, nakita na po ninyo ang epekto kapag tayo ay nagsasama sama. Naipanalo natin sa botohan si Efren. This is true bayanihan spirit. Hindi lang yan, talaga namang mahusay ang kanyang adhikain. There will be more Efrens, Arnels, Charices, Mannys in the Philippines. Now that we get the attention of the world, it is time to refrain or avoid throwing mud at our own country. At the end of the day, tayo pa rin ang magsasama sama kahit pa nasa Pilipinas o nasa ibang bansa tayo. Mabuhay ang Pilipino!
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