The Philippine Online Chronicles

Filipino educator Efren Peñaflorida is CNN’s 2009 Hero of the Year. Peñaflorida, who was cited for his alternative education endeavor Kariton Klasrum, was awarded the honor during the gala event "CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute" at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood on the evening of Saturday, 22 November 2009, inquirer.net reported.

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

CNN said on its website: “Peñaflorida gives Filipino youth an alternative to gang membership through education. His Dynamic Teen Company’s 10,000 members have taught basic reading and writing to 1,500 kids living in the slums.”

In his acceptance speech, Penaflorida said, "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." He added, "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," Yahoo news posted.

‘Kuya Ef,’ as he is called by his students, bested nine other nominees from different countries for the coveted 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, a report posted.

The 28-year-old Peñaflorida, who hails from Cavite, will receive $100,000 from CNN. He said he will donate his winnings to the children helped by Dynamic Teen Company.

According to CNN, more than 2.75 million votes were cast during the seven-week online voting that started last October.

The awarding ceremonies will air on November 26 at 9 p.m. over CNN's global network.

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