From 9000 entries, down to 10, the Philippines’ own Efren Peñaflorida is named CNN Hero of the Year. Now, the Kariton Klassroom educator-initiator just hobnobbed with the likes of the broadcasting giant’s Anderson Cooper, the latter having hosted the awards gala.
At 28 years old, the Cavite-native almost single-handedly, changed the lives of many of his town’s street children who cannot afford formal education. Peñaflorida’s efforts have given them a chance to make something of themselves.
The Kariton Klassroom, (call it alternative) started its outreach in 1997. The project has since educated more than 1,500 children.
For his efforts, Peñaflorida was awarded US$100,000 in cash, in addition to the US$25,000 finalists prize.
“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,” said the new CNN Hero of the Year in acceptance of the award. “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,” he told the Philippine Star.
Peñaflorida already knows how to allocate his cash prize. The Dynamic Teen Company, the foundation by which Kariton Klassroom operates, will benefit from 90% of the cash award. The remaining amount goes to the Church.
As soon as Peñaflorida was named as one of the ten CNN Heroes to vie for the Hero of the Year, he received the backing of Bates 141 and the Philippine Design Movement. Bates 141 organized a benefit show featuring ad agency rock bands, the proceeds of which went to calamity victims that Peñaflorida was assisting. Headed by Jowee Alviar, the Philippine Design Movement created digital posters and banners fpr Peñaflorida’s cause which netizens could share on Facebook or on their blogs.
