Pinoy Included In Top 10 CNN Heroes – Vote for Efren Penaflorida

Ordinary People making Extraordinary Impact

With ten days left before final judging on November 19, all Filipinos worldwide are being urged to vote online for our countryman Efren “Kuya Ef” Penaflorida Jr. in the search for “Hero of the Year” being conducted by the international news channel Cable News Network (CNN).

Driven by strong desire to help educate the marginalized youth, Efren with his pushcart classroom “Kariton Klasrum” taught basic literacy skills, values formation and even personal hygiene to street children and out-of-school youths of Cavite and Metro Manila. Through his own simple means and with a very limited resources, Kuya Ef formed the Dynamic Teen Company and together have managed to touch the lives of more than 1,500 Filipino children living in the slums of the city. “They need education to be successful in life. It’s just giving them what others gave to me,” he says.

Earlier, Philippine Ambassador to the United States Willy Gaa also asked Filipinos to vote for Efren. “Efren serves as a champion to the marginalized youth. He has gone a long way with his pushcart classroom and we know that he can go even further if chosen as this year’s ‘Hero of the Year,’” Gaa said on local newspapers.

CNN Heroes – Voting and Selection Process

CNN Heroes Awards Program was organized by the Cable News Network (CNN) which started accepting nominees since January 1, 2009. The network’s Blue Ribbon Panel reviewed 9,000 nominees from over 100 countries and soon narrowed down to 28 candidates. CNN announced its top 10 finalists for its Hero of the Year on October 1 (October 2 in Manila) where Efren Peñaflorida was made it in the cut. The 10 Finalists will each receive Twenty-five Thousand US Dollars ($25,000.00) as cash prize.

The final round of judging will be done by an online viewer vote conducted on www.cnn.com/heroes which will last until Thursday, November 19. 2009 (6 am ET). The Grand Winner will receive One Hundred Thousand US Dollars ($100,000.00).

About Dynamic Teen Company

The Dynamic Teen Company (DTC) was formed by Efren in 1997 in Cavite which primarily aims to uplift the lives of impoverished children in the Philippines through education. Armed with only a pushcart full of books and other educational materials, DTC brings the classroom to children and educate in unconventional locations such as slum areas, dump sites and even in the cemetery.

Aside from teaching literacy, the group also conducts feeding programs for abandoned street kids who scavenge for food by sifting through heaps of garbage. Through his group, Peñaflorida has successfully mentored former gang members, addicts and dropouts, seeing potential where others see problems.

Efren showed us that even one person’s simple but selfless act coupled with determination can make a big difference. So it’s now time for us to put in our contributions in building a brighter future for our community. As Efren puts it, “I always tell my volunteers that you are the change that you dream and I am the change that I dream. And collectively we are the change that this world needs to be.”  So vote for your favorite “Hero of the Year” now and help make a difference in our country and the world we live in.

To vote for Efren, kindly click on the image below.

Also make sure that you have watch his video in our home page…
 

2009 CNN Heroes – Top 10 Finalist

- This portion was taken from CNN.com/Heroes

CHAMPIONING CHILDREN - Commitment to the welfare of young people

Efren 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.

Brad Blauser is providing hope and mobility to disabled children and their families in Iraq. Since 2005, his Wheelchairs for Iraqi Kids program has distributed nearly 650 free pediatric wheelchairs to children in need.

Derrick Tabb started The Roots of Music to give young people an alternative to New Orleans’ streets. His music education program provides free tutoring, instruments and music instruction to more than 100 students.

Budi Soehardi founded a children’s home in one of the poorest areas of Indonesia. Today, Roslin Orphanage in West Timor provides food, shelter and education to more than 45 children.

COMMUNITY CRUSADER – Creating solutions to a local problem or social issue

Army veteran Roy Foster started Stand Down House to help veterans struggling with addiction and homelessness in Florida. Since 2000, his program has provided life-changing services to nearly 900 veterans.

School bus driver Jorge Munoz is helping hungry New Yorkers make it through tough times. Since 2004, he has handed out more than 70,000 meals from his mobile soup kitchen in Queens — for free.

Bartender Doc Hendley is providing clean water to communities worldwide. Through creative fundraising, his nonprofit Wine to Water has brought sustainable water systems to 25,000 people in five countries.

DEFENDING THE PLANET – Innovative efforts to preserve and protect the environment

(No Nominees in this category to make it in Top 10 CNN Heroes)

MEDICAL MARVEL – Dedication to the enhancement of human health

Breast cancer survivor Andrea Ivory is bringing early detection to the doorsteps of uninsured women. With mobile mammography vans, her group has provided more than 500 free screenings in Miami, Florida.

PROTECTING THE POWERLESS – Advancing the cause of human or equal rights

Zimbabwe native Betty Makoni founded the Girl Child Network to provide a haven for young victims of sexual abuse. The organization has rescued more than 35,000 girls since 2001.

YOUNG WONDER – Outstanding achievement by a person 25 or under

Jordan Thomas, 20, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, lost both of his legs in a boating accident in 2005. Since then, his Jordan Thomas Foundation has raised more than $400,000 to provide prosthetics for children in need.

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