Efren Penaflorida makes a difference

Another Filipino makes us proud.

Efren Penaflorida made it to the top ten for CNN’s “Hero of the Year” Award. The winner gets US$100,000 top prize money! Efren was among the thousands of nominees. Yup, thousands from across the globe.

Efren’s growing recognition and respect has been brought about by the mobile school program. Here, our 28-year old Filipino and his “Dynamic Teen” goes to the rural areas to help improve the lives of kids through education. For nearly 12 years, he and his team has made their presence felt in the lives of nearly 1,500 young kids who have learned how to read and write, and appreciate numbers.

According to an interview published in the online-edition of the Asian Journal, Efren says, "We should all start the change from within. All of us, we should open our minds and hearts to accommodate to the needs of the less fortunate and release the hero within.” While Efren considers it a great honor to be regarded as a modern-day hero, he believes that no one is too ordinary to be heroes. “We are all capable of contributing to our community and to our country."

Efren has already been featured in the “Ako Mismo” advocacy campaign together with respected Filipinos like Ely Buendia and Charice Pempengco.

He needs our help. Let us vote for him, by simply following this CNN link.

The CNN Hero of the Year will be announced and awarded soon in a program at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles. Last day of voting is on November 19, 2009!

He has been on the streets helping many young, impoverished kids learn. Now, it’s our turn to help him so he could help more kids. Can you imagine how much books and learning materials US$100,000 can bring to Filipino kids?

We all can make a difference in the lives of others and we can help make that difference by voting for Efren Penaflorida and his mobile school program.