(CNN) -- Efren Peñaflorida, who started a "pushcart classroom" in the Philippines to bring education to poor children as an alternative to gang membership, has been named the 2009 CNN Hero of the Year.
CNN's Anderson Cooper revealed Peñaflorida's selection at the conclusion of the third-annual "CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute" at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood on Saturday night.
The gala event, taped before an audience of 3,000 at the Kodak Theatre, premieres on Thanksgiving, November 26, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on the global networks of CNN.
The broadcast, which honors the top 10 CNN Heroes of 2009, features performances by Grammy Award-winning artist Carrie Underwood, R&B crooner Maxwell and British pop sensation Leona Lewis.
Peñaflorida, who will receive $100,000 to continue his work with the Dynamic Teen Company, was selected after seven weeks of online voting at CNN.com. More than 2.75 million votes were cast.
"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," Peñaflorida said upon accepting the honor. "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 top 10 CNN Heroes, chosen by a blue-ribbon panel from an initial pool of more than 9,000 viewer nominations, were each honored with a documentary tribute and introduced by a celebrity presenter. Each of the top 10 Heroes receives $25,000.
"With the recognition they receive on our stage," said Cooper, who hosted the tribute, "they'll be able to help thousands and thousands of people. Through their efforts, lives will be changed and lives will be saved."
Maxwell sang "Help Somebody" from his first album in eight years, 'BLACKsummers'night.'
Lewis, a three-time Grammy nominee, performed "Happy," from her second album, "Echo."
All three performances echoed the spirit of the CNN Heroes campaign, which salutes everyday people whose extraordinary accomplishments are making a difference in their communities and beyond.
Presenters included Nicole Kidman, Kate Hudson, Neil Patrick Harris, Pierce Brosnan, Dwayne Johnson, Eva Mendes, Randy Jackson, Greg Kinnear, George Lopez and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
"This record number of nominations is further evidence of the momentum CNN Heroes has built in just a few short years," said Jim Walton, president of CNN Worldwide.
Serve, serve well, serve others above yourself and be happy to serve.
"Viewers have been engaged by these stories of inspiration and accomplishment beyond our expectations. It is truly an honor to be able to introduce the CNN Heroes to our global audience every year."
Again this year, producer/director Joel Gallen served as executive producer of "CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute." Among his credits, Gallen produced telethon events supporting victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks and Hurricane Katrina, winning an Emmy Award and a Peabody Award for "America: A Tribute to Heroes."
proud pinoy,,congrats!
ReplyDeletewatch nyo sa youtube or sa
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/11/16/cnnheroes.tribute.show/index.html
galing,,,bstat pinoy
Hey Efren Penaflorida,
ReplyDeleteIt really touched me very deeply when I happened to read the news column this morning on your selection as a CNN Hero for an unselfish cause. You are really a Hero and you deserve it. I do not think those celebrities, rich people and those identities which have famed your country in national or international arenas are actual Heroes. And I do not think your Manny who won recently 7 different boxing titles is a Hero of Philippines too. What is the use of being billionaires or elebrities who have famed to your country and earned a lots of money when most of people are still deprived of most fundamental needs i.e. dying of hunger, no shelter, no clothing, no education etc. Until and unless these fundamental needs are not fulfilled or the people are hungry; people do not have shelters; people are dying of unnatural deaths; people do not have proper education, I think these efforts to make fame to your country is futile and merely a self-exposition.
During my stay in Philippines, I have read many news of natural catastrophes that killed a scores of people, but all were slump/poor people and why not the rich people. Isn't it all because of differences of poor and rich, that poor cannot afford to buy lots & houses in safe places whereas the rich people can do it. News columns, as I could not find, were also silence to publish any news on any notable donation to those victims since there was no any open-hearted donor from those so-called rich people or celebrities. Are they really deserved to be called the Heroes of your country, Philippines?
If the people in this world wish to donate even less than 1% from what they can earned or wish to volunteer like you, I think the picture of this world would be like a Heaven.
I am sorry that I am not fully satisfied with what I have tried to express my feeling in this column. Anyway, I wish for your every success in your unselfish effort. Get going with your holy mission. God will be always with you.
Wellwisher
Thank you efren! You made us Filipinos proud once more, your life serves as an example to many ordinary people like us that lack of money is not an hindrance for us to make a difference in the world we live in. Our nation needs unselfish people like you, keep it up and surely God will continually bless you.
ReplyDeleteTo Wellwisher:
ReplyDeleteFirst, I agree with everything you say but I must disagree at some of your points. Manny Pacquia is quite a hero in the Philippines, well loved and respected because he is a man who was very poor but rose up to be the boxer that he is today because of skill and also being well connected.
But one thing I must say this because I know from close filipino friends of mine that Manny Pacquiao, a billionaire in Philippines, yes, gives plenty of his money away. Recently from what I've heard, Pacquiao has used his money to create a huge mall in the PHilippines in which the people who will work are from a certain poor neighborhood. I know that there are much more philanthropic things he is doing, but since I can't remember all of them, you can look it up for yourself.
The Philippines is a complicated country and poverty is constant everywhere. Its a country where there is a very, very small middle class but mostly classes between the haves and the have not's. Corruption is rampant, but kept quietly, like a secret, because corruption itself is known. I know this personally because I am partly filipino and relatives will talk about this topic frequently.
What we can do as people, like Mr. Penaflorida, is to help and love another. If the philippine government, the rich, and celebrities act like they are indifferent, then let them be. But what is most important is that we take a stand for injustice and live selflessly and lovingly just like Jesus has. Let us model our lives like Him.
God Bless and take care!