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The Philippines’ very own Efren Peñaflorida, the kariton educator, has been honored the 2009 CNN hero of the year.

The recognition was given to Peñaflorida at the third annual “CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute” held at the Kodak theater in Hollywood  Saturday night. The event honoring the top 10 Heroes of 2009, featured stars and award-winning actors and actresses including, Kate Hudson, Pierce Brosnan, Neil Patrick Harris, Carrie Underwood and Leona Lewis.

After seven weeks of online voting, Peñaflorida was hailed the victor with more than 2.75 million votes.

“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,” he said upon receiving his 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.”

He also addressed the youth by saying, “My message to children of all races, please, to embrace learning and love it for it will embrace and love you back and enable you to change your world.”

He was granted US$100,000 and said in a previous interview that 90 percent of the cash incentive will be used to aid the DTC’s projects and the remaining 10 percent will go to the A Blessed Church in Cavite City.

Peñaflorida, who grew up in Cavite city, is an advocate of education. He brings education to deprived street children armed with his Kariton Klasrum and the determination to give every child the chance to be better. In 1997, he established a group that encourages children to learn instead of joining gangs and fraternities. The group is called the Dynamic Teen Company (DTC). The group brought education to children in the form of a mini-library with teaching aids carried by a kariton, thus spawning the present day Kariton Klasrum. 

Among the selected top 10 CNN Heroes with Peñaflorida are, Brad  Blauser with his Wheelchair for Iraqi Kids program; Roy Foster who provided life-changing help for almost 900 struggling homeless veterans; and Andrea Ivory, a breast cancer survivor who provides door-to-door free screening for uninsured women in Miami, Florida – By MALORIE D. MAGSUCI mb.com.ph