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Vote for Efren Penaflorida as CNN Hero of the Year

Oct 6, 2009 13:44

Many ordinary Filipinos have become heroes in the past two weeks, helping the victims of tropical storm Ondoy (international codename: Ketsana). We won't be able to name them all, but to celebrate the spirit of Philippine heroism and inspire our countrymen, I hope Filipino Internet users can unite and vote for the Philippines' Efren Peñaflorida as CNN Hero of the Year.

Here's an excerpt from the CNN feature that shares Peñaflorida's remarkable story.

"Gang members are groomed in the slums as early as 9 years old," says Peñaflorida. "They are all victims of poverty."

For the past 12 years, Peñaflorida and his team of teen volunteers have taught basic reading and writing to children living on the streets. Their main tool: A pushcart classroom.

Stocked with books, pens, tables and chairs, his Dynamic Teen Company recreates a school setting in unconventional locations such as the cemetery and municipal trash dump.

Peñaflorida knows first-hand the adversity faced by these children. Born into a poor family, he lived in a shanty near the city dump site. But he says he refused to allow his circumstances to define his future.

Even as Filipinos were using Twitter, Facebook and Plurk to provide information and coordinate relief efforts for the victims of Ondoy, people were also proudly sharing Peñaflorida's story and encouraging their friends to vote for him. Filipinos are also blogging about him, as you can see from this post on Our Awesome Planet.

Vote for Efren Peñaflorida and help spread the word!

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