Our Cnn Hero

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For Efren Peñaflorida, there is no obstacle to education. No required place and age for learning. Education is a right and sharing to the needy is a responsibility.

Efren Peñaflorida was recently awarded by the CNN a very prestigious honor in recognition of his effort of educating street children in his place. The walls of the vacant cemeteries and gutter of the sidewalks served as his monumental witnesses in teaching the street children, loitering around the city of Cavite. With some of his friends and improvised pushcart that serves as their walking library, all the donated books and educational materials were carried into it, anywhere they would go around the city during Saturdays and Sundays, sometimes during regular days of the week, with street children as their willing students.

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This noble gesture of Efren and his group was done unnoticed by the local authorities. Not expecting any recognition, if not compensation or any form of reward, Efren , silently continued his mission to reach out as many souls he could in the spirit of sharing his talent to the needy. Financially unable to support the needed educational materials, however, this did not stop Efren and his group to continue teaching the basics of education to the street children around the corners. Usually, Efren, would gather this youngsters to any vacant lot they could use as or even cemetery lobby to serve as their educational center. Years had passed, but Efren’s mission did not stop in spite of his limitations.

Just this month of November, from several dozens of candidates, worldwide, Efren Peñaflorida was given his due recognition by CNN. His effort was finally rewarded. His labor did not go unnoticed. Although, at first instance, the recognition, being little bit ironic, came first from a foreign organization, instead from his very own people; however, this opened the eyes of many people, not only in the Philippines but in many parts of the world regarding the importance of education and the noble mission of sharing oneself to the needy and the uneducated., For Efren, there is no bar for one who wants to learn just like his street children students.  To you Efren, KUDOS!