A Filipino is CNN Hero of the year 2009

CNN Hero 2009, Efren Peñaflorida, a public teacher in Cavite, Philippines thanks everybody and feel honored to get the award he is holding in his right hand and in his left hand lifting up his mini-kariton escuela or pushcart classroom with proud and gladness. Thinking, this is it! (:Michael Jackson would have been glad too:) A copy of my pushcart classroom in my hand, I use daily to help children who could not afford to go to school, learn everything from the start, including good nutrition, good hygiene, first-aid treatment, good conduct, respect to one another and older people, going to church, be good children. Behind him is Anderson Cooper from CNN and the host of CNN Heroes 2009.
This is an interview with Efren Peñaflorida at CNN American Morning News with Christine Romans, after the award ceremony at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, in Los Angeles, Saturady night. Nice polo-shirt you have with Philippines on it, as well as in your Barong Tagalog, during the gala night. USA and the whole world watched you and your nine contenders!

The important event was broadcast in Norway, November 27 on the global networks of CNN. I was very excited to see & listen to the hero whom I voted, and the hollywood star Eva Mendes is about to present when suddenly CNN Breaking News came up because the world´s no.1 Golf player, Tiger Woods has been in a car accident. He was sent to the hospital and was sent home hours later with minor injuries. Get well soon Tiger Woods. You are my favorite golf player. Looking forward to see Tiger Woods on golf tour again. I´m glad that he is not badly hurt. And I was able to see the replay of CNN Heroes today, Nov. 28, Saturday.

During the gala night, the TOP 10 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 receives $25,000.

The All-Star Tribute and presenters are Nicole Kidman, Kate Hudson, Neil Patrick Harris, Pierce Brosnan, Dwayne Johnson, Eva Mendes, Randy Jackson, Greg Kinnear, George Lopez and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Featured performances by Grammy Award-winning artist Carrie Underwood, R&B crooner Maxwell and British pop sensation Leona Lewis.

For bringing education to poor Filipino children through his "Kariton or Pushcart Classroom", Filipino Efren Peñaflorida has been awarded the 2009 CNN HERO of the Year at the conclusion of "CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute" at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood on Saturday night.

According to CNN website, Efren Peñaflorida has been selected after getting the highest number of online votes. More than 2.75 million votes were cast in 7 weeks.

He bested 9 other contenders from different countries. Hollywood star Eva Mendes presented him and his story. While CNN´s Anderson Cooper, the host who presented all stars on the 3rd-annual "CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute" and the winner of the TOP 10 CNN Heroes 2009 who is Efren Peñaflorida, a public teacher in Cavite in Philippines, a tutor, an educator for poor children using a pushcart daily with blackboard & chalks, books, school items, songs, food, medicine, and so on.

Peñaflorida, also received $100,000 to continue his work with his group, Dynamic Teen Company and Club 8586. The award is on top of the $25,000 he got after his name was included on the TOP 10 CNN Heroes of the Year.

Clearly overwhelmed and happy at the same time, Efren Peñaflorida got tears in his eyes and had to breathe deeply before he thanks CNN, the presenters and celebrities, people in the audience, all the viewers and to those who voted him.

-"Our planet is filled with heroes, young and old, rich and poor, man, woman of different colors, sizes. We are one great tapestry". "Each person has a hidden hero within, you just have to look inside you and search it in your heart, and be the hero of the next one in need." - said Peñaflorida. He added a good advice to all children, -"embrace learning for learning will embrace you back." Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

Sa ngalan ng aking mga mahal na pamilya, Ako´y natutuwa at ikaw Efren Peñaflorida ay nanalo at nabigyan ng titulo CNN Hero 2009. Ibinoto ka namin na nakatira sa 4 na bansa hanggang sa huling araw, the last day to vote was November 19. Salamat at narinig ng Panginoong Diyos ang aking panalangin. Alam ko na kailangan ng bansang Pilipinas ang katulad mo, bayani ng mga batang nangangailangan ng tulong at ng buong Pilipinas. Mabuhay ang bagong Bayani ng Pilipinas! Congratulations to you. And to the Philippines for having someone like you. God bless you all. (:

- the masoria papers