Efren Peñaflorida and the 17th Educ Summit

2009 CNN Hero of the Year, Efren Peñaflorida, at the
17th Educ Summit

Attended the 17th Educ Summit last May 9 hosted by the pioneering IT system integrator in Cebu, Ng Khai Development Corp. I am a HannDs-On-Mama (do not take this literally, read my definition in my first ever blog entry) but I also value my being a working professional. To me, it is necessary so that I am able to define myself further.

When we got there, the emcee announced the next speaker and I was pleasantly surprised when she called out 2009 CNN Hero of the Year, Efren Peñaflorida. Since I was there for business, I really didn't get the chance to sit down and listen to him talk. As I was about to, I was ushered to meet some principals and guests instead and all I could hear were snippets of Efren's speech and videos. 

The few snippets I picked up were how as a boy he has observed that education among his peers was becoming the least priority because they were more excited to be in a street gang. There was also a video shown during his speech featuring a young boy who was poverty-stricken but rose to this challenge and eventually received awards for overcoming his circumstance. 

The story of this boy is not far from Efren's who as a child lived in slums, bullied but still championed education. But his poignant heroic mark was defined when he elevated his goals for education beyond himself and extended it to others. 

At an age where a typical teenager would mostly spend time in the malls or play video games, FB was still non-existent during his time, he founded the Dynamic Teen Company, which offers education in "unconventional locations such as cemeteries and trash dump sites " and unconventional means with the use of a "kariton" or the Filipino push cart. 

Efren in action with his "Kariton Klasrum" (Pushcart Classroom)
*. photo courtesy of CNN

Efren the Educator-Hero
*. photo courtesy of ficariv.com

In my very rushed moment of listening to Efren, I wondered about his mother (parents) and how I would love to meet her (them) and tell her "great job" for raising such a man; but mostly, I was just basking in the inspiration and resilient spirit that Efren embodies. I can only hope and pray that, together with my husband, we will be able to raise our children with the same values, valor and passion. 

I never really care for pictures with celebrities but I was the first in line to have our picture taken with a real-life hero.

Efren flanked by myself on the left and Elsie Ababon