'Vote for Pinoy as CNN Hero'

WASHINGTON – Philippine Ambassador Willy Gaa has urged the Filipino community in the United States to vote online for fellow Pinoy Efren Peñaflorida Jr., one of the 10 finalists of CNN’s “Hero of the Year” award which carries a $100,000 cash prize.

Gaa lauded Peñaflorida for championing impoverished children in the Philippines and inspiring them to become dynamic members of society through education.

“Efren has proved that one person with determination and selflessness can touch the lives of many and make a difference in the world,“ Gaa said.

Peñaflorida, a resident of Cavite, founded Dynamic Teen Company 12 years ago when he was just 16 years old, out of growing concern for poor and unschooled children in his hometown.

He envisioned this organization as a tool to help and reach underserved Filipino children by providing free tutorial.

Together with its network of volunteers, Dynamic Teen Company helps keep kids off the streets through education in Cavite. Using pushcarts filled with books, pens and tables and chairs, they transform places such as cemeteries and dumps into classrooms. 

Peñaflorida was picked by a blue ribbon judging committee as one of the finalists out of a pool of nearly 9,000 nominations from across the world.