Last Sunday, a full page article on Efren Penaflorida appeared in Saudi Arabia's Pinoy Xtra, a weekly Tagalog newsmagazine of Arab News.


The article was written by Edwin P Santos for Pinoy Xtra.

Last Saturday, I saw a program over at CNN highlighting the nominees for their 2009 CNN Heroes where Efren is one of the frontrunners. All the ten nominees are, in wont of words, heroic in their deeds. All of them are, in reality, victims. But instead of wallowing in self-pity and helplessness, they made use of their circumstances and experience to better the lives of others.

For championing the children:
Efren Peñaflorida is from a poor family who finished his education through other people's help; via his 'kariton klasrum', he is now helping educate poor children -- for free!

For protecting the powerless:
Betty Makoni was a rape victim and now helps rape victims in Africa to rise up from their experience.

For being a young wonder:
Jordan Thomas had an accident and his legs amputated, and is now helping out children amputees.

It is heartwarming and spiritually lifting to see and learn from the extraordinary feats of these ten ordinary people.

And to all of them, congratulations.

I hope Efren wins, but in case he doesn't, he will remain a winner -- and a hero -- to me.

Voting continues until Thursday, November 19, 2009. Announcement of winner will be shown live all over the world via CNN Channel on 26 November 2009 at 9pm (that will be 27 November at 8 in the morning, Saudi time).