MANILA, Philippines—Efren Penaflorida, the educator who was named 2009 CNN Hero of the Year for initiating a “pushcart classroom” to indigent children, will be feted to hero’s welcome when he returns to the country.
The 28-year-old Penaflorida will be conferred the Order of Lakandula in Malacanang in ceremonies to be led by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, according to Palace deputy spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo.
The same recognition was given to boxing champion Manny Pacquiao two years ago.
“We would like to congratulate him and we would like him to know that we are very proud of him,” Fajardo said on Monday’s news briefing in Malacanang aired live over government’s Radyo ng Bayan.
She said the Department of Education should draw inspiration from Penaflorida on how it can work with other philanthropists implementing similar programs for the poor.
“The DepEd gets the biggest budget every year. Itong ginagawa niya ay isang magandang ehemplo para sa pribadong sector at sa government (What he does is a good example for the private sector and the government),” she said.
Fajardo said it was good that Penaflorida and other groups complement what the government could not do for the education sector.
Asked if the government was willing to extend financial support to the educator to expand his program, Fajardo said, “Of course. Una, nakita natin iyong effectivity ng ginagawa niya so maaaring tingnan ng DepEd, pero palagay ko yong (First we see the effectivity of what he does, so the DepEd may look at his program, but I think the) $100,000 will really go a long way.”
The government has existing programs which can complement Penaflorida’s kariton classroom, she stressed.
Bayan Muna party-list Representative Satur Ocampo hailed Penaflorida for his advocacy and for the recognition, saying this is a “victory of hope against hopelessness, concern against indifference, and determination against inaction.”
"At a time when so much is going wrong in this country and there is a tragic dearth of role models, Peñaflorida and his pushcart school have shown that there is hope. This young man is an inspiration to everyone that they can make a difference in the lives of so many others. He has proven that even the most humble of efforts, when done sincerely and with the goal of helping others, can go a long, long way," Ocampo said.
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