Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

LOS ANGELES – CNN has named Filipino Efren Peñaflorida its ‘2009 Hero of the Year.’

Penaflorida, a social worker and educator in the Philippines, won the award for his work with Filipino youth by using a pushcart.

"It’s overwhelming. I can’t explain it," said Peñaflorida in an interview with the Asian Journal the day after the award ceremony. "This is not just for me. It’s for all of the volunteers and everyone [who is] part of Dynamic. It’s a great blessing for us. It reaffirms that what we’re doing is right."

Peñaflorida received the award at the CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood last Saturday, November 21.

"Our planet is filled with heroes, young and old, rich and poor, man, woman of different colors, shapes and 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 to the next one in need," said an emotional Peñaflorida, who was wearing a traditional barong and carrying a small Philippine flag, during his acceptance speech.

"So to each and every person inside in this theater and for those who are watching at home, the hero in you is waiting to be unleashed," he added. "Serve, serve well, serve others above yourself and be happy to serve. As I always tell to my co-volunteers of the Dynamic Teen Company you are the change that you dream as I am the change that I dream and collectively, we are the change that this world needs to be."

Peñaflorida is the first Filipino to be nominated for the annual CNN Heroes awards and the first to Filipino to win the top prize.

Before announcing the winner of the award, CNN 360 Host Anderson Cooper gave this message of hope, "we are all reminded that everyday people can change this world…"

And Peñaflorida says he is one of those "everyday" people. He considers himself as an ordinary person just wanting to help the wayward and underprivileged youth in the Philippines.

"This [award] is not something we expected. This was not part of our plan," he said. "Our goal is to just help the kids and to introduce teenagers to education, self understanding and have an alternative to gangs and teen violence. They have a choice of making a difference in a positive way."

The 28-year-old Peñaflorida is the founder of the Dynamic Teen Company in which he offers Filipino youth an alternative to gangs through education.

According to the Preda Foundation, a local human rights charity, there is an estimated 130,000 teenagers who are members of gangs in the Philippines.