A Modern-day Hero
He is the founder of Dynamic Teen Company (DTC), an organization training young children to become responsible, systematic and principled.
He is one of the nominees of Global Youth Awards 2008 in the Humanos category. He is also cited as one of the 2009 CNN Heroes.
F! was born to Efren Peñaflorida Sr. and Lucila Geronimo. A middle child of a tricycle driver and a housewife, F! grew up near the city’s open dumpster where he plays, and swims in the garbage beach when he was very young.
He was featured in a World Vision, USA documentary about kids living in the worst conditions. Despite of these conditions, F! showed responsibility when their family started a noodle micro business to help make both ends meet. An intelligent student in elementary, he was given scholarship assistance by World Vision Phils.
A very studious and industrious F! was given several class honors and awards in elementary and high school. He was awarded highest honor for Associate in Computer Technology of San Sebastian College- Recoletos Batch 2000.
For several years, he’s a regular viajero of fish crackers from Baclaran to Cavite and sells these in school to be able to help his family. It has been his commitment to improve the standard of public secondary education.
He has been conducting free tutorial classes to more than 50 high school and college students for more than four years already. He is currently enrolled at Cavite State University, pursuing Secondary Education as a second course to be able for him to make more difference in the lives of other youth in the near future.
AWARDS RECEIVED
- Regional Winner, Outstanding Volunteer Awards
NEDA – 2008, Calamba, Laguna - Outstanding Caviteño in Republic Service
2008, Independence Day Celebration, Cavite - Finalist for Global Youth Awards
2008, Southhampton, UK - Official Nominee for Right Livelihood Award Foundation
2005, Stockholm, Sweden - Gawad Geny Lopez Jr. Bayaning Pilipino Regional Winner
2004, ABS-CBN Studio 1, Quezon City - Golden Anahaw Awardee as Outstanding Community Servant
2004, CAVITE STATE UNIVERSITY (CAVITE CITY CAMPUS), CvSU Campus, Cavite City - Role Model Awardee
2004, City Gov’t Award for CAVITE CITY WEEK, City Hall, Cavite City - Most Outstanding VBS Staff
1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003 , Club 8586 Center, Cavite City - Excellent Member Awardee
1997, LDES Multi-Purpose Hall, Club 8586 INC. Cavite City - Model Sunday School Student Award
1995, 1996, 1997, Club 8586 Center, Cavite City
TJ Manotoc of ABS-CBN news discussed Efren's work and heroic actions. Here is a short snippet from his article.
"An organization of young Filipinos is actively making a difference in the lives of children in depressed areas. The Dynamic Teen Company (DTC) aims to uplift the lives of underprivileged children younger than themselves through education. Armed with only a pushcart full of books and other educational materials, DTC brings the classroom to children and educate in slum areas, dumpsites and even in the cemetery.
Formed in 1997 in Cavite by Efren Peñaflorida, its mission then was to keep the youth away from trouble and vices.
“Nakita namin yung pinaka-ugat ng problema na nanggagaling sa mga slum areas kung saan ginu-groom yung mga future gang members, gang leaders, so kaya nag-start kami noong 1999 na mag reach out sa mga bata sa slum area, para dun pa lang ma-guide na namin sila na di sila sumama sa mga ibang klaseng activities,” said Peñaflorida.
Born to tricycle driver Efren Sr. and housewife Lucila, Peñaflorida grew up near the city's dumpsite where he spent most of his younger years playing and swimming in the garbage beach. Hardworking and intelligent, Penaflorida’s commitment is to improve the standard of public secondary education. For more than four years, he has been giving free tutorial classes to high school and college students.
Penaflorida exudes the qualities of an everyday hero. His life would seem ordinary, but the tasks he undertakes are extraordinary earning the respect of his peers and even parents whom he helped in the past.
There was a time when he skipped a class to convince a peer to abandon his attempt to kill himself. He also stood up against an abusive teacher and brought the complaint to the City Schools Division Superintendent to protect his classmates.
Penaflorida had his share of bad experiences while growing up near the slums. He had fallen prey to bullies and solvent kids in the area.
By the age of 16, he knew he had to do something to change all these. Together with some classmates, they started DTC.
Today, Penaflorida wants to address the growing issue of juvenile delinquents. He also wants to address moral, and the values of education of today's youth.
Michael Advincula is a living example of the group’s positive work. The organization was able to help Advincula turn his life around for the better. Advincula used to be a thief and an Akyat Bahay gang member.
Now, he is a full time volunteer and scholar of DTC. “Nagbago po yung buhay ko dahil sa pagtutuok nila sa akin. Tinuro nila lahat ng pwede kong malaman, na dahil po doon nakita ko na kaya po pa lang tumulong at tulungan yung mga tulad ko po. Dati sa madilim na parte ng buhay, sila po nag-angat ng buhay ko,” said Advincula."
He is not only a Cavite's Pride and Finest. Efren is definitely a Philippines pride and finest. So folks, please do vote for him! To powervote, click this: I SUPPORT EFREN!
You may also want to check out the following resources for more information.
Efren's Biography from Dynamic Teen Company
TJ Manotoc's ABS-CBN News article about Efren.
Check out F's CNN Hero Profile.
Watch F's Video from CNN.
*infos gathered from zimbio.com
0 comments: