Efren Peñaflorida: CNN Hero of the Year

CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute
Hosted by Anderson Cooper. Kodak Theater, Hollywood, California.

2009 TOP 10 HEROES:
(Source: http://edition.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/11/16/cnnheroes.tribute.show/index.html)

1. Brad Blauser
Brad Blauser is providing hope and mobility to disabled children and their families in Iraq. Since 2005, his Wheelchairs for Iraqi Kids program has distributed nearly 650 free pediatric wheelchairs to children in need.

2. Roy Foster
Army veteran Roy Foster started Stand Down House to help veterans struggling with addiction and homelessness in Florida. Since 2000, his program has provided life-changing services to nearly 900 veterans.

3. Doc Hendley
Bartender Doc Hendley is providing clean water to communities worldwide. Through creative fundraising, his nonprofit Wine to Water has brought sustainable water systems to 25,000 people in five countries.

4. Andrea Ivory
Breast cancer survivor Andrea Ivory is bringing early detection to the doorsteps of uninsured women. With mobile mammography vans, her group has provided more than 500 free screenings in Miami, Florida.

5. Betty Makoni
Zimbabwe native Betty Makoni founded the Girl Child Network to provide a haven for young victims of sexual abuse. The organization has rescued more than 35,000 girls since 2001.

6. Jorge Munoz
School bus driver Jorge Munoz is helping hungry New Yorkers make it through tough times. Since 2004, he has handed out more than 70,000 meals from his mobile soup kitchen in Queens -- for free.

7. Efren Peñaflorida
Efren Peñaflorida gives Filipino youth an alternative to gang membership through education. His Dynamic Teen Company's 10,000 members have taught basic reading and writing to 1,500 kids living in the slums.

8. Budi Soehardi
Budi Soehardi founded a children's home in one of the poorest areas of Indonesia. Today, Roslin Orphanage in West Timor provides food, shelter and education to more than 45 children.

9. Derrick Tabb
Derrick Tabb started The Roots of Music to give young people an alternative to New Orleans' streets. His music education program provides free tutoring, instruments and music instruction to more than 100 students.

10. Jordan Thomas
Jordan Thomas, 20, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, lost both of his legs in a boating accident in 2005. Since then, his Jordan Thomas Foundation has raised more than $400,000 to provide prosthetics for children in need.

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When Efren Peñaflorida came home to the Philippines, the whole nation was in jubilation. Two success stories in a row have captured Filipinos but also international onlookers. Should not the Filipino be proud? There's Manny Pacman Pacquiao the here comes Efren Peñaflorida! Both heroes in their own right!

Riding on the tide of a chanting population, President Gloria Arroyo awarded Efren the Order of Sikatuna. With wide smiles, many appreciated the gesture of the President to reward Efren's heroism. Thereafter, Efren also received a hero's welcome in his home province, Cavite.

Noteworthy. Inspiring. Heroic. These are but some of the adjectives we can draw to characterize Efren's feat as a "push-cart" teacher. I, for one, am hands down towards Kuya Ef's benevolence and kindheartedness. May the good Lord bless him a thousand fold; may Jesus enlarge his coast; may the merciful Heaven have mercy on his dear soul. Sana may mga umusbong pang katulad ni Kuya Efren.

However, this Filipino achievement brings out many issues that this blogger thinks need immediate action. Think of me as postmodernist if you want, perhaps a skeptic even, but I am convinced that beneath the surface of all these, lie a plethora of dilemmas that drag the Filipino consciousness down to unthinkable levels...

SHOULD GLORIA ARROYO BE HAPPY OR SHOULD SHE BE APOLOGETIC?

IS THE "CNN HERO" AWARD A RECOGNITION OF UNPARALLELLED FEAT OR IT IS A CONDEMNATION FOR THE POOR STATE OF PHILIPPINE EDUCATION?

IS EFREN PEÑAFLORIDA THE HERO OF THE COUNTRY OR IS HE THE HERO ONLY FOR THE KIDS HE AND HIS CO-VOLUNTEERS TEACH?

OBSERVATIONS:
1. Foreigners recognize Filipino achievements first; the Philippine government just echoes by also awarding merits thereafter. (Magaling talagang gumaya ang mga Pinoy, ganun ba yun?)

2. Palaging huli sa action ang gobyerno at nangunguna ang private sector. Tigilan na ang mga salita. Lumakad at gumawa para ang mga tao'y maniwala!

Korean Concert at SM City Baguio: A Showcase of Musicality and Youthfulness

Right after I dismissed my class at 5:30PM last friday (November 27, 2009), one of my Korean students approached me. He showed me a text message from their Korean classmate who was absent (for the 1st time) that day. The text was asking him to tell me that the texter is absent because he had a concert at 7PM that night at SM City Baguio. He was asking me to have him be excused and that he will present his excuse letter the following meeting. The last part of the message was an invitation for me to go and watch him perform in the concert.

After my last class (5:30-6:30PM), i went to the faculty room to ready my things and go. With a co-teacher, I headed to the bundy area to punch out.

We walked to SM through Assumption Road and then up along Session Road. We arrived early at the venue; to let time pass, we watched the fashion show for a while and then we went to the activity area and sat down...

After a short while, i saw approaching my classmate in the graduate school... He is the owner of Remnant International School, Campt 7, Baguio City. He sat on the chair beside me and we had a lively chat about the concert that is about to begin.

Then four Korean guys came out and took the stage quietly... I can barely recognize their faces... But when the spotlight was lit, it came clear... One of them was my student in the College of Dentistry, and another one is my student this semester. They are going to play the piano and the saxophone respectively.

I thought... "Wow, these guys must be musically gifted!" The first piece was like a birthday gift for me! It was my birthday on the 22nd of november, hehehehe... "Seng il chuk ha hamnida.... Seng il chuk ha hamnida..." (played on piano by Kim Kwang Rok).

Then "Kenny G" played his sax in a way that made the audience feel that they are in a fine dining environment.. Even my co-teacher said... "Sana may mga pagkain na dito." We could not but exclaim, "Ang galing naman ng mga ito."

The music was really great... It was soothing for a tired body; rejuvenating for a weary heart; inspiring for fallen soldier; comforting to a distressed soul. Especially the saxophone sound... Produced by the able and dexterous young musician, Kim Jiwon.

As I was listening to the smooth decibel from the instruments, i could not help but think... "Once in a while, man needs to immerse himself into the world of art... into music.. into the appreciation of aesthetics..." This would enable him to appreciate life more... This would allow him to find an additional dimension of existence... This would lead him to utter words of praise to the Great I AM... This would put him into an environment of calm and peace...peace both with himself, and with his God.

HOLOCAUST IN MINDANAO: IS ANDAL TO BLAME?

As per report by the late night newscast BANDILA of ABS-CBN (November 25, 2009), the number of bodies retrieved in Maguindanao has already reached 57. As the bodies were taken out of the hole one after another, this blogger cannot but be outraged by this barbaric act against humanity!

When the news reports have identified a buckhoe in the crime scene being owned by the provincial government, it becomes very difficult not to connect this loathsome scenario to the ruling clan in Maguindanao. In this view, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (including former Senator Rene Saguisag) suggested that there is sufficient basis for the immediate arrest of Datu Andal Ampatuan, Jr.

However, the DOJ Secretary gave a dissenting view when she said that there is not yet enough basis to consider the Andals as suspects.

Hmmm, whatever the truth may be, tingnan natin ang susunod na kabanata.

This terrifying event in the political history of the Philippines effectively cancels out in the pages of time the record of the province of Abra as the most dangerous place for politicians. In addition, it also merits Maguindanao to be branded as the new "most dangerous place for journalists" in the Philippines.

GLOWING LOLLIPOP IN SESSION ROAD

Trendy? or Just fad....
"IN"? or baka "jologs" naman! :)

While walking down session road in Baguio City last weekend after watching the UC-BCF marching band concert at SM, one item of merchandise caught my attention instantly. Though my ears were absorbing what companion was telling me (it was about what she has watched just minutes ago), my eyes were magneted to the sort of a glow-in-the-dark thing being paraded by young (mga bata talaga sila) vendors. Echoing in the noisy sidewalk were their calls for passersby to stop shortly and have a look at their items on sale. "Lolipap! Sampu langggg!!! Bili na po kayo!"

I inspected closely (with my eyeglasses on) lollipop met gayam, hehehehe! My companion wanted to buy but she felt awkward to get one. I had the same feeling too, hehehehe..