The Good Balita

The Quezon City Police District launched its own version of schools on pushcarts after they were inspired by the achievements of CNN Hero of the Year Efren Peñaflorida Jr.

It is aptly called “Kariton Ni Kuya Efren sa QCPD” (Big Brother Efren’s pushcart) with Peñaflorida gracing the ceremony as its guest.

“Kariton ni Efren sa QCPD is the local policemen’s contribution to the fight against illiteracy and poverty among the youth in the socio-educationally deprived areas of the city,” said QCPD director Chief Supt. Elmo San Diego.

San Diego said that under the project, each of the 12 police stations of the district will have one pushcart while the main office will have two pushcarts.

“We will initially provide storytelling and book reading sessions for street children,” he said.

San Diego said each pushcart will have books for reading for children. At the same time, the pushcart will serve as a soup kitchen for them.

The pushcarts will be manned by chosen policemen who have backgrounds in education, he said.

But instead of the pushcarts roaming the streets, San Diego said the QCPD will designate areas where the pushcarts will be brought.

“Not only children who are deprived of education but also adults who want to learn are also welcome,” he said.

The police official said he hopes that other groups will also follow the footsteps taken by Peñaflorida.

Peñaflorida is proof that education could lead to a better life, San Diego said.

In high school, Penaflorida reached a point when he wanted to quit because he was tired of the bullies and he had lost all hope that education would liberate him and his family from poverty.

But because his teachers encouraged him to stay the course, he persevered, he finished college and became a teacher.

His teachers’ faith in him changed his life. Now he wants to pay the good deed forward by helping other people change their lives.

Peñaflorida (Born March 5, 1981) is a 27-year-old teacher. He has been named “CNN Hero of the Year” in 2009 for his outstanding advocacy to educate Filipino out-of-school youth through “pushcart classes.”

He founded the Dynamic Teen Company (DTC) at the age of 16 years old. He now works in a local private school during the week and continues his work with the DTC every Saturday.

Peñaflorida was the middle child of Efren Peñaflorida Sr., a tricycle driver, and Lucila Geronimo, a housewife.

The family eventually started a small noodle business to make ends meet. Efren grew up in an urban slum near an open dump site in Cavite City, Cavite, playing amongst garbage and swimming in polluted waters. He would often fall victim to neighborhood bullying.

Peñaflorida was one of World Vision’s sponsored-children during his early childhood.

He completed his elementary and high school education through the help of scholarships and financial assistance, and received several class awards and honors.

In 2000, he graduated from San Sebastian College–Recoletos de Cavite with a degree in computer technology, receiving highest honors. He pursued a second course at Cavite State University, graduating cum laude in 2006 with a degree in Secondary Education.

(PNA Feature)

 

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5. Penaflorida is in elite 10 of CNN Heroes list

 

 

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