(CNN) -- Efren Peñaflorida, who started a "pushcart classroom" in the Philippines to bring education to poor children as an alternative to gang membership, has been named the 2009 CNN Hero of the Year.
CNN's Anderson Cooper revealed Peñaflorida's selection at the conclusion of the third-annual "CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute" at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood.
Aral Pinoy ay Pagaaral na Alagang Pinoy. Aral Pinoy is dedicated to education for life-giving relationships. This is inspired and born out of helping and working with the marginalized sectors of our society since my seminary days.
To make a vital difference in the lives of our kababayan has always been my vision, and I, Antonio Ingles, Jr., as Aral Pinoy's Convenor, dream that one day if God’s generosity allows, I will build schools in the rural areas, schools for life that empower them.
Aral Pinoy ay Pagaaral na Alagang Pinoy. Aral Pinoy is dedicated to education for life-giving relationships. This is inspired and born out of helping and working with the marginalized sectors of our society since my seminary days.
To make a vital difference in the lives of our kababayan has always been my vision, and I, Antonio Ingles, Jr., as Aral Pinoy's Convenor, dream that one day if God’s generosity allows, I will build schools in the rural areas, schools for life that empower them.
Today, education is an urgent call to action for and by the rural poor: the indigenous people, the rural women, the fisher folks, the farmers, the rural youth, the elderly, persons with disabilities and the informal sector.
In an interview by Paul Bradshaw with Rick Warren, author of the Purpose Driven Life, Rick said: People ask me, What is the purpose of life? And I respond:
"In a nutshell, life is preparation for eternity. We were not made to last forever, and God wants us to be with Him in Heaven."
He also said that life is a series of problems:
"Either you are in one now, you're just coming out of one, or you're getting ready to go into another one. No matter how good things are in your life, there is always something bad that needs to be worked on. And no matter how bad things are in your life, there is always something good you can thank God for."
You can focus on your purposes, or you can focus on your problems: If you focus on your problems, you're going into self-centeredness. Aral Pinoy focuses on its purposes! Aral Pinoy always looks forward for something good to thank God for, serving selflessly our kababayan!
