Hero

Just almost two weeks ago, I posted here the educational endeavor of our government and most of our non-profit organizations in pursuit of stabilizing the educational system, widespreading it across the country with the objective of reaching out-of-school youths. I mentioned requesting votes for Efren Peñaflorida and his gang's 'pushcart classroom.'

Early today, when I opened my yahoo mail, this headline greeted me.

RP’s Efren Peñaflorida is 2009 CNN Hero of the Year

Our hero won!

He will receive a $100,000; the prize money 'Kuya F', as fondly called, pledge to the children his group is helping.

"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. 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. Serve, serve well, serve others above yourself and be happy to serve. As I always tell to my co-volunteers ... 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." - quoted from Efren Peñaflorida acceptance speech for the CNN Hero of the Year at Kodak Theatre in Hollywood.

A hero lives in you, a hero lives in me, a hero lives in everyone of us. The only thing that strangles that hero is the selfishness that we possess. Our concern for our own welfare and disregarding others. Our drive to fulfill our earthly ambitions not minding who we are trampling on. We have our own good ways to reach and help each other. If only each one of us are practicing it, then the world is not enduring the worst it is suffering now.

Having known a person that embodies the spirit of self-giving gives a stirring feeling in our heart that advocates us to do good will. As what Kuya F mentioned on his speech, we could be a hero by just extending help to the next one in need.

This stormy and tragic year of 2009, Filipino embodied a great spirit of 'pagkaka-isa', the volunteerism. Lots of hero emerges. I just hope that this hero continue the spirit of helping each other not only in times of adversity like what we had during the tragic of Ondoy.

Lately Manny Pacquia won his fight. Another Filipino excels in the world of sports. Another Filipino raises the Philippine flag. Another Filipino hero.

Who's the next hero to emerge? Everyone (I hope).

I hope everyone listens to the good will of a hero inside him this coming 2010 Presidential election. Let us wisely cast our precious vote to the leader worthy of our trust. Let us choose the qualified one to represent and run our country. Let’s vote for the right kind of change in 2010!

Education: Every Filipino Parents' Legacy

My parents have a deep regard for education and I believe same goes to my fellow Filipinos.

It is very common to hear these words from our elders: "Mahirap lang kami. Ang edukasyon ang tanging yaman na maipapamana namin sa mga anak namin" (We don't have riches. Education is the only thing we could give to our children).

We have this view of education as a primary avenue for social and economic improvement.

There were many major changes that already happened in the educational system of the Philippines.

Education during the pre-spanish era is devoid of method, informal and unstructured. Education is mainly thought by parents at home relating to the common occupation of early Filipino people. They maybe devoid of method, they may have less understanding, they may be unable to read and write but the passion to learn is already running in their veins.

During the spanish colonization, education is for the elite. Education is religion-oriented. Education during this era is not enough, suppressed and controlled. Despite of controlled education, Filipinos look for ways to educate and improve themselves. Look at Andres Bonifacio, despite of not having a formal education but he was self-educated. He read books and he continued and looked for other means of learning.

An open, free and secularized education began sometime during the first Philippine Republic of American Period. The early Philippine Constitution enforced, re-formed and re-organized acts and educational institution were established.

Now where are we?

Our Government are still continuing the endeavor of organizing and establishing good education through out all Filipinos. But despite of all the efforts, lots of out of school children and youths are still roaming around slums and far-flung areas of our country.

There are lots of non-profit organizations, foundations, programs and movements that reach out to less privilege Filipino families. Hand in hand they fight poverty through improving the poor quality of basic education.

But aside from those known foundations, there are group of people with big heart silently reaching out and doing their whatever means of giving children the chance to learn and to stay out of bad vices.

Read here the Highlight of Efren Penaflorida and his gang. Please don't forget to vote.

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My Ako Mismo Pledge: Maliit na Basura, Ibulsa Muna!

I woke up and prepared to leave for office today earlier than my usual habit. Today, I decided to burn up some calories so I decided to walk my way to work instead of taking a jeep and being stuck in Makati traffic.
I was on my way to office and enjoying my little exercise, the atmosphere was light, there was a little humid in the air, perfect for people who like to travel by foot, but not so perfect due to some occasional smoke-belching vehicles passing by. Suddenly a gush of strong wind came, whirling its way onto the road. I’ve seen some candy wrappers, leaves, foil pack of cigarettes, wrappers of junk foods dancing along with the wind. I instantly covered my face with a hanky. Too bad that my almost-perfect walk was ruined by a sight like this.

I suddenly remembered that early on, when I passed by a 7-11 store, I’ve seen a guy sweeping in front of a building. I’m not sure if this guy is a government street sweeper or a building maintenance personnel who’s doing his routine work. Anyway, he was sweeping candy wrappers, cigarette butts, gums into this dustpan he was holding. A few steps on his back there stood a lady in a very fashionable outfit, in a red shoes and with a brown-colored glasses on, probably a call center agent. She lighted her cigarette, grabbed something like a juicy fruit gum from her pocket, unwrapped the gum and throw the foil pack on the ground, without even an attempt of finding a bin where she could dispose her garbage properly or without even caring that somebody just a few steps away from her is picking up and sweeping small garbage thrown by people like her. Whew! Pilipino nga naman!!! I hope that I do not sound like I am stereotyping Filipino.

In our subdivision, the homeowner’s association had enforced this guideline that all tenants should strictly follow proper garbage disposal: black bag for non-biodegradable and green/white bag for biodegradable, otherwise, your garbage will not be collected. The garbage collection is being done every evening at 9 o’clock. Not that I defy the rules but I suddenly have this idea to test whether they really are reinforcing the policy. I told my mother to just use the black plastic for bio and non-biodegradable waste. When I woke up the following morning, the plastics of garbage in front of our house were gone which would obviously mean they had collected it. This just implies two things: either the garbage collector are dumb and has no proper understanding of the policy or the homeowner’s association/management are just too lax to impose the rule.

I guess this is what is also happening with our government. We do have the Proper Waste Disposal Bill. But what is the use of this bill if the government is too lax to ensure the bill is strictly followed by each and everyone? If I am to impose the policy, I would have anyone seen improperly throwing their garbage spend a day in prison, that would be the best penalty compared to issuing them a ticket for cash, since I am pretty sure 90% of the money will not reach its intended destination. I guess no one is interested to spend even just one-hour behind the bars, right?

Going back to what I did home, I just realized something. That maybe if each one of us are doing his/her own share of caring for our environment then maybe waste disposal would not be a major problem in our country. That the government may lacks the drive to enforce the law but we can choose to be a better citizen by abiding the law, then maybe we’d be dealing with a lesser problem in pollution. That everyone’s small effort can make a significant difference in advancing towards greater achievements.