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 Through the effort and invitation of AdNU-based GIRA: Footsteps to Genuine Change, 2009 CNN Hero of the Year and Dynamic Teen Company (DTC) Founder Efren Peñaflorida, Jr. visited the Ateneo de Naga University last 23 January 2010 as part of the launching of the first local replication of the "Kariton Klasrum Klinik and Kantin," also known as "K4" or "Kariton (Pushcart) Education."
Peñaflorida gave a talk at 10:00 AM at the University Gymnasium where he was greeted with loud cheers from the audience. At 4:30 PM, a Eucharistic celebration and Blessing of Karitons presided by University President Fr. Joel Tabora, S.J. was held at the Christ the King University Church.
After the mass, the ‘pushing’ of the two karitons from AdNU to the Plaza Quezon in downtown Naga commenced. Peñaflorida with his colleague and 2006 Gawad Geny Lopez’ National Winner for the Bayaning Kabataang Pilipino Award Allan Sarte was handling one pushcart while the other was with GIRA founder Raphael Martin Magno and the rest of the GIRA officers and volunteers.
Dubbed as GIRA’s Kariton Education of Naga, the program was officially launched at the Plaza Quezon at 6:00 pm. Naga City mayor Jesse Robredo graced the event with his words of commendation addressed to Peñaflorida and company as well as to the various Nagueño youth volunteers in attendance. ADNU- College Guidance Office Director Rufino Ramos III, Ph.D shared his experiences as a volunteer. Peñaflorida in his inspirational message stressed that “one is never too young to help others” and the inspiring power of mentors. Local bands such as Phantasmagoria performed and added verve to this momentous event.
On 22 January, the CNN hero met the Bicol Press at the Press Conference in Avenue Plaza Hotel, Magsaysay Avenue. He gave talks and had a campus tour at the Naga Parochial School (NPS) and the Naga College Foundation (NCF) and at the University of Nueva Caceres (UNC). On Friday afternoon, Peñaflorida had a courtesy call with Mayor Robredo. He also had a small group discussion with the Filipino Chinese Catholic Youth at the Filipino Chinese Community Center in Tabuco. On Saturday afternoon, “Kuya Ef” as he is affectionately called by his students and volunteers paid a visit to GIRA’s adopted communities of Sabang and Lerma wherein outreach activities were conducted in cooperation NCF and UNC.
Throughout his statements, Peñaflorida repeatedly thanked his mentor, Bon Manalaysay or ‘Kuya Bonn’ as he calls him and his fellow volunteers like Allan Sarte and 14 year old Nobel Peace Prize Awards for Children’s Rights Finalist Emmanuel “Em” Bagual. “One is never too ordinary to be a hero”, he said at talks and with credit to his Kuya Bonn.
The DTC is a group of concerned young people with a mission of making a small yet significant difference in other people’s lives, particularly the small children in slum areas who have no access to education, basic hygiene and sometimes, even love from their families. The group was founded in August 1997 by four teenagers from Cavite National High School. The initial group made up of around 20 members started as a friendship club which aimed to divert the attention of students from joining violent gangs and notorious fraternities that were thriving on the campus. Their major platform then was to cater youth awareness projects, talent and self development activities, and community services. Today, the group holds different activities to address these issues. - Rex Perez
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