Pinoy CNN hero backs Pacquiao's call for unity

Efren Peñaflorida, the so-called "Pushcart (Kariton) Educator" who was named CNN hero of the year in 2009, has expressed his support for boxing icon and Saranggani Rep. Manny Pacquiao's call for unity among Filipinos. Days before Pacquiao's successful boxing fight against Sugar Shane Mosley on Sunday (Manila time), Pacquiao and Peñaflorida met at the Top Rank gym in Las Vegas in the United States. Peñaflorida, who became known for teaching young kids from a pushcart, said "we at the Dynamic Teen Company will paint one of our karts yellow in support of this call in doing our share in nation-building." Last week, Pacquiao said he will be wearing yellow gloves during his fight against Mosley as a symbol of his bigger fight against poverty. In an interview on News to Go on Thursday, sportscaster Chino Trinidad said Pacquiao chose the color yellow "to signify the unity of the Filipino people across the globe." "In context, sinabi niya (Pacquiao) na 'boxing is not the biggest fight of my life, eradicating poverty is now the biggest fight of my life," Trinidad said. Wearing yellow gloves for a professional fight is a first in boxing history because red, blue, or burgundy are the traditional colors used by boxers. When Pacquiao met Peñaflorida at the Top Rank gym last week, the boxing champ said, "Ikaw yung nagtutulak ng kariton di ba? Salamat sa lahat ng mga ginagawa mo para sa mga bata!" Asked how he felt after meeting Pacquiao, Peñaflorida said, ""It was an honor and at the same time I am happy that a boxing great like our people's champ Manny Pacquiao will fight not just for fame or fortune but with the welfare of our people in his heart and mind." "Pacman is a great fighter. Helping the poor rise above poverty is a win for our nation and an inspiration to the world," Peñaflorida said. Pacquiao successfully defended his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight championship title against Mosley at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday. Rags to riches Before finding fame and fortune in boxing, Pacquiao was a high school dropout who had to stop schooling due to extreme poverty. Pacquiao was born into a poor family in General Santos City in Mindanao. He and his siblings were raised alone by their mother after their parents separated when Pacquiao was in sixth grade. Now, as an eight-division world champion and the first boxer in history to win 10 world titles, Pacquiao is now the highest paid athlete in the world. ESPN Magazine placed Pacquiao's total earnings from his boxing matches in 2010 at $32 million (almost P1.3 billion). Lawyer Ricardo Bering of the Records Management Service of the Philippine House of Representatives said the lawmakers' 2010 statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALNs) show that Pacquiao is the country's wealthiest congressman. Teaching from a kariton Meanwhile, CNN hero Peñaflorida,also grew up in poverty. He lived near the Cavite City dump site in Luzon. His father was a tricycle driver and his mother was a vendor. Growing up, he often had to deal with bullies in their neighborhood. According to a report of the Asian Journal, Peñaflorida often encountered kids in the neighborhood who bullied him or enticed him to join gangs. The report said when Peñaflorida was in high school, the bullies started throwing rocks at them. The experience eventually pushed Peñaflorida and three high school classmates to form the Dynamic Teen Company in 1997. The group helps divert kids from joining gangs and becoming involved in crimes. In 2009, Peñaflorida, received $100,000 for his work with the Dynamic Teen Company. - with Jan Arceo, VVP, GMA News