Cobra Energy Drink recently concluded its 3-month campaign to search for everyday Filipino heroes. These men, through their perseverance, dedication, determination and strength go against the odds in fulfilling their commitments and the realization of their dreams.
Last August 29, 201, 3 winners were given awards for the first Cobra Pinoy Hero Awards 2012 in a culminating event held at the Crowne Plaza. From around two thousand inspiring stories gathered through interviews and submissions via social media, nine (9) finalists made it to the grand finals:
Mark “Rubberman” Cerezo of Marikina who learned to make sculptures out of trash and discarded rubber from shoemakers;
Leonilo Beltran from Baler, Aurora, a former OFW electrician who founded Skills Caravan where fellow volunteers teach skills to out-of-school youth and jobless adults;
Ramil Junasa Jactin of Butuan City, a polio victim who conquered his disability in order to be able to teach and was lauded by Malacanang as an Outstanding Youth of the Philippines;
Mark Eden Ellaga of Antique, a driven scholar and the very first Outstanding Student of Antique Awardee.
Police Superintendent Dionisio Abude from Davao who took in troubled youth with past crimes due to poverty and made it his mission to turn them into productive citizens;
Sherwin Abanilla who hails from Zamboanga is a volunteer of the Philippine National Red Cross Emergency Response Team and dreams of becoming a great leader someday.
Benjamin Vidallon of Taguig used to be a lumpia vendor and janitor but turned his life around and now works as a Call Center Agent and Spanish Translator.
Ariel John Villares of Zamboanga, a jeepney conductor and security guard by day and a working student by night.
Ramley Chio Dangla Cruz who hails from Balut, Tondo and works as a med rep but is also a volunteer firefighter/medic.
The three grand winners were Mark Cerezo, Leonilo Beltran and Police Superintendent Dionisio Abude. Each of the winners received Php100,000.
During the awarding ceremony,2009 CNN Hero of the Year Efren Penaflorida was presentor and keynote speaker.
His co-presentor was Mr. Tony Meloto, founder of Gawad-Kalinga.
Major General Renato Garcia, the Executive Director of the Help Educate and Rear Orphans (HERO) Foundation was also present. The HERO Foundation, which was founded by the late President Corazon Aquino and former Chief of Staff Renato de Villa aims to provide educational stipend to the orphans of the military personnel.
Three young scholars were present to thank the HERO Foundation.
Capping the event was a “Panata” or pledge where the guests made a commitment to become Everyday Heroes.
Rivermaya performed their hit songs that aims to inspire the youth to be better Filipinos like Bandila, Posible, Liwanag sa Dilim and their new single, Pilipinas, Kailang Ka Magigising.
“Ginawa namin ang kampanyang Cobra Mga Kwentong Tunay na Lakas dahil naniniwala kami sa Tunay na Lakas ng Pilipino. The close to 2,000 stories that we gathered from this campaign is our way at taking a step towards nation building; in order to inspire Filipinos to be everyday heroes and forward moving,” said Abe Cipriano, ABI’s Marketing Manager for Non-Alcoholic Beverages.
Added Jef Mendoza, Cobra Brand Manager, “With this tremendous response from Filipinos from Luzon to Mindanao, it was only fitting that Cobra pays tribute to these men and women who continue to inspire us to become better as a nation. What better time to recognize the Cobra Pinoy Heroes than this, the month when we recognize our heroes of the past.”
Visit: Cobra Energy Drink Facebook page.
_________________________
Being an Everyday Hero does not mean risking one’s life or going out of your comfort zone. Being an Everyday Hero means helping others in your own little ways (or you may choose to be a big help too!). This may be in a form of helping a neighbour learn to read, or starting a greening program within your village or maybe by being a volunteer to services that will be for the greater good of people in need.
Be an Everyday Hero.
