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Efren Penaflorida, Kris "Kesz" Valdez, and Harnin Manalaysay
Posted on Sunday, 1 February 2015
Efren Peįæaflorida,
Kris “Kesz” Valdez
and Harnin Manalaysay
By Apolinario Villalobos
For those who do not have the time to surf the cyberspace
but able to pick bits of news, the name Efren Peįæaflorida and Kris “Kesz” Valdez, as well as, “pushcart with books”
may be familiar. Efren Peįæaflorida
is the CNN Hero of the Year 2009 while Kesz Valdez is the recipient of the
International Children’s Peace Award for Year 2012. And, Harnin Manalaysay is
the mentor of the two mentioned awardees. Harnin Manalaysay belongs to the Club
8586, a group of low-profile evangelists based in Cavite City.
Efren ang Kesz belong to the Dynamic Teen Company (DTC),
composed mainly of volunteer students, who push carts filled with books and
goodies for street children of Cavite City. But their advocacy has spread far
and wide so that in no time, towns and cities have been inspired to have their
own version of such kind of “classroom”, although, some were organized with the
help of DTC. But again, in all of these, Club 8586 is always behind as the
moving spirit. Lately, a school is near completion at Amadeo, interestingly
named Akademos Amadeus, at 8586 Halang-Angairo Road, barangay Halang
Banay-banay, Amadeo, Cavite. They are also in the process of establishing a
similar project Tacloban City.
I had my first encounter with the group when I brought a
small box of books to them at 188 J. Miranda St., Caridad, Cavite City, more
than five years ago. I was entertained
then, by Mr. Manalaysay and Ms. Angel Neri who is now charged with DTC’s
operations aside from acting as secretary of Mr. Peįæaflorida.
Lately, when the steady arrival of books from a US-based
friend overwhelmed me, I made several calls to the group to arrange with them
the turn over. Initially, my calls were handled by volunteers. But my latest
call was handled by a guy who I failed to identify immediately as Mr.
Manalaysay, because he humbly introduced himself as one of the group’s
volunteers. However, when I checked their site, I saw his photo which prompted
me to recall my first visit during which I had a talk with him.
They do not normally pick up donations from the homes of
donors because they have no transportation for this purpose. Donated books are
normally brought to them by donors themselves. But I was lucky because Mr.
Manalaysay was scheduled for a luncheon speaking engagement in Tagaytay and he
volunteered to drop by my place to pick up the books and other materials
crammed in four large-sized balikbayan boxes, on the way to the venue.
On the day of the pick-up, they arrived on a van provided by
the host of Mr. Manalaysay. The group was composed of Mr. Manalaysay, himself,
Angel Neri, Kesz Valdez, as well as, teen-aged and diminutive volunteers, Ichan
and Jeriemay. I was touched by their enthusiasm while we were hauling out the
books from the boxes to be practically squeezed in all spaces available in the
van, leaving just enough for them. Even Mr. Manalaysay who walks with the help
of a cane, shared his effort. The smile on their sweaty faces showed their sincerity
in putting their advocacy into action, giving it life. They move with
precision, without wasting time which proved that anything can be done with
seriousness while enjoying every moment as shown by their smile.
I learned that the Dynamic Teen Company plans to establish
as many as fifty more “karitun klasrums” throughout the country. For me, such
plan is not ambitious. It can be done and the group has proved it even with
meager budget that they try to scrimp.
The DTC has a website and facebook. Just use the name of the
group, Dynamic Teen Company or Karitun Klasrum as tags, to check on what you
can extend to these enthusiastic youth. They need books for the library,
workbooks, pencils, materials for hygiene like soap, toothbrush, also,
slippers, school bags, food – practically anything that the less fortunate
needs. We need not wonder about these needs as we already know what one needs
in order to live decently. If you get teary-eyed every time you see photos of
the less fortunate and wonder how you can help, this is now your chance.
Their telephone
number is (046) 4315263.
Address: 188 J.
Miranda St., Caridad, Cavite City.
Calls will be
entertained, if not by volunteers, by Ms. Neri and Mr. Manalaysay, themselves.
For those coming from
Manila, buses for Cavite City can be taken at the Coastal Mall bus terminal in
Baclaran. From Bacoor, mini-buses can be taken at the terminal in front of the
Habay entrance of SM-Bacoor.
Please bring the donations, yourself.
