Efren Peñaflorida, Robin Lim vie for CNN 'SuperHero'
Composite image shows Robin Lim and Efren Peñaflorida, who were hailed as CNN Heroes and are now vying for the title "CNN SuperHero." EPD | EfrenPenaflorida website
MANILA, Philippines — Filipino social worker and teacher Efren Peñaflorida Jr. and Filipino-American midwife Robin Lim were nominated to become the first CNN SuperHero.
The "CNN Heroes" tribute special is celebrating the 10th year anniversary of its campaign, and has selected five past CNN Heroes of the Year who continue to embody its advocacy and will be recognized as "SuperHero."
Each of these five past heroes will receive $10,000 to continue their work.
Peñaflorida, known for his "kariton classroom," was named Hero of the year in 2009 while Lim or "Mother Robin" became the Hero of the Year in 2011.
Revisiting their works, Peñaflorida's non-profit organization Dynamic Teen Company provided education to about 40,000 children in the world. He and his team also opened a solar-powered high school for children in 2012.
Lim's foundation Bumi Sehat or Healthy Mother Earth Foundation, meanwhile, built more health clinics in Indonesia and Philippines. Lim offer free prenatal care and has given medical assistance to 300,000 patients.
Both Peñaflorida and Lim helped the country during Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in 2013.
Other Heroes of the Year who were nominated for SuperHero are Liz McCartney (2008), who built homes destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, Nepalese social worker Pushpa Basnet (2012) and Chad Pregracke (2013) who has worked on cleaning the Mississippi River.
CNN SuperHero will be chosen through a voting system which will end on Monday afternoon (Manila time). The Hero of the Year who receives the most votes will be awarded $50,000 to continue their work.
