Social Media Behind the Hero
CNN’s Hero of the Year for 2009, Efren Peñaflorida, was recognized for his unselfish efforts in educating poor and under privileged children to keep them off the streets and out of trouble. By touting a push cart across the streets of Cavite City, Philippines, Efren was instrumental in the education of thousands of street kids. This noteworthy feat was definitely worth CNN’s coveted award and the prestige that comes with it.
CNN utilized a voting system that allowed people online to vote multiple times for their hero. Efren won this contest by a landslide. How did this happen? Believe it or not, FaceBook was the powerhouse that skyrocketed a hero to stardom! FaceBook group, Definitely Filipino, was the social media power behind it all. For months, the group diligently posted links and encouraged their 384,332 fans to vote for Efren. In response, thousands of posts on Definitely Filipinos walls were put up by fans all attesting to their support for Efren and his cause. Now that Efren has won, wall posts congratulating him come in almost every minute!
Definitely Filipino is, by far, the largest Filipino community FaceBook group today and it is a force to be reckoned with. From reporting about disasters, supporting talented Filipinos to highlighting exceptional people, Definitely Filipino has gained a phenomenal following and has shown its immense capability to unite thousands of Filipino online users to stand up for a cause. It is truly a remarkable achievement.
This article is dedicated to the social media power behind Efren’s much deserved victory. It truly is another testament to the unrivalled power of social media and its potential to influence the masses. Before, Efren was no more than just a lone figure pushing a ragged cart across the Philippine streets, but thanks to social media, he is now a hero emulated by millions all over the world. As he said it himself in his victory speech, “the hero in you is waiting to be unleashed. Serve, serve well, serve others above yourself and be happy to serve.”
Kudos to Definitely Filipino and its administrators! You all weld enormous power and I do hope you will continue to harness that for the good of everyone. Sometimes, we don’t realize that the people behind the hero are, in fact, heroes themselves.
Thank you for your very gracious mention of Definitely Filipino (DF). It is fast becoming “the” place for worldwide Filipinos to meet, vent, celebrate, cry…help in times of crisis…report were the mainstream news would not.
The real victors, as in the case of Efren, are the Filipino children, its people, and future generations of leaders and innovators.
Maraming Salamat!
Ed Totanes [Mod2-Ed]
@Ed Totanes, you are welcome. Thank you for the comment and please keep up the great work you guys are doing. You are impacting many lives in many great ways.
Thank you for the nice article and for the reminder. Rest assured, the people behind the main wall will continue to be guided with that principle.
Definitely Filipino (DF) also pays tribute to its members, cause without them, the page will have nothing… The members are the ones giving real time news and information about a fire in Bacolod, weather condition in Davao or fiesta in Quezon, etc… DF has also become a venue for its members to share their thoughts and freely discuss issues in the Discussion boards and chatbox (minus the curses and namecallings), since not everyone is privileged to have a column in a national paper.
Once again thank you for the encouraging words, God bless the Philippines.
We remain.
-Marco
@Admin 007 – Marco, thank you for the comment and information. It is a thrill to know that there are people who take the time to take care of their members and give them the value they deserve. DF is definitely doing something right and is a model for other social media groups to follow.
This is a wonderful article. One of the best reasons to be proud to be a Filipino! Mabuhay!
@Andrew Cruz, thank you for the comment and yes be proud of what Filipinos have accomplished.
First of all, CONGRATULATIONS to Efren and his cause! Second, thanks to DF because of their drive to share and appreciate the ACTS OF UNSELFISHNESS of Efren. Mabuhay kayo!
To Smarter Social Media, thank you very much for your recognition. We Filipinos appreciate it.
Kudos!
@Donna Malaluan, thank you for the comment and nice words.
Congratulations to Efren and the DF Community! The effort did bear its fruits, keep it up! Mabuhay po kayong lahat!
Together, let’s continue to move onwards to a better Philippines… God bless the Philippines!
@Jose Neri Garampiel, thank you for the comments and be proud of your efforts that bore fruits.
Great Post France! Your article showed that we are tough and goodhearted! Thank you for recognizing the significance of Filipinos!
I am proud of this country which has produced literary great, extraordinary people! Just a week after boxer Manny Pacquiao’s impressive victory over Miguel Cotto in Las Vegas, another remarkable Philippine hero “Efren Peñaflorida” made it to the top!
@Lana, thank you for the comment and we at Smarter Social Media always recognize the greatness in everyone.
This is really one of a kind! Thank you for posting this blog. I can’t help myself from going back to your site just to read this! Haha!
Once again, great job France!
Nice….
but wouldn’t it be better if all those fans from the DF group all do the same thing and not merely vote?
Hehe ‘just a thought.. congratulations to everyone though..
I salute Efren Peñaflorida Jr. He is indeed the great example of a modern day hero. I grew up in the same exact place where he started his noble deed that is why I know how hard it is to live there.
Kudos to the CNN Hero of the Year!
You guys rock! Filipinos or not, we should emulate the likes of Efren. More power to smartersocialmedia for putting the spotlight on another inspiring hero. Hope you could feature someone from my hometown Nevada next time, best if it would be me. Haha!
Thank you for recognizing DF’s untiring support during that time our current CNN Hero, Efren Penaflorida, needed million votes to make him a winner. We all rejoiced with him when he bagged the award. We proved to ourselves that unity is possible if the person is deserving… and change is possible if we really work hard to attain it. I am happy and proud to be a DF member.
@Eileen Arboleda-Orbeta, thank you for the comment and keep on being proud to be a DF member.