08/06/2026
For this year’s celebration of our upcoming 128th Independence Day, Yummy Tokyo would like to honor our modern-day heroes.
Efren Peñaflorida is a Filipino teacher and development worker.
In 1997, at 16 years old, he started a youth group in his high school aimed at diverting students' attention away from street gangs, and towards community activism and personal development. Joined by other classmates, they named the group Dynamic Teen Company. They coined the term "Kariton Klasrum"
In 2009, he was nominated for the CNN Hero of the Year, and out of more than 9,000 nominees, he was shortlisted as one of the 10 finalists, and he was chosen as the 2009 CNN Hero of the Year.
To date, he still continues his advocacy for the Dynamic Teen Company.