I’ve just read online that CNN Hero of the Year Efren Penaflorida arrived in the Philippines yesterday. His co-teachers and students greeted him, the news said. I also figured that some media people were there to cover his arrival.

But one thing that I realized was the form of welcome that he received. When Manny Pacquiao came home from his fight with Cotto a few days back, he was welcomed by a LOT of people. They had a motorcade for him, and they welcomed him “Las Vegas”-style in a hotel. People mobbed him, trying to even catch a glimpse of this hero.

But when Efren Penaflorida arrived, it was somewhat quiet. I’m not saying that we shouldn’t have welcomed Pacman the way Filipinos did. Pacman did the Filipinos and the Philippines a great honor for winning in that fight. I’m just saying that there are a lot of heroes out there, whome we neglect to appreciate. Maybe Penaflorida also didn’t want a grand welcome. But I think we should show, at least, some form of appreciation for the things that he was doing.

To Penaflorida, congratulations! May you continue the good things that you’re doing, and may you inspire other people to go out of their comfort zones and share what they can to those who are less-fortunate than us.