Last August 29 at the Crowne Plaza, Cobra Energy Drink finally named the three winners of the Cobra Pinoy Heroes 2012 that pays tribute to the everyday heroes that offer inspirational stories and showed exceptional determination and perseverance in reaching out to fellow Filipinos. The campaign culminated on National Heroes Day last August 27 and ran for three months searching for modern day heroes all over the country. The three awardees include Leonilo Beltran of Baler, Aurora, Mark “Rubberman” Cerezo of Marikina City and Police Superintendent Dionosio Abude of Davao City.
The three awardees showed exceptional dedication of reaching out to care for the youth and the environment. Beltran who is from Baler, Aurora and a former overseas Filipino worker (OFW) founded the Skills Caravan in their region to encourage volunteerism and teaching skills to out-of-school youth and jobless adults including basic electrician skills that they can use for work and at home.
Meanwhile, Cerezo or popularly known as Mr. Rubberman of Marikina City encourages creativity among the youth in making wonderful things from recyclable materials from the garbage. He also created the 30-feet rubber Christmas tree in Tacloban City in 2009 to lighten the burden of the victims of Typhoon Sendong. Also, with this kind of project, he encourages the idea of recycling which contributes to the protection of the environment.
Lastly, Police Supt. Abude of Davao City tries to find solution on the problem of crimes against poverty that involves the youth in Barangay Calinan in the city proper of Davao. They helped more than 52 minors who involved themselves to this kind of activity including the “rugby boys” they found on the street. With the help of different baranggays and the parents of the teenagers, they created the Youth Camp that teaches them lessons on response unit, first aid, catechism, and tree planting. In the second phase of their project, they will be working with Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to train them with basic skills that they can use at their home and possible job in the future.
All three awardees of the Cobra Pinoy Heroes 2012 have received Php100, 000 grant that will contribute on their project and enhance it for the benefit of their community. Aside from Cerezo, Beltran and PSupt. Abude other finalists included in the competition were Ramil Junasa Jactin of Butuan City, Sherwin Abanilla of Zamboanga City, Benjamin Vidallon of Taguig City, Ariel John Villares of Zamboanga City, and Ramley Dangla Cruz.
Present at the awarding of the Cobra Pinoy Heroes 2012 are 2009 CNN Hero of the Year and founder of Dynamic Teen Company Efren Penaflorida, Gawad Kalinga Founder Tony Meloto and Executive Director of the Help Educate and Rear Orphans (HERO) Major General Renato Garcia. According to Abe Cipriano, Marketing Manager of Cobra Energy Drink, they created the campaign “Cobra Mga Kwentong Tunay na Lakas” because they believe in the strong faith and dedication of every Filipinos in facing all the challenges in their lives. From the time they kicked off the campaign that runs ran for three months, they received around 2, 000 inspiring stories of Filipinos as everyday heroes that contribute to nation building. Cobra is looking forward to more of it in the future.
