KOKO COMMENDS KESZ FOR WINNING INT'L AWARD

Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, PDP Laban President, has filed a Senate Resolution commending 13-year-old Carlos "Kesz" Valdez for winning the 2012 International Children's Peace Prize.

Pimentel said the Senate should give Valdez due recognition "for improving the quality of life of thousands of street children by teaching them their rights and by inspiring them to live better lives."

Pimentel pointed out that in receiving the prestigious award, Valdez "has become an icon of the Filipino child, inspiring all of us to give hope to the hopeless and voice to the voiceless."

Valdez received the prestigious award from South African Bishop Desmond Tutu at The Hague on September 19, 2012.

The International Children's Peace Prize was launched by Mikhail Gorbachev during the 2005 Summit of Nobel Peace Prize Laureates.

It is presented annually to an exceptional child whose courageous or remarkable acts have made a difference in countering problems affecting children around the world.

Valdez was once a street child himself and a victim of physical abuse.

At the early age of seven, Valdez started his own organization, Championing Community Children, to reach out to other street children.

Valdez has helped more than 10,000 street children by distributing "HOPE GIFTS", packages with slippers, clothing, toothbrushes and toys.

He also educated them in good hygiene, proper nutrition and their rights as children.

Valdez is the first Filipino and the first Southeast Asian to receive the award.