Filipino-American midwife Robin Lim was named the 2011 CNN Hero of the Year during the awarding ceremony held on Sunday, December 11, at The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, U.S.A.

54-year-old Lim, born to a Filipino mother and an American father, bested 9 other finalists from around the world.

According to CNN, Lim, who was raised in the Philippines, put up “birthing sanctuaries” for Indonesians in need of maternal and general health care.

In her “Meet the Hero” interview, Lim said it is common in Indonesia to hold babies in the hospital until the bills have been paid.

Lim said mothers should only worry about delivering their babies safely and not about how they should pay the hospital where they gave birth.

Lim brought home $250,000 for being named the 5th CNN Hero of the Year after the 11-week online poll via CNN’s official website. Earlier, Lim received $50,000 after being chosen as one of the 10 finalists.

In 2009, Filipino Efren Peñaflorida was named CNN Hero of the Year for his Kariton classroom project, which brought the classrooms to children in the streets.

Fil-Am Robin Lim Named CNN Hero of the Year originally appeared on Starmometer on December 12, 2011.

Our very own Efren Peñaflorida has been awarded the 2009 CNN Hero of the Year for bringing education to poor Filipino children through his “Kariton Klassroom.”

Efren received the trophy from Hollywood star Eva Mendes during the conclusion of CNN Heroes: An All Star Tribute which was held at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood Saturday night.

According to the CNN Web site, Peñaflorida has been selected after getting 2.75 million online votes, the highest among the 10 finalists.

The Pinoy hero received $100,000 to continue his work with his group, Dynamic Teen Company, on top of the $25,000 he got after his name was included on the Top 10 CNN Heroes 7 weeks ago.

“Our planet is filled with heroes, young and old, rich and poor, man, woman of different colors, shapes and sizes. We are one great tapestry,” Peñaflorida said. “Each person has a hidden hero within, you just have to look inside you and search it in your heart, and be the hero to the next one in need.”

Pinoy Efren Peñaflorida Named 2009 Hero of the Year by CNN originally appeared on Starmometer on November 22, 2009.