MANILA, Philippines -- Even as he basked in his countrymen's adulation, internationally acclaimed street educator Efren Peñaflorida expressed sadness for the victims of last Monday's massacre in Maguindanao, and their kin.

The CNN Hero of the Year was conferred the Order of Lakandula (with the Rank of Comandante) by President Macapagal-Arroyo in Malacañang, where he was mobbed by presidential staff.

``My heart bleeds for them. I sympathize with those who lost their loved ones. I left the Philippines with a heavy heart because of the tragic aftermath of storms. Now, I have come home to this,'' he told reporters after receiving a medal and a plaque from Ms Arroyo.

``I feel more pain because of the fact that there are some of us who chose to serve their own self-interest, and selfish motives.''

Peñaflorida, 28, flew home Wednesday night right smack in the middle of national mourning and outrage over the killings of at least 57 civilians in what authorities said was the worst election-related violence in years.

He captured online voters' imagination and was named 2009 CNN Hero of the Year for bringing education to the poor in the Philippines with the aid of a pushcart stuffed with books, and other educational materials.

He and his colleagues in the Dynamic Teen Co. have crafted a program that brings books to children on the streets and in the slums, and teaches about reading, writing and proper hygiene.

After the awarding, Peñaflorida tried to draw the spotlight away from him, and paid tribute to a corn vendor, Emmanuel Bagual, for his original idea of the ``pushcart classroom.''

``It's not my idea. The one who thought of the kariton classroom is Em Bagual. Even the street education was his idea. I just got involved,'' he told reporters.

The educator, who showed up in a white T-shirt, denim jeans and sneakers, said that the best compliment the group has gotten was the fact that the idea of ``pushcart classroom'' has caught fire elsewhere in the world.

``That's what our volunteer Em said. More than this recognition, this CNN award, the duplication of the kariton classroom as far as Kenya and other places, that's a bigger recognition,'' he said.

Even Ms Arroyo liked the idea. During the courtesy call by Peñaflorida, his family and colleagues at the Music Room before the awarding, she directed Education Secretary Jesli Lapus and Presidential Adviser on Education Mona Valisno to find out how this could be replicated in Metro Manila.

``First identify the area with the highest non-performance rate, then identify the point person who will implement the program,'' Malacañang quoted her as telling Lapus and Valisno.

Ms Arroyo also asked the Cavite educator to help implement this project, acknowledging his and his group's expertise on this.

``Before, nobody believed in us. This is an affirmation that we're doing is right,'' Peñaflorida said of the award from Malacañang.

He said he would not run for public office, nor campaign for any candidate, including Ms Arroyo.

``Everyone of us should think we can be a light. It all depends on how we want to go about it, because the hope that we're wishing for our country is always in our hearts,'' he said.