But, despite his current living conditions, the young homeless boy is determined to finish his studies on the sidewalk, with a wooden bench, using the light from the McDonald’s restaurant where his mother and sibling work.
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People who saw the photos have now donated ocash, school supplies and a college scholarship – which he hopes will enable him to fulfil his dream of becoming a police officer.
“We’re overjoyed. I don’t know what I will do with all of these blessings”, the stunned 42-year-old grocery store employee and domestic helper told AFP.
He may be only nine years old, but the determination by Daniel Cabrera to use education to drag himself out of poverty struck the medical student who stopped to take his picture, which was shared around the world.
Torrefranca, who initially shared the photo, said she was taken aback by Daniel’s diligent dedication to his homework. According to Espinosa, their house was razed in a fire five years ago, according to a Telegraph report.
She used to wash people’s laundry and also earn small cash as a street vendor, selling cigarettes and candies to passers-by.
“I’m fortunate my parents were able to send me to school”, she said.
Her husband died from severe diarrhoea in 2013 and she has three older children who are all married and living separately.
She described the boy as a tenacious child with a single-mined focus on getting an education.
“He is a very studious and determined boy…”
“He always tells me: “Mama, I don’t want to stay poor””.
Among the donations received by the family are school uniforms and a reading lamp.
The still continuing stream of aid for Daniel was also extended to his community, particularly the local church and the city’s social welfare office.
Violeta Cavada said: “He has become a symbol of poor slum boys in the city who can’t study because they don’t have electricity”.
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Around a quarter of the Philippines’ 100 million population live on less than 60 pence a day. “I seldom go to coffee shops to study, but this kid just hit me”, said Torrefranca.
