Daniel's life has changed since a photo of him studying outside a McDonald's branch to take advantage of electricity spread on social media
Published 5:57 PM, May 16, 2019
Updated 6:41 PM, May 16, 2019
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Help came for Cebuano wonderboy Daniel Cabrera since 2015, when a photo of him studying outside a fastfood chain [1] to take advantage of free electricity, went viral.
He has graduated from grade school and, on Thursday afternoon, May 16, guess where he held his graduation party? This time, inside the restaurant – at McDonald’s North Reclamation branch in Mandaue City.
Daniel's life has changed since a photo of him studying outside a McDonald's branch to take advantage of electricity spread on social media
Published 5:57 PM, May 16, 2019
Updated 6:41 PM, May 16, 2019
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Help came for Cebuano wonderboy Daniel Cabrera since 2015, when a photo of him studying outside a fastfood chain[1] to take advantage of free electricity, went viral.
He has graduated from grade school and, on Thursday afternoon, May 16, guess where he held his graduation party? This time, inside the restaurant – at McDonald’s North Reclamation branch in Mandaue City.
Daniel, now 13 years old, graduated from the Subangdaku Elementary School last April 3. He will be moving up to grade 7 in June.(READ: #InspireCourage: The education of Daniel Cabrera)[2]
“To celebrate Daniel’s achievements, McDonald’s Philippines, through its charity of choice, Ronald McDonald House of Charities (RMHC), treated him to a graduation party in McDonald’s North Reclamation, Cebu – the same branch where Daniel was snapped by Joyce Torrefranca studying.” The RMHC press statement said. (WATCH: McDonald's ad features Cebu street boy's story[3])
RMHC has been supporting Daniel by providing him with allowance, school supplies, and uniform. (READ: Cebu street child story gets UN education envoy’s attention)[4]
Daniel said before that he wanted to be a cop someday[5], and the Philippine National Police pledged to help support his studies when that time comes.
When asked why he wanted to be a cop, Daniel told Rappler that it was his father’s dream to be one. Because his father is gone, for almost 7 years now, he wants the dream of his father to live on.
He said his life changed so much after his photo went viral. “Sauna kay wa mi suga, maglisod kog tuon, karon daghan kaayo ni tabang nako, dili nako magka lisod,” Daniel said. (Before we didn’t have electricity, studying is a struggle, now a lot of people help us, I don’t have a hard time anymore.)
Father Melo Diola, chairman of the Dilaab Foundation[6] Incorporated, pays for the family's monthly rent.
Daniel said his dream, aside from being a policeman, is for his family to have their own house and never go hungry again.
Below are some photos of his graduation party:
Daniel Cabrera graduates elementary. Photo by Micole Gerard Tizon/Rappler
Daniel Cabrera graduates elementary. Photo by Micole Gerard Tizon/Rappler
Daniel Cabrera graduates elementary. Photo by Micole Gerard Tizon/Rappler
Daniel Cabrera with her mom Maria Christina Espinosa enjoying their party. Photo by Micole Gerard Tizon/Rappler
^studying outside a fastfood chain (www.rappler.com)
^#InspireCourage: The education of Daniel Cabrera (www.rappler.com)
^McDonald's ad features Cebu street boy's story (www.rappler.com)
^Cebu street child story gets UN education envoy’s attention (www.rappler.com)
^he wanted to be a cop someday (www.rappler.com)
^Dilaab Foundation (www.dilaab.org)