When Joyce Gilos Torrefranca posted two photos on Facebook of a young boy doing his homework in the dim streetlight of a McDonalds in the Philippines, she had no idea that the child would go on to inspire hundreds of people. She also had no idea that this little bit of social media would soon change the young boy’s life forever.
The photos were shared on Facebook on June 23rd and since then, they have been shared nearly ten thousand times. In fact, the photos caught the attention of the Filipino news outlet ABS-CBN who decided to find the inspiring young boy.
It didn’t take long to find 9-year-old Daniel Cabrera, who lives with his siblings and their mother Christina Espinosa. Needless to say, the family was no stranger to struggle. Five years ago, their house was destroyed by a fire, leaving the family with no permanent home. The family was forced to stay at the grocery store where Espinosa worked. Even more tragic, Espinosa lost her husband in 2013.
And this is how it came to be that Joyce Gilos Torrefranca found young Daniel Cabrera using the streetlight from a nearby McDonalds to finish his schoolwork on that one faithful night.
“He is a very studious and determined boy,” Espinosa said of her son. “He would insist on going to school even without his lunch money because I have no money to give.”
Cabrera’s inspiring and heartbreaking story spread like wildfire and reminded everyone of the struggle of young children who are poverty-stricken and lack electricity. And viral fame wasn’t the only thing Cabrera received. People everywhere stepped up to help him and his family. It looks like Cabrera will be one step closer to his dream of becoming a policeman with the generous donations of cash, school supplies and even a college scholarship.
“We’re overjoyed. I don’t know what I will do with all of these blessings,” said a stunned Espinosa. “Now, Daniel will not have to suffer just to finish his studies.”
Additionally, McDonalds Philippines gave Cabrera an education scholarship which will cover his school expenses until the end of high school.
“As Filipinos, we are proud to meet a boy so determined to succeed in life,” Kenneth Yang, McDonalds Philippines president and CEO said in a statement. “It is with an open heart that we grant him a scholarship to help him achieve his goals.”
And what about Joyce Gilos Torrefranca, the woman who took the life-changing photos? She remains delightfully surprised that a simple photo could make such a huge difference.
“Thank you guys for sharing the photo,” Torrefranca wrote in a Facebook post. “I hope Daniel’s story will continue touching our hearts so that we will always be inspired and motivated in every situation we face in life.”
