The boy, Daniel Cabrera, was spotted by med student Joyce Torrefranca as he worked away on a pavement in Manila.
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Joyce then posted the image of Daniel on Facebook, saying that he “inspired” her to work harder.
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Since then, the picture has been shared thousands of times with people reflecting on how often basic living standards are taken for granted.
According to reports, Daniel’s home burnt down and his father died in the fire. He is often seen begging with his mother in the same area but shows determination to get an education.
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"As a student, it gave me an inspiration to work harder. I'm fortunate my parents were able to send me to school. I seldom go to coffee shops to study, but this kid just hit me,” Torrefranca told Rappler.
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“You really don't need much, you just have to be determined and focused on the things that you want to achieve."
One of Daniel’s teachers, Rosalina Detuya, described him as “a happy child”.
“He is also intelligent and actually answers during class discussion, he really participates”, she said.
This article originally appeared in The Telegraph.
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